Meet Lisa, associate director of the READi lab and senior research scientist. She has played an integral role in study development and implementation for over a decade! She has developed a line of research that revolves around identifying deficits in infants at risk for ASD and improving screening and intervention practices in the community. Learn a bit about her and her dedication to enhancing early autism identification and interventions below!
- Will you tell us a bit about your role in the READi Lab?
I am the associate director of the READi lab and a senior research scientist. In my role, I manage not only day-to-day tasks, but I’m also heavily involved with developing research questions and goals for the lab as well as study design and action plans for implementation.
- What motivated you to join – and to stay with — the lab?
I joined the lab in 2010 as a postdoctoral researcher because it allowed me the opportunity to build upon my graduate school experiences. I was motivated to work on early detection studies with baby siblings of children with autism.
I stayed because of the challenge to engage in more translation research. Specifically, we were able to pivot and transition to working with real-world early intervention providers to better improve the early identification process and access to ASD-specialized intervention.
- What accomplishment are you most proud of?
I’m most proud of earning the opportunity to train medical and early intervention providers, but to also have the opportunity to learn from them and build upon their recommendations.
- You’ve been in the field since 2005. That’s an impressive career! What advice do you have for aspiring autism researchers?
It’s going to be counter-intuitive, but make sure you read and learn about other conditions and methods from other fields. These novel perspectives may inform how we approach current problems that autistic people and their families face.
Looking to other fields is a great way to build associational thinking and creativity. This may help us to avoid reinventing the wheel, so to speak.
- What is your favorite R Color Brewer palette?
I’m a “YlOrRd” kind of gal.
- What’s your favorite dinosaur?
Brachiosaurus! I like the exceeding long neck. Their long necks evoke a sense of power, yet they seem as if they’d still be friendly.
- Two truths and a lie! (Scroll down to see Lisa’s fib)
I was on my high school swim team.
I won the 4th grade Math Bowl competition.
The fastest mile I’ve run has been 6 minutes and 39 seconds.
I was never on my high school swim team. I’m a bad swimmer! In fact, I can barely swim.