I am a developmental psychologist with a research focus on neurodiversity in educational contexts. I lead the ReNEW (Research on Neurodiversity, Environment and Wellbeing) group and contribute to strategic leadership on inclusive education across the university.
Qualifications
- PhD Psychology, University of York: The role of the home literacy environment in the early literacy development of children at family risk of dyslexia.
- PGDip (Psychology conversion), Open University
- MPhil, University of Cambridge
- BA (Hons) University of Cambridge
I teach across our BSc and MSc Psychology programmes and supervise student research projects at undergraduate, Masters and taught Doctorate levels.
Currently, I contribute to the following modules:
- PSY6010M Neurodiversity in Development (module leader)
- PSY6020M Psychology in Education (module leader)
- PSY8111M Research Methods in Counselling Psychology
I am interested in neurocognitive diversity across the lifespan, and especially how educational experiences influence identity development and mental health for neurodivergent young people. My PhD research focused on the role of home literacy environment in the development of young children with dyslexia and developmental language disorder (DLD). More recently, I have worked with autistic and multiply neurodivergent children, their families and teachers to understand pupils' experiences across the primary-to-secondary school transition. I also conduct research with neurodivergent students and staff members in universities with the aim of improving neuro-inclusion in higher education. I advocate for inclusive, strength-based education in schools and university settings, and use participatory methods and longitudinal designs to understand how education institutions can provide more fit-for-purpose learning experiences for all.
Funded projects:
- STEPS: Improving school transition outcomes for pupils with special educational needs. Sir Halley Stewart Trust (PI | £50,427 | 2022-2025).
- Project INC (Inclusive Neurodiverse Campuses). Institute for Social Justice Community Research Grant - in partnership with Spectrum First Education Ltd. (PI | £15,000 | 2023-25)
- DIVERT: Co-producing a distress tolerance intervention to reduce self-harm episodes in young people. NIHR Research for Patient Benefit (Co-I | £150,000 | 2024-25)
- Co-creating meaningful, accessible and manageable evaluation. Institute for Social Justice Community Partnership Grant - in partnership with The Island, York. (Co-I | £9,250 | 2024-25)
Current PhD students:
- Sue Mesa
- Kathryn Lewis
- Michele Deakin
- Georgie Burton
- Jamie Williams
- Shona Corker
Recent publications
I am a chartered psychologist, Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society and Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
I regularly review for journals in my field, including Child Development, Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, Scientific Studies of Reading, Journal of Research in Reading, Autism, Autism in Adulthood and British Journal of Educational Psychology. I have reviewed grant applications for funding agencies including UKRI, the Jacobs Foundation, the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong and the Dutch Research Council, and acted as external examiner for numerous doctoral theses.
I am past or current external examiner for BPS-accredited BSc and MSc Psychology programmes at the Universities of Bristol, Sheffield Hallam , Canterbury Christchurch and City, University of London.
I currently serve as Vice-Chair (Research) for the British Psychological Society's Division of Academics, Researchers and Teachers (DART-P) and sit on the BPS Research Board.
