I am the director of the social interaction, mental health, and wellbeing lab. Our interests focus on social participation and autism, and the intersectionality of autism and ageing. We have projects running which focus on primary school, secondary school, university, employment, and social care. My lab's research interests focuses on assessment, characterisation and intervention within the theme of wellbeing and social/interpersonal skills and autism. Our work includes conceptualisation and measurement of concepts such depression and social/interpersonal skills, and what impact social participation has on quality of life, wellbeing, and identity. Research collaborations Employment: Professor Kate Sang, and Dr James Richards, Heriot-Watt University; Ageing: Dr Rebecca Charlton, Goldsmiths University of London, Dr Louise Brown Nicolls, Strathclyde University; Cognition and Social Participation: Dr Cath Grainger, Stirling University, Dr Dan Hale, Dr Laurent Galbrun, Prof Thusha Rajendran Heriot-Watt University; Online Safety Dr Mike Just and Dr Tessa Berg, Heriot-Watt University. Postgraduate students Cameron Maitland, Kym Craig, Lorna Camus, Kirsty Macmillan, David Thorpe, Corinne Greasley-Adams, Carmen Rosas Perez. 

Autism, Autistic traits, Social Participation, Social Care, Ageing, Cognition, Mental Health, Wellbeing

Global Seminar Co-ordinator

SoSS Research Festival Chair

Public Engagement Lead

www.simhw.hw.ac.uk