AIR-B has included many new and experienced researchers among its staff. As a multi-site network across the country, we would like to thank the many people who have been involved in expanding access to interventions and advancing research into the social and behavioral effects of autism spectrum disorder.
University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
Connie Kasari, Ph.D
Professor of Psychological Studies in Education and Psychiatry at UCLA and founding member of the Center for Autism Research and Treatment. Dr. Kasari serves as the principal investigator for AIR-B at UCLA. She also runs her own lab, which is closely involved in coordinating for AIR-B. Kasari Lab Website
Amanda Gulsrud, Ph.D
An Assistant Clinical Professor in the UCLA Department of Psychiatry in the David Geffen School of Medicine and clinical director of the CAN Clinic. Dr. Gulsrud serves as a co-principal investigator for AIR-B at the University of California, Los Angeles
Catharine Lord, Ph.D
George Tarjan Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry in the David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles. During AIR-B I she was the Principal Investigator and founding director of the Center for Autism and the Developing Brain at New York - Presbyterian. She also was the founder of the former University of Michigan Autism and Communication Disorders Center where she also acted as Principal Investigator during the beginning of AIR-B I. She is now part of the UCLA team for AIR-B III and IV
Hyon Soo Lee, Ph.D
Associate Project Scientist in the UCLA Department of Psychiatry in the David Geffen School of Medicine and leader of local community engagement for AIR-B at UCLA. Dr. Lee is the founder of the company, Special Education Research, Advocacy and Consulting (SERAC).
Wendy Shih, Dr.PH
Principal statistician with Dr. Kasari’s Research Lab
Consuelo Garcia
AIR-B Research Coordinator and Lab
Manager
James Yang
Graduate Student Researcher
Andy Schlink
Graduate Student researcher
Karolyn Maurer
Graduate Student Researcher
Fernanda Castellon
Graduate Student Researcher
Morgan Link
Research Assistant with Dr. Kasari’s Research Lab
Brandon Villanueva
Research Assistant with Dr. Kasari’s Research Lab
Beza Ayalew
Research Assistant with Dr. Kasari’s Research Lab
Selin Engin
Research Assistant with Dr. Kasari’s Research Lab
Katharine Figueroa
Research Assistant with Dr. Kasari’s Research Lab
Drexel University
Elizabeth Hassrick Ph.D
Assistant professor with the Life Course Outcomes Research Program at the A. J. Drexel Autism Institute. Dr. McGhee Hassrick serves as the principal investigator for AIR-B at the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute
Jessica Christian
Research Associate
Chau Nguyen
Project Coordinator
University of Rochester
Suzannah Iadarola, Ph.D
Pediatric psychologist and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Dr. Iadarola serves as a Principal investigator for AIR-B at the University of Rochester
Lynne Levato, Ph.D
Instructor of Clinical Pediatrics and a licensed psychologist who specializes in behavioral assessment and intervention. Dr. Levato serves as a co-principal investigator for AIR-B at the University of Rochester
Samantha Hochheimer, MS
Research Coordinator with Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics
Regina Larkin, MS
Interventionist for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.
Mariela León-Thomas, MSW
Health Project Coordinator
Carmen Caruthers, Ph.D
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
University of Pennsylvania
David Mandell, Sc.D
Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics’ at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Mandell serves as the principal investigator for AIR-B at the University of Pennsylvania
Melanie Pellecchia, Ph.D
A postdoctoral research fellow at the Center for Mental Health Policy and Services Research. Dr. Pellecchia serves as a co-principal investigator for AIR-B at the University of Pennsylvania
Erica Blanch, MSEd
Associate director at the Penn Center for Mental Health
Diana Cooney, MSEd
A behavior analyst and school-based consultant with the Penn Center for Mental Health. She is also the clinical supervisor of autism social skills groups at Hall Mercer
Samantha Crabbe, MSEd
Senior Clinical Research Coordinator with the Penn Center for Mental Health
University of California, Davis
Aubyn Stahmer Ph.D
Professor with the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Director of the Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. Dr. Stahmer serves as a co-principal investigator for AIR-B three and principal investigator for AIR-B four at University of California, Davis
Amber Fitzgerald
Project Manager
Walter Cervantes
Lead Interventionist
Jennifer Diaz
Junior specialist with the Collaborative START Lab
Yue Yu, Ph.D
Postdoctoral Research Fellow at UC Davis MIND institute.
University of Washington
Jill Locke, Ph.D
Research Assistant Professor at the University of Washington in the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences and is one of the core faculty at the SMART center. Dr. Locke served as the principal Investigator for AIR-B four at the University of Washington
Kaitlyn Ahlers, Ph.D
A postdoctoral fellow in the Research in Autism and the Brain Lab. She is currently an assistant professor at Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College.
Alyssa Hernandez
Research Coordinator
Alana McVey, Ph.D
Postdoctoral Scholar at the UW SMART Center
Alice Bravo, MEd
Graduate Student Researcher
Adora Du
Research Coordinator
Kansas University
Brian Boyd, Ph.D
Professor with Kansas University and the Director of the Juniper Gardens Children’s Project. He is the Principal Investigator for AIR-B at the University of Kansas
Karrie Shogren, Ph.D
Professor in the Department of Special Education, Senior Scientist in the Life Span Institute and Director of the Kansas University Center on Developmental Disabilities
Sheida Raley, Ph.D
An Assistant Research Professor at the Kansas University Center on Developmental Disabilities and Assistant Professor in the Department of Special Education
Lashanna Brunson
Research Project Coordinator and part of the Juniper Gardens Children’s Project
James Lee, Ph.D
Postdoctoral researcher with the Juniper Gardens Children’s Project
Anna Wallisch, Ph.D
Postdoctoral researcher with the Juniper Gardens Children’s Project
Jennifer Schumaker
Assistant Researcher with the Juniper Gardens Children’s Project