Innovation in Autism - Our Team | University of Strathclyde

Current team

Professor Jonathan Delafield-Butt, Director

Jonathan Delafield-Butt is a Professor in Child Neurodevelopment and Autism, and Director of the cross-disciplinary Laboratory for Innovation in Autism at the University of Strathclyde. His work examines the origins of conscious experience and the embodied and emotional foundations of psychological development, with attention to the subtle but significant motor disruption evident in autism spectrum disorder. He obtained his PhD in Developmental Neurobiology at the University of Edinburgh Medical School before extending to Developmental Psychology, focusing on the application of intersubjectivity theory during his postdoctoral work at the Universities of Edinburgh and Copenhagen. He held scholarships at Harvard University and the Institute for Advanced Studies at the University of Edinburgh for science-philosophy bridgework. Delafield-Butt trained pre-clinically in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy at the Scottish Institute for Human Relations. He is a member of the Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, American Psychological Association, and the International Society for Autism Research.

Professor Philip Rowe, Co-Director

Philip Rowe is a Professor (Emeritus) of Rehabilitation Science and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Strathclyde. His research interests include the application of science and engineering methods to patient treatment, as well as their use to quantify and analyse the clinical effects of rehabilitation services. He is particularly interested in the motor aetiology of autism and disturbance of motor control as possible targets for neurorehabilitation. Professor Rowe served as Research Director for the Department of Biomedical Engineering, which is consistently ranked among the top biomedical engineering departments worldwide for research quality.

Professor Ivan Andonovic, Co-Director

Ivan Andonovic is a Professor of Electronic and Electrical Engineering at the University of Strathclyde, with research interests in broadband networking, wireless sensor systems, and the Internet of Things. He is a Fellow of the IET and a Senior Member of the IEEE. Additionally, he co-founded Silent Herdsman, where he served as Director and Chief Technology Officer. Silent Herdsman is a start-up that developed a decision support system for dairy farming based on motion sensing.

Dr Christos Tachtatzis, Co-Director

Christos Tachtatzis is a Reader in the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering at the University of Strathclyde. In 2016, he was awarded a prestigious Chancellor’s Fellow award to conduct fundamental and industrial research in Sensors and Asset Management. His current activities primarily focus on Internet of Things and Data Analytics technologies. His research projects span a wide range of applications and industrial sectors, including early diagnosis for Autism Spectrum Disorder. He is also one of the co-ordinators for the “System for Data-Based Decisions” sub-theme of the Measurement Science and Enabling Technologies (MSET) Strategic Theme.

Dr Szu-Ching Lu, Hawthorne Fellow in Autism Innovation

Szu-Ching Lu received her BSc in Occupational Therapy and a PhD in Biomedical Engineering. She is interested in motor function analysis. Her early research focused on the hand function in orthopaedic conditions, including trigger finger and carpal tunnel syndrome. She further applied her experience in hand research to work with paleoanthropologists to understand human hand evolution. Szu-Ching’s current research focuses on identifying motor signatures in autism using smart tablets and wearable devices.

Dr Timothy McGowan, Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Timothy McGowan is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow with interests in narrative theory, intersubjectivity, philosophy of mind, and comparative psychology. His doctoral work focused on the temporal architecture of adult-infant interaction, and the application of machine learning and movement analysis in this field. He is now applying core aspects of this research to infant imitation and primatology. To this end, he has held a research fellowship at the University of Kyoto exploring narrative theory and intersubjectivity in non-human primates. Tim is a graduate of the University of Oxford, where he read History, and the University of Nottingham, where he completed a Master’s in Psychology. Prior to academia, he has worked as a management consultant in the City of London, and is also a qualified teacher and Teach First ambassador.

Dr Olga Dobrushina, Visiting Researcher

Olga Dobrushina brings expertise in autism clinical practice and digital health, as both a visiting researcher in arousal regulation and interoception, and as commercial champion to accelerate iPad spin out for the Play.Care Diagnostic Trial. Olga received her medical degree from the Lomonosov Moscow State University and subsequently completed a PhD in Medicine and MSc in Psychology. She has years of experience as a clinician, trained in neurology and counselling psychology, with expertise in mental healthcare, and as a neuroscientist with a focus on neurotechnology.

Stella Gkegka, Postgraduate Research Student (PhD)

Stella Gkegka's varied academic background includes a BSc (Hons) Chemistry and MSc in Physical Chemistry from the University of Athens, MSc Applied Psychology from Robert Gordon University, MRes Biomedical Sciences from University of Glasgow and MSc Applied Educational and Social Sciences from University of Strathclyde. She has a breadth of work experience in both mainstream and additional needs education. Stella is currently an ESRC-funded PhD student and is developing a Physical Activity programme with autistic learners to improve their physical activity levels, mental health and overall wellbeing. Her work is based in mainstream Primary schools across Scotland, using creative participatory methods.

Daniel Mayol Jimenez, Postgraduate Research Student (PhD)

Daniel Mayol Jimenez completed his BSc in Psychology at the Universitat de Barcelona and his MSc in Developmental Psychology at the University of Dundee. He is undertaking his PhD under the supervision of Professor Delafield-Butt and Dr Essex, investigating the nature and dynamics of restricted and special interests of students with autism in educational settings. Daniel's work aims to identify the most successful strategies to incorporate students’ interests into curriculum activities to enhance academic performance and well-being.

Ismail Okatan, Postgraduate Research Student (PhD)

Ismail Okatan graduated from Eskişehir Osmangazi University's Special Education Teaching Undergraduate Program. He completed his Master's degree at Gazi University in the Department of Special Education, where his thesis project aimed to improve social skills and social acceptance of students with autism in the inclusive classroom. Ismail is currently working toward a PhD at The Strathclyde Institute of Education. His doctoral work takes an embodied approach to understanding the importance and effects of classroom-based physical activities for students with autism. Ismail’s research brings together physical activity, embodiment, autism, movement and technology for improved movement-based interventions in the classroom.

Rachel Shannon, Postgraduate Research Student (PhD)

Rachel Shannon completed her MA (Hons) in Linguistics at The University of Edinburgh in 2021 and has experience working in mainstream and additional needs education. Her PhD centres around language development in autistic children, with a focus on the role of parent-child interactions. Rachel’s aim is to explore questions around this topic with input from several disciplines, using both theoretical and technological innovations; her supervision team of Professor Delafield-Butt (Child Development) and Dr McCool (Speech and Language Therapy) reflects this. Rachel hopes to produce work that is applicable in education, in clinical practice, and in the home.

Lynsey Stewart, Postgraduate Research Student (PhD)

Lynsey Stewart completed her BA in Psychology at Queen Margaret University and her Masters in Autism (Adults) at University of Birmingham. She has worked with and for neurodivergent people throughout her career, including with local authorities, corporations, academics, charities and government, with experience creating autism-related guidance and training. Lynsey's main research interests are autism and positive ageing, autism and employment, and participatory research. Her doctoral research is aimed at improving dementia detection and assessment for autistic people.

Erin Noble, Laboratory Administrator

Erin Noble is an upcoming PhD Psychology student at the University of Strathclyde, having completed her BA Hons Psychology and MRes Engineering at the University. Her research interests and experiences broadly lie within neuropsychology and brain injury. She was previously a Research Assistant at the University of Edinburgh, validating a clinical tool for detecting delirium in hospitalised patients. Erin’s SEA-funded PhD will utilise innovative VR technology to detect and monitor cognitive and motor-related deficits associated with sport-related concussion.

Associate members

Stuart Daniel, Developmental Psychologist and Play Therapist

Stuart is a play therapist combining child-centered therapy, developmental movement and beatbox in his work with autistic children. He is a researching developmental psychologist interested in autism, early intervention, play, medical trauma, the human stress-system and Polyvagal Theory (publications: ORCID). Bringing together insights from Communicative Musicality and the Movement Perspective on early interaction, Stuart has developed an approach to supporting social timing in autistic/non-autistic playful interaction called Rhythmic Relating. The model has a particular focus on play with young autistic children, unconventional communicators, and autistic individuals who have additional learning needs. The model, built from the movement premise that bidirectional social difficulties stem from more basic sensory and motor differences, was introduced in a significant theory paper coauthored with colleagues from autism science, creative arts therapists and musicians and is now being finalized into an accessible handbook paper for parents, carers, education staff and therapists.

Dr Yu Wei Chua, Postdoctoral Research Associate

Yu Wei Chua completed her PhD at the University, examining the role of movement in early neurodevelopment. Her research assessed motor control in children with autism using wearable sensors and motion capture, linking this to psychological processes such as learning and cognition. She also holds a BA in Natural Sciences (Physiology and Psychology) from the University of Cambridge and an MSc in Clinical Mental Health Sciences from University College London. Yu Wei is now a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Public Health, Policy & Systems at the University of Liverpool.

Penelope (Pum) Dunbar, Artist and Researcher

Penelope (Pum) Dunbar is an artist and researcher whose orientation leans toward an auto-ethnographic, philosophical and ethological inquiry into the nature of being human from the perspective of autism. Her research is existential and phenomenological, combining personal experience with scientific scholarship and reflection.

Student projects

The lab is currently open to student projects – get in touch with your ideas at autism-innovation@strath.ac.uk.

Ginelle Feliciano, Postgraduate Research Student (MSc)

Ginelle Feliciano completed her HBSc in Neuroscience at the University of Toronto. She has experience utilising a diverse range of imaging modalities in both clinical and research settings. Ginelle's MSc project focuses on using 7T MRI to resolve the structural differences in brainstem nuclei and its relation to motor dysfunction in autism.

Jiani Wang, Undergraduate Research Student (MA)

Jiani Wang is in the third year of her MA (SocSci) Psychology at the University of Glasgow. She is passionate about neurodevelopmental disorders with a particular interest in autism, and has research experience in 'directed forgetting' using EEG. Jiani's dissertation project utilises 7T MRI to investigate the structural differences in brainstem nuclei and their relation to motor dysfunction.

Alumni

Adam Mitchell, Postgraduate Research Student (PhD)

Adam Mitchell has a BA in Neuroscience from the University of Glasgow and an M.Sc. with Distinction in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Strathclyde. He carried out his PhD research at the University of Strathclyde to develop wearable sensors and serious games for smart devices to assist in early diagnosis of autism.

Evelyn Tonner, Laboratory Administrator

Evelyn Tonner worked with the lab between 2019-2021 and has been with the University since June 2016. She holds a wealth of administration experience. Evelyn completed her HNC in Business Administration and IT in 2008, business management modules through Open University between 2011-2012, and an SVQ in Business Administration at SCQF level 8 in 2022.

Greta Todorova, Research Assistant

Greta Todorova obtained her PhD in Psychology at the University of Glasgow, where her doctoral work focused on autism and predictive coding. She also holds an MSc in Research Methods of Psychological Sciences from the University of Glasgow. Greta worked with the lab as a Research Assistant on the 7T MRI pilot study, funded by SINAPSE. Her work contributed to resolving the differences in brainstem nuclei between neurotypical and autistic individuals. Greta is now a Senior Social Researcher at the Department for Work and Pensions.

Louise McKeever, Postgraduate Research Student (PhD)

Louise McKeever completed her PhD in the Doctoral Training Centre in Communication Disorders at the University of Strathclyde. Her research focused on the relationship between speech, language, and fine motor control difficulties in children with autism. She used ultrasound tongue imaging to investigate speech motor control in children with ASD. Louise is now a researcher, writer and Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Queen’s University Belfast.

Erin Lux, Data Manager

Erin Lux first worked with Professor Delafield-Butt on a Carnegie Trust-funded project to develop and test an iPhone app to measure motor disruption in children with ASD, and later as data manager for the lab. She holds a BA in English Literature and History and an MA in History from the University of Ottawa, and is undertaking her PhD in History at the University of Strathclyde. Her research interests include history and policy in child mental health, particularly the effect of late or missed diagnosis of developmental disorders on educational and social outcomes. Erin is currently a Policy Coordinator at Equality Network.

Elaine Hutton, Research Assistant

Elaine Hutton holds a BSc in Psychology and an MSc in Developmental Psychology from the University of Dundee, with a background in nursing and education. She is interested in how neurodevelopmental disorders impact future life outcomes, especially in children and adults on the autistic spectrum. Elaine is currently an Administrative Officer at the Department for Work and Pensions.

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Rachel Miller, Project Administrator

Rachel Miller previously worked at the University of Sussex within Research and Enterprise Services. Her academic background is in Psychology, specifically surrounding aspects of health, disability and chronic illness. She has a wealth of experience working alongside young people with autism and learning disabilities. Since leaving the lab, Rachel has completed an MSc in Health Psychology at the University of Stirling, and undertaken various student support roles. Rachel is now Health Information and Engagement Manager at The Myrovlytis Trust.

Maria Ferrara, Postgraduate Research Student (PhD)

Maria Ferrara completed her PhD at the University of Strathclyde. Her doctoral work investigated motor difficulties in children with autism during early childhood. In particular, she used iPad games to detect specific motor profile that may lead to novel, fun, technological diagnostic tools. She also investigated potential benefit of intensive motor training (Waldon Approach) during early childhood on social abilities. Maria currently works in the care sector, supporting autistic children and adults.

Omar Alawajee, Postgraduate Research Student (PhD)

Omar Alawajee completed his BA and MSc in Special Education at Qassim University and Western Oregon University, respectively. He completed his PhD at the University of Strathclyde in 2019, studying the benefits of using video games in teaching social skills for children with autism spectrum disorder and students with hearing loss. Omar is currently a lecturer at Qassim University in Saudi Arabia, where he is working to build an autism support network in his region of the Kingdom.

Laboratory for Innovation in AutismOur team