Let’s take a closer look at some of the impactful multisite studies happening at the Thompson Center.
Tag Archives: research
Researcher Spotlight: Dr. Kerri Nowell
Kerri Nowell, Ph.D., joined the Thompson Center health psychology team as a postdoctoral fellow in 2016. Dr. Nowell stayed on as a faculty member after the completion of her training and became the Director of Health Professions at the Thompson Center in May. She is an Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Health Psychology in the University of Missouri College of Health Sciences. Dr. Nowell is the principal investigator on the EarliTec and SPARK studies at the Thompson Center.
New Insights from Infant Cry Study
The Early Years Study is a project that analyzes audio recordings of infant cries to discover new ways to identify early signs of autism and developmental disabilities. The Thompson Center joined this study in late 2022 and so far has collected over 1,200 unique infant cry recordings.
Trainee Spotlight: Braden Hayse
Braden Hayse joined the Thompson Center in 2018 as a psychometrist and a graduate research assistant and practicum student in 2020. Braden’s research area of interest is primarily surrounding sleep in individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders or rare diseases. He is particularly interested in mechanisms of common sleep difficulties, the impact of sleep problems on factors related to quality of life, and usefulness of sleep treatments in different populations.
2024 Student, Trainee, and Early Professional Poster Session (STEPP)
2024 Student, Trainee, and Early Professional Poster Session (STEPP)
Show Me Research Week 2024
Several researchers and trainees from the Thompson Center presented posters at Mizzou’s Show Me Research Week last week. Topics included neuroscience, speech-language pathology, and more!
Training Spotlight: Mackenzie Cissne
Mackenzie Cissne joined the Thompson Center in June 2021 as a graduate research assistant working with Dr. Kerri Nowell. Mackenzie is also working with Dr. Connie Brooks and Dr. Michael Morhland on the psychology team as a practicum student. Her research areas of interest include cognitive and functional outcomes of individuals with developmental disorders, specifically outcomes in executive functioning, including inhibitory control, working memory, flexibility, and metacognition.
Postdoctoral Fellow Awarded National Institute of Mental Health F32 Grant
Erin Andres, Ph.D. has been awarded an individual postdoctoral fellowship (F32) by the National Institute of Mental Health to support training and a specific research project. The F32 fellowship grants are part of a prestigious program of the National Institutes of Health to invest in and promote talented early-stage researchers.
Thompson Center Psychometry Team Assists with EarliTec Study
An example of an interdepartmental collaboration at the Thompson Center is between the psychometry team and the Research Core. Psychometrists provide cognitive or developmental assessment support for the Research Core’s EarliTec Study. The psychometrists administer the assessments, score them, and compile the data for the researchers.
Working Together: Interdisciplinary Research in Autism & Neurodevelopment
As part of the University of Missouri, the Thompson Center is fortunate to be able to collaborate with researchers from a variety of disciplines to further our understanding and expand services available to people with autism and other neurodevelopmental diagnoses.