The Stirling Autism Research (STAR) team currently consists of a small group of autistic and non-autistic autism researchers based at the University of Stirling, Scotland. One of our aims is to encourage inter-disciplinary collaboration, between individuals across different disciplines and academic/non-academic settings, and we are always happy to hear from people interested in becoming involved in our research. If you would like to join the Stirling Autism Research group as a collaborator, researcher, volunteer or student, we would like to hear from you (email: autismresearch@stir.ac.uk). We also welcome contact from students interested in applying to study for a PhD within our research areas. We recommend sending a copy of your CV and a detailed research proposal when contacting academics about PhD study.
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Dr Catherine Grainger, Lecturer in Psychology
About me: I first studied psychology at Durham University, where I completed a BSc in Psychology and an MSc in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience. Before starting my PhD, I worked as a research associate at Durham University, and then went on to complete a PhD in Psychology at the University of Kent. After working as a…
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Dr Eilidh Cage, Lecturer in Psychology
Eilidh’s research looks broadly at the experiences of autistic adults and adolescents, and the challenges related to navigating a predominantly non-autistic world. She is particularly interested in autism acceptance (from both self and others), mental health and wellbeing, autistic identity and diagnosis, camouflaging (or masking) and supporting autistic students at university. She is also passionate…
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Dr Monique Botha, Research Fellow
Monique’s research focuses on the role of minority stress, stigma, and discrimination in the mental health outcomes of autistic people. As an autistic autism researcher, Monique is passionate about a socially just, ethical, and engaged form of science, which aims for emancipation and equality. Monique currently has a 3-year Leverhulme Fellowship where they will be…
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Marisa McKinlay, PhD Student
Marisa is a part-time PhD student, looking at issues for autistic adolescents. As an experienced Speech and Language Therapist, she is passionate about supporting communication and how environments can be changed to allow increased social engagement. Her research aims to work with autistic young people and those around them, identifying enabling factors and barriers to…
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George Watts, PhD Student
George is a part-time PhD student, funded by the ESRC for the project “Understanding experiences of the autistic community for all autistic adults”. Her research aims to identify barriers and facilitators to the autistic community for autistic adults, including those with co-occurring learning disabilities. As an autistic self-advocate, researcher and mum to two autistic children,…
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Sarah Dantes, PhD Student
About: Sarah completed her masters in Autism Research at the University of Stirling in 2022 and is now a full-time PhD student within STAR. Sarah is also involved in the STARTS network, where she completed a placement as part of her masters and continues to work voluntarily assisting with different aspects of STARTS’ research. …
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Andrew Currie, PhD Student
Andrew is a PhD student at the University of Strathclyde, where he completed his MRes in English studies in 2021. His research focuses on literary narrative processing in autistic adult readers and explores their engagement with literary fiction. He is particularly interested in whether the cognitive traits associated with autism create a unique reading experience…
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Rhys Swainston, Research Associate
Rhys is a MSc postgraduate working as a Research Assistant alongside Dr Catherine Grainger. He has run two autism-related project looking at the support systems that were available to autistic adults as children and their employability as adults. He is currently assisting on a project that focuses on autism and prospective memory.
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Khiah Strachan, Network Administrator (STARTS)
Khiah is a former Stirling student that completed her MSc in Autism Research in 2021. Currently, Khiah is the administrator on the Striving to Transform Autism Research Together Scotland (STARTS) network, supporting Dr Eilidh Cage, Dr Monique Botha and Dr Catherine Crompton (University of Edinburgh).
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2022 STAR Placements and Research Assistants
We are extremely grateful for the support provided to the STAR team by placement students or voluntary research assistants! This year we are supported by: Emily GreenanJen DowLynsey McDevittSanna RehmanSarah Dantas