For Scientists

Faja Laboratory

Dr. Faja and her research team aim to improve individualized care and quality of life for autistic people throughout the lifespan. Dr. Faja’s laboratory investigates individual differences in developmental pathways and intervention development and evaluation using multiple levels of analysis from brain to behavior. Research methods include neuropsychological testing, diagnostic evaluation, lab-based tasks, eye tracking, physiology, and electroencephalography (EEG). Psychology trainees support data collection for research projects by completing diagnostic assessments and neuropsychological testing with children and adults, caregiver and teacher measures, writing neuropsychological reports, and presenting cases at laboratory meetings. Additionally, trainees may have the opportunity to deliver behavioral interventions being developed and tested in the lab. The Faja lab is composed of a diverse and enthusiastic group of researchers. We welcome practicum students who share our excitement for clinical neuroscience research and mentoring others; there are opportunities to become involved with dissemination of research findings and training students in the lab.

Training Goals

• Gain experience administering standardized measures, such as:
• Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2)
• Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (Vineland-3)
• Differential Ability Scales (DAS-II)
• Mullen Scales of Early Learning
• Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence, Second Edition (WASI-II)
• Gain experience conducting semi-structured and structured clinical (e.g., KSADS, ADI-R, CGI) caregiver interviews to confirm/rule out clinical diagnoses or assess changes in symptoms
• Gain experience interpreting neuropsychological data and writing up neuropsychological reports
• Gain understanding of how neuropsychological measures are integrated in pediatric research
• Encouraged: contribute to ongoing research on autism through analysis and writing projects
• Gain experience delivering behavioral interventions in the context of clinical trials

Supervision & Formal Training

• Trainees will receive a minimum of 1 hour of individual supervision each week with Dr. Faja and/or Dr. Driscoll, both licensed clinical psychologists, as well as bi-weekly group supervision and informal opportunities for mentorship and feedback.
• Trainees will have opportunities to observe and be observed by clinical psychologists and postdoctoral psychology fellows.
• Trainees may attend journal clubs, seminars, case conferences, laboratory meetings, grand rounds, and other meetings sponsored by the Division of Developmental Medicine and/or Labs of Cognitive Neuroscience.