Meet our core team here. Find out more about the brilliant people we are lucky to work with both in the SMRC (Research Fellows, PhD students and EdInMIND Lab) and throughout the University and beyond (Collaborators) by clicking on the links to the left. Dr Katie CebulaDirector of the Salvesen Mindroom Research CentreLink to Katie's full profileKatie is a developmental psychologist and a Senior Lecturer in Developmental Psychology in the Moray House School of Education and Sport. She became Director of the Centre in 2025. Katie’s research focuses on the relationships and school experiences of neurodivergent children and young people, with a particular focus on sibling relationships. Professor Sue Fletcher-WatsonCore member of the Salvesen Mindroom Research CentreLink to Sue's full profileSue is a developmental psychologist and Professor of developmental psychology. Sue is interested in how children develop and learn, and in particular in cases where this follows an unusual trajectory. In her own research Sue has a particular focus on Autism. Dr Catherine CromptonCore member of the Salvesen Mindroom Research CentreLink to Catherine's full profileCatherine is a neuropsychologist and Chancellor's Fellow. Her research explores the different ways that neurodivergent people communicate, and how this relates to wellbeing. She is particularly interested in peer support and community-based participatory research. Dr Samantha FriedmanCore member of the Salvesen Mindroom Research CentreLink to Sam's full profileSamantha is a developmental psychologist and Lecturer in Applied Psychology. Her research focuses on critical perspectives on autism, nature, wellbeing, and the intersection of these topics. She is particularly interested in supporting autistic and otherwise neurodivergent young people through nature-based learning. Dr Karri Gillespie-Smith Core member of the Salvesen Mindroom Research CentreLink to Karri's full profileKarri is a developmental psychologist and a Senior Lecturer in Applied Psychology in the School of Health in Social Science. Karri’s research focuses on social cognition and mental health in neurodivergent groups with and without Intellectual Disabilities. Currently, Karri’s main research focus has been understanding eating disorders in Autistic people with and without ADHD, as well as eating/feeding disorders in groups who have Intellectual Disabilities. Debora GottardelloCore member of the Salvesen Mindroom Research CentreLink to Debora's full profileDebora Gottardello is Lecturer in Human Resource Management and Employment Relations at the University of Edinburgh Business School, UK. She is founder and Director of the NOWI Neurodiversity, Organisations, Work and Intersectionality Lab at the Business School. Her research takes a multidisciplinary and intersectional approach to diversity and inclusion, with a particular focus on neurodiversity at the intersection with other identities This article was published on Wednesday 8 February 2023
