Dr Karri Gillespie-Smith

Senior Lecturer in Applied Psychology

Biography

Background

In 2011 I completed a PhD at the University of Stirling on "Eye-tracking explorations of attention to faces for communicative cues in Autism Spectrum Disorders". Following this (2011-2012) I worked at the University of Aberdeen, Self Lab, as a Post-Doctoral Fellow investigating the self-referential effect (SRE) in children and how the SRE impacts on encoding and recall within learning environments. In 2012-2013 I was a researcher in the MRC Centre for Reproductive Health at the University of Edinburgh exploring infant's early cognitive processing using eye-tracking methodology. After the completion of my research post I was based at Heriot Watt University as a Teaching Fellow (2013-2014), then University of West of Scotland as a Lecturer (2014-2019).  I was then appointed as a lecturer in Applied Psychology at the University of Edinburgh in 2019 and promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2022.   

Postgraduate teaching

Dissertation Supervisor - MSc Mental Health (Psychology Conversion)

Dissertation Supervisor - MSc in Applied Psychology for Children and Young People 

Academic tutor/Supervisor - Doctorate in Clinical Psychology

Open to PhD supervision enquiries?

Yes

Research summary

I am a Developmental Psychologist interested in linking neurocognitive mechanisms and social/cognitive processes to mental health outcomes in Autistic groups with and without Intellectual Disabilities.  To explore these processes I am also interested in other extraneous variables (i.e. intersectionality, relationships, coping strategies and trauma) and the role they may play in the relationship between socio-cognitive processes and mental health.  I am passionate about including under-represented groups in my research  which includes Autistic people who use alternative communication (historically referred to as non-speaking) and Trans/Non-binary Autistic people.  I have experience using a wide range of experimental methods including eye-tracking, behavioural tasks, neuropsychological batteries and surveys. Currently I am working on several research areas, please see some of these listed below.  I am interested in collaborating in or supervising projects related to any of the research projects listed below.  

Current research interests

* Understanding the underpinning neurocognitive factors that contribute to poor mental health in childhood; * Exploring mental health in under-represented Autistic groups including those who use alternative communication and those who are LGBTQIA+ * Eating disordered behaviour in Autistic groups.

Knowledge exchange

I submitted written evidence in the UK COVID-19 select committee inquiry on ‘Wellbeing and the long-term impact of the pandemic on parents and families’.  UK COVID-19 select committee meeting June 2021 - https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/36505/pdf/

I have also contributed to a blog summarising some initial findings on the impact of COVID on parents and caregivers of children with intellectual disabilities - https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/covid19perspectives/2021/05/31/covid-19-and-caregivers-of-children-with-intellectual-disabilities-id-across-the-uk-by-karri-gillespie-smith/

We also recently hosted a photo exhibition representing the experiences of Eating Disorders in Autistic groups - You’re Not Alone – Inspace and the images are located here - https://edacresearch.co.uk/virtual-exhibition

 

 

Affiliated research centres

Project activity

Social and cognitive processing in neurodivergent groups and related mental health outcomes

Children with Intellectual Disabilities and their families mental health 

Autism and Social Media.

Mental Health and wellbeing in under-represented Autistic groups (those who use alternative communication and those who are LGBTQIA+)

Eating disordered behaviour in Autistic groups

Current project grants

2023-2026 UKRI/MRC – Enhancing Eating Disorder research networks: The Eating Disorders and Autism Collaborative - EDAC, (Co-Lead with Dr Fiona Duffy)

Past project grants

2023-2024 Wellcome Translational Fund - ‘Parent Seeks Help’: Co-design of preclinic triage tool for parents/carers to find the right care for
youth anxiety and depression (Co-App)
2021 - 2022 UKRI/ESRC "Road to recovery: Understanding the impact of COVID and recovery phases on children and young people with Intellectual Disabilities and their families' funded by the Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC), as part of UK Research & Innovation’s rapid response to Covid-19 (Lead)
2020 - 2021 Scottish Institute Policing Research, Small Grant Competition. Custody Suite Case Study (Co-App)
2019 - 2020 Scottish Institute Policing Research, Small Grant Competition. Local Approaches to Policing (Co-Lead with Dr Zara Brodie)
2018 - 2019 Experimental Psychological Society, Small Grants scheme, (Lead)
2017-ongoing Vice Principal Fund, Internal University Fund, University of West of Scotland, (Co-App)

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