Research

Current Projects

Characterizing Caregiver Reports of Challenging Behavior Among Children with Syndromic IDD: Exploring Syndrome and Diagnostic Specific Difference from a Behavior RCT

  • First author for a poster presentation aiming to examine patterns in challenging behavior in children with syndromic IDD across two well-characterized neurogenic syndromes (PMS and FXS) and the impact of an autism diagnosis on behavioral profiles and family treatment goals.
  • Abstract submitted and currently under review for presentation at the 58th Annual Gatlinburg Conference.

Pediatric Sleep in Angelman Syndrome Populations: A Systematic Review

  • Collaborator on a systematic review of sleep research in pediatric Angelman Syndrome populations.
  • Extracted data from 20+ articles that met inclusion criteria, wrote and contributed to Introduction and Methods sections, created tables that met PRISMA guidelines.
  • Aims to describe sleep profiles in children with Angelman Syndrome, an understudied yet cascading developmental domain, to inform intervention that could improve quality of life for children and their families.

Use of CBT for Internalizing Symptoms among Autistic Children and Adolescents: Meta Analysis & Systematic Review of RCTs

  • Collaborator on a meta analysis and systematic review of RCTS examining CBT or CBT-derived interventions for internalizing symptoms in children and adolescents with ASD.
  • Reviewed 300+ abstracts and completed 100+ full text reviews.
  • Aims to provide an update on the literature on a widely-studied area of research.

Web INtervention for Youth with Genetic Syndromes (WINGS) Protocol Publication

  • Collaborator on a protocol paper for the behavioral clinical trial, the Web INtervention for Youth with Genetic Syndromes (WINGS) study.
  • Wrote and contributed to the Methods section and developed visuals that align with CONSORT and SPIRIT guidelines.

Posters & Oral Presentations

First Author Projects

Poster

Prevalence and Priority: Characterizing Top Challenging Behavior Intervention Targets Across Caregiver and Clinican Report Measures in a Behavioral RCT for Children with Syndromic IDD

25th International Society for Autism Research Annual Meeting, Prague, Czech Republic

Poster

Caregivers' experience with family-centered service delivery across services in their community for individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities

24th International Society for Autism Research Annual Meeting, Seattle, Washington

Poster

A Multi-Perspective Case Study on Implementing a Novel College Student Coach Role in a Service-Learning Club: Oakland Academy Students in Action Team

National Conference on Undergraduate Research, Pittsburgh, PA

Poster

Students in Action: Fostering a K-12 School and University Partnership to Promote Community Engagement and Professional Development through Bi-Annual Conferences

National Conference on Undergraduate Research, Pittsburgh, PA

Poster

Nonverbal and verbal scaffolding by caregivers of infants and toddlers with an elevated likelihood for autism during caregiver-child play

23rd International Society for Autism Research Annual Meeting, Melbourne, Australia

Poster

Unlocking the potential of community-based services to promote holistic life outcomes for individuals with autism and developmental disabilities

National Conference on Undergraduate Research, Long Beach, CA

Oral Presentation

Early joint attention and language development in neurogenetic syndromes

33rd Butler Undergraduate Research Conference, Indianapolis, IN

Oral Presentation

“Students in Action”: College students’ experiences in facilitating middle and high school students’ community projects

Purdue Undergraduate Research Conference, West Lafayette, IN

Poster

Predictive value of early joint attention for later absolute and relative language abilities in neurogenetic syndromes

2023 Purdue Autism Research Center Annual Conference, West Lafayette, IN

Secondary Author Projects

Poster West, M., Bajorat, F., Zeri, H., Schwichtenberg, A. J. (2025, April 4). A descriptive analysis of current research on sleep in AS and FXS populations. [Poster Presentation]. Purdue Autism Research Center Conference, West Lafayette, IN.
Poster Neo, W. S., Zeri, H., Estrada, K., Anthony, F., Kelleher, B., & Hamrick, L. (2024, May 15–18). Prolonged object play during toddlerhood: A candidate behavioral marker of increased likelihood for autism spectrum disorder. [Poster Presentation]. 23rd International Society for Autism Research Annual Meeting, Melbourne, Australia.
Oral Presentation Kelleher, B., Estrada, K., Zeri, H. N., Springer-Wheeler, D., Seidl, A., Hamrick, L., Neo, W. S., Harold, R., Galvez, K. O., & Foti, D. (2023, November 3). PANDABox (Parent Administered Neurodevelopmental Assessment) for remote monitoring of high-risk children. [Oral Presentation]. NIH Remote Neuropsychological Assessments in Research: Present and Future Needs.
Oral Presentation Anthony, F. O., Zeri, H. N., Neo, W. S., & Kelleher, B. L. (2022, October 20). Conducting telehealth assessments with PANDABox. [Conference Demonstration]. ABC's of Remote Assessment: Advances in Biobehavioral and Clinical Health Assessments, West Lafayette, IN.

Publications

Honors Thesis

Unlocking the Potential: Community-Based Services


Project Overview

  • My undergraduate thesis focused on providing insight into caregivers' perspectives of day habilitation services for individuals with developmental disabilities, a widely used yet understudied service.
  • I designed a survey to assess caregivers' experiences with multiple services for their children with developmental disabilities in the community, from in-school to private services.
  • I compared day habilitation's alignment with a family-centered model, focus on recreational and community skills, and accessibility for families of multiple backgrounds, to other services families access in the community.
  • I found that families value day habilitation service's family-centered approach and focus on building recreational skills, providing a unique and high-quality intervention experience.