About the Center for Autism Research

Senior Leadership

Robert Schultz, PhD

Scientific Director

Robert Schultz, PhD

Bob Schultz, PhD, is the Director of the Center for Autism Research (CAR), a multi-faceted research program at CHOP working to understand the causes of the autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and to develop better treatments.

Judith Miller, PhD

Clinical Training Director

Judith Miller, PhD

Judi Miller, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and the Clinical Training Director for CAR. She is also Autism Director for CHOP’s Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disorders (LEND) program, ensuring the next generation of master clinicians are prepared to deliver informed and compassionate care.

David Mandell, ScD

Associate Director

David Mandell, ScD

David Mandell is CAR's Associated Director and also directs Penn's Center for Mental Health Policy and Services Research. His work combines epidemiology and health services research to learn the best ways to organize, finance and deliver services to children with psychiatric and developmental disabilities.

Susan Levy, MD, MPH

Medical Director

Susan Levy, MD, MPH

Susan E. Levy, MD, MPH is CAR's medical director and an attending developmental pediatrician at CHOP. She is also a Professor of Pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Levy's research focuses on the etiology of autism, improving early detection and intervention and supporting shared decision-making.

Tiffany Ryan-D'urso, MS, MS

Administrative Director

Tiffany Ryan-D'urso, MS, MS

Tiffany is CAR's Administrative Director, responsible for the financial, administrative, strategic planning, human resource, and organizational processes and infrastructure that support CAR’s research mission.

Keith Bartley, MS

Principal Investigator

Keith Bartley, MS

Keith Bartley co-leads CAR's Technology and Innovation program, where he uses advanced perceptual computing technologies to understand autism and behavior, particularly with social communication.

Amanda Bennett, MD, MPH

Developmental Pediatrician

Amanda Bennett, MD, MPH

Amanda Bennett, MD, MPH, is a Developmental Pediatrician at CHOP and is site director for the Autism Treatment Network at CHOP, funded by Autism Speaks. Dr. Bennett's research focuses on novel treatments for ASD through medication trials.

Lisa Blaskey, PhD

Pediatric Neuropsychologist

Lisa Blaskey, PhD

Lisa Blaskey, PhD is a co-investigator and clinician at CAR including studies exploring electrophysiological underpinnings of language impairment in autism spectrum disorders and risk factors and precursors to ASD.

John Herrington, PhD

Faculty Researcher

John Herrington, PhD

John Herrington, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Child Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at the Perelman School of Medicine. His work concentrates on social and emotional information processes among children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), with a particular emphasis on the co-occurrence of anxiety disorders in ASD.

Emily Kuschner, PhD

Faculty Researcher

Emily Kuschner, PhD

Emily S. Kuschner, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist and scientist at CAR and in CHOP's Lurie Family Foundations MEG Center. Her programs of research involve treating food selectivity in individuals with ASD and developing clinical support protocols to help children of all ages, cognitive and language levels participate in MEG and MRI research.

Jennifer Maldarelli, PhD

Clinical Psychologist

Jennifer Maldarelli, PhD

Jennifer Maldarelli, PhD, is a licensed psychologist at CAR and in CHOP's Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, where she provides developmental and diagnostic assessment services to families.

Joseph McCleery, PhD

Developmental Neuroscientist

Joseph McCleery, PhD

Joe McCleery, PhD, is a Developmental Neuroscientist at CAR. His research examines the neural mechanisms of social processing and perception in infants, children and adults with and without ASD; the genetic impacts of brain functioning; and the development of cognitive-behavioral interventions.

Juhi Pandey, PhD

Faculty Researcher

Juhi Pandey, PhD

Dr. Pandey is a pediatric neuropsychologist and scientist at the Center for Autism Research as well as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

Julia Parish-Morris, PhD

Faculty Researcher

Julia Parish-Morris, PhD

Julia Parish-Morris is a Research Assistant Professor in Psychiatry at the Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania and a Principle Investigator at the Center for Autism Research. Her research interests include language development in autism spectrum disorder.

Birkan Tunç, PhD

Faculty Researcher

Birkan Tunç, PhD

Birkan Tunç, Ph.D., is a computational scientist CAR and a Research Assistant Professor in Psychiatry at University of Pennsylvania. His primary area of research is the application of machine learning and statistical data analysis in various domains such as psychopathology, neuroimaging, connectomics, and complex network analysis.

Benjamin Yerys, PhD

Faculty Researcher

Benjamin Yerys, PhD

Benjamin E. Yerys, Ph.D., is a child psychologist in the Center for Autism Research (CAR) at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Dr. Yerys leads CAR’s research on the brain basis and treatment of attention and executive function.

Ayana King Pointer

Administrative Liaison

Ayana King Pointer

Ayana has enjoyed working at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) for many years. Ayana provides high-level administrative support to our Center's Scientific Director, Training Director and Administrative Director.

Lindsey DeMarco, BA

Recruitment Coordinator

Lindsey DeMarco, BA

Lindsey DeMarco is the Recruitment Coordinator at CAR. She works connect families with research opportunities that are personailzed to their interests and needs, and works to educated the broader community about the opportunity to advance science by participating in clinical research.

Susannah Horner, LCSW

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Susannah Horner, LCSW

Susannah Horner, LCSW is the Clinic Social Worker for the Center for Autism Research. She provides supports for the clinicians and families that are involved with the center, manages the CAR Autism Roadmap™ resource website, and is available to provide information and resources to families.

Kathryn Lowe, MS, CGC

Human Subjects Manager

Kathryn Lowe, MS, CGC

Katie Lowe is a certified genetic counselor at the Center for Autism Research (CAR). She is the project coordinator for a study designed to help understand the genetic causes of autism, and will give feedback to families regarding their genetic testing results.

Dana Weidig

Outreach Manager

Dana Weidig

As CAR’s communicator, Dana develops all of CAR’s written materials and Web content, from blog posts, videos and marketing materials to social media and the CAR e-Newsletter. She organizes CAR’s events and connects CAR faculty members with speaking opportunities and the media.