Professor Caroline Richards PhD, ClinPsyD

• BSc (Hons) Psychology, 2007, University of Birmingham
• PhD Psychology, 2012, University of Birmingham
• ClinPsyD, 2015, University of Birmingham

Professor Richards completed her BSc in Psychology at the University of Birmingham in 2007 and completed her PhD in 2012, supervised by Professor Chris Oliver. Her PhD was in self-injurious behaviour in children and adults with autism spectrum disorder and combined large epidemiological surveys of risk markers, with single case experimental designs using fine grained behavioural observations. In 2010, alongside the completion of her PhD, Professor Richards undertook training as a Clinical Psychologist at the University of Birmingham. She completed this training in 2015, which included specialist placements conducting assessments of children ‘at risk’ of autism and a seminal meta-analytic study of autism characteristics in rare genetic syndromes.

In 2015 she began her post-doctoral fellowship at the Cerebra Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, leading work assessing sleep problems in children with rare genetic syndromes. In June 2017 she was appointed as Lecturer in Neurodevelopmental Disorders at the University of Birmingham and promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2020.

Professor Richards is Module Lead for ‘Atypical development and early intervention’.

• Georgie Agar, PhD candidate – University of Birmingham
• Lucy Licence, PhD candidate – University of Birmingham
• Catherine Laverty, PhD candidate – University of Birmingham
• Andrea Thomas, PhD candidate – University of Birmingham
• Alice Winsor, PhD candidate – University of Birmingham (co-supervisor)
• Connor Keating, PhD candidate – University of Birmingham (co-supervisor)
• Kaysha Lucas, ClinPsyD candidate – University of Birmingham
• Natalie Hallett, ClinPsyD candidate – University of Birmingham
• Elizabeth Hawkins, ClinPsyD candidate – University of Birmingham

Professor Richards welcomes applications from talented and enthusiastic students who are interested in the study of neurodevelopmental disorders. For informal enquiries about potential projects please email c.r.richards@bham.ac.uk.

Scopus Author ID, 7201655991, https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=7201655991

Research interests

Self-injury/Self-harm
Identifying risk markers for self-injury in neurodevelopmental groups to understanding mechanisms underpinning aetiology and maintenance. This includes work on physical health and pain, and impulsivity. Developing and delivering robust, preventative early interventions to reduce self-injury and other behaviour disorders. Contrasting development of self-harm in children with neurodevelopmental disorders and self-harm in typically developing children and adolescents. 

Sleep Disorders
Using direct (actigraphy) and informant report measures to delineate sleep difficulties in autism and rare genetic syndromes (e.g., Angelman syndrome, Smith-Magenis syndrome, Tuberous Sclerosis Complex). 

Social Development and Autism in ‘At Risk’ Populations
Understanding social cognition and social functioning in individuals with rare genetic syndromes (e.g., Phelan-McDermid syndrome) and in children born prematurely.

Professor Richards is Associate Editor for Research in Developmental Disabilities and Secretary for the Autism Spectrum Disorder Special Interest Research Group, International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.