People

Principal Investigator

Dr. Clare Harrop is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Sciences at UNC Chapel Hill. She is a member of the UNC Autism Center and an Investigator at the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute. She is affiliated with the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and faculty in the DHS Office of Research and Scholarship. Dr. Harrop received her BSc. in Psychology from Durham University, her MSc. in Reading, Language and Cognition from the University of York, and her Ph.D. in Developmental Psychopathology from the University of Manchester. She completed postdoctoral training at the UCLA Center for Autism Research and Treatment and UNC Chapel Hill. In her spare time, Clare can be found spending time with her family, reading non-academic books, and trying to squeeze in a Peloton ride.

Email: clare_harrop@med.unc.edu

Postdoctoral Fellows

Dr. Kathryn McNaughton is a T32 Postdoctoral Fellow with UNC’s Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities. Kathryn received her PhD in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science from the University of Maryland under the mentorship of Dr. Elizabeth Redcay. Her research investigates neural and cognitive factors involved in peer interactions between autistic and non-autistic youth. As a UNC CIDD T32 fellow, Dr. McNaughton is focused on investigating longitudinal trajectories in social processing, peer interactions, and mental health outcomes for autistic youth.

Email: kathyrn_mcnaughton@med.unc.edu

Project Coordinators
Kimberly Liles is a post-baccalaureate research assistant in the Harrop Lab. Kim graduated in May 2023 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in Human Development and Family Science. During her final semester, she completed an internship at the Harrop Lab before transitioning to work in the lab over the summer. Kim plans on attending graduate school after gaining more experience in research related to neurodevelopmental disorders. Her current interests center around masking and the experiences of late-diagnosed autistic individuals, as well as the impact of sex in relation to these. Outside of the lab, Kim enjoys reading fantasy and science fiction and listening to music.

Email: marieki@live.unc.edu

Clinical Staff

Dr. Tyler McFayden is a licensed Clinical Psychologist and a former postdoctoral fellow. She received her B.S. in Psychology and Education from Davidson College and her Ph.D. in Clinical and Developmental Psychology from Virginia Tech. Tyler’s research focuses on social communication and language in autistic youth; she works primarily on Dr. Harrop’s R01 studying sex differences in autism, conducting diagnostic assessments with children. Outside of work, Tyler loves tending to her house plants, thrift shopping, and spending time with her son.

Email: tyler_mcfayden@med.unc.edu

PhD Students

Alison (Sonny) Russell is a third-year doctoral student in the Developmental Psychology program at UNC Chapel Hill. Sonny earned a B.A. in Neuroscience and Behavior at Vassar College and then spent 3 years post-bac at Dr. Julia Parish-Morris’ Social Attention and Language Lab. Sonny primarily supports the Harrop Lab’s study focused on sex and camouflaging in autism. In her free time, Sonny enjoys crocheting, wrestling yarn away from her cat Pigpen, and boxing.

Email: asruss@unc.edu

Mags McAllister is a third-year doctoral student in the Speech and Hearing Sciences program at UNC and a Royster Fellow. Mags is a double Tarheel and earned her BA in Psychology and Neuroscience at UNC before working on a study of early detection and diagnosis at Duke’s Center for Autism and Brain Development. She also spent two years working on neuroimaging studies on cognition across the lifespan in Duke’s Neurology Department. Mags’ current studies focus is the personal and communicative functions of echolalia and repetitive behaviors for autistic individuals. Mags enjoys backpacking, kayaking, and playing with her water-phobic dog, Maya!

Email: margaret_mcallister@med.unc.edu

Maia Karpinsky is a first-year doctoral student in the Developmental Psychology program. She graduated from Marquette University (May 2022, B.A. Psychology), where she worked as an undergraduate research assistant in the Aging, Imaging and Memory Lab (Dr. Kristy Nielson) and the CARE Lab for Youth Mental Health Equity (Dr. Lindsay Holly). Following graduation, Maia worked as a research assistant in various neuroscience and psychology labs at the University of Minnesota and worked clinically as a residential mental health counselor for adolescents. Maia’s research focuses on risk and protective factors for negative mental health outcomes & suicidal thoughts and behaviors that may be unique to autistic females. Outside of lab, Maia enjoys knitting, reading, drinking too much coffee, and playing with her dogs Isla and Wallace.

Email: karpinm@ad.unc.edu

Master’s Students

Skylar Scearce is a second-year master’s student in the Speech and Hearing Sciences program at UNC. Originally from Apex, North Carolina, Skylar graduated in 2024 from UNC-Greensboro with a B.S. with honors in Speech Pathology and a B.A in Religious Studies. Skylar is interested in voice and fluency disorders. Outside of academics, Skylar enjoys teaching horseback riding lessons, thrifting, and trying new coffee shops.

Email: skylar_scearce@med.unc.edu

Undergraduate Research Assistants

Cecelia Young is a Senior from Black Mountain, North Carolina. She is currently pursing a bachelors degree in human development and family science. Cecelia ultimately hopes to work as a therapist specializing in disordered eating. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, running, and cooking.

Email: cayongg@unc.edu

Tara Cooleen is a senior from Winston Salem, NC pursuing a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Neuroscience. After graduating, she plans to apply to medical school to become an emergency medicine physician. In her free time, Tara enjoys hiking, spending time at the beach, reading, and babysitting.

Email: cooleen@unc.edu

Amelia Coates is a junior from Boston, MA currently pursuing a B.S. in Neuroscience and a B.A. in Women’s and Gender Studies. She is the recipient of the Joseph E. and Grace Needham Pogue Scholarship, which honors students who work for the cause of greater diversity and understanding at UNC. After graduating, she hopes to become a Physician Assistant.

Email: ameliaec@unc.edu

Akiah Schoenhoff is a junior from Miami, Florida. She is currently pursuing a B.S. in Neuroscience and Psychology with a minor in Biology. After graduating from UNC Chapel Hill, she plans on applying to medical school to become a child psychiatrist. In her free time, Akiah enjoys getting tan at the beach, going to the gym, and serving on the host team at church on Sundays.

Email: akiah@email.unc.edu

Lucy Tomforde is a sophomore from Cary, North Carolina. She is currently pursuing a Bachelors of Science in Psychology. After graduating she plans to attend graduate school. In her free time, she enjoys volunteering, thrifting and hanging out with friends and family.

Email: tomforde@unc.edu

Arshia Pal is a senior from Weddington, North Carolina pursuing a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Health and Society. She is working towards destigmatizing mental health in her community through her involvement in health-related organizations. Arshia is working towards a career in medicine. She enjoys baking, playing with her dog, and spending time with friends.