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Clare Harrop, PhD

Research Assistant Professor
Translational Research Methodologist

  • Application of translational research methods (EEG, eye tracking and other physiological methods)
  • Combination of behavioral and psychophysiological methods
  • Early career grant applications – K awards (K01, KL2), pre and postdoctoral fellowships (foundations, F32)

clare_harrop@med.unc.edu

Harrop Research

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I am a developmental psychologist specializing in the application of novel methodologies to understand early developmental trajectories in children with and at risk for neurodevelopmental disorders, with a specific focus on sex differences in symptom presentation and underlying mechanisms. My research focuses on the application of translational research methods to understand observed phenotypic and trajectory differences between males and females with ASD (funded by a KL2 Career Development Award, UNC’s CTSA and Autism Science Foundation).

Education

  • PhD, Developmental Psychopathology, University of Manchester (UK), 2011
  • MSc, Reading, Language and Cognition (Psychology), University of York (UK), 2007
  • BSc, Psychology, University of Durham (UK), 2006

Awards and Honors

  • Office of Postdoctoral Affairs Travel Award (2016)
  • International Society For Autism Research Travel Award (2015)
  • Autism Speaks Toddler Treatment Network Young Investigator
  • 2017 NIH Future Research Leader (2017)

Selected Publications

Harrop, C., Hudry, K., Green, J., & the PACT Consortium (online first). Play Complexity and Toy Engagement in Preschoolers with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Do Girls and Boys Differ? Autism

Harrop, C., McBee, M., & Boyd, B (2016). How Are Child Restricted and Repetitive Behaviors Associated with Caregiver Stress Overtime? A Parallel Process Multilevel Growth Model. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 46(5), 1773-1783

Harrop, C., Gulsrud, A., Shih, W., Hovsepyan, L*., & Kasari, C. (2016) Characterizing caregiver responses to restricted and repetitive behaviors in toddlers with autism spectrum disorder. Autism, 20(3), 330-342.

Harrop, C., Gulsrud, A., & Kasari, C. (2015) Does gender moderate core deficits in ASD? An investigation into restricted and repetitive behaviors in girls and boys with ASD. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 45(11), 3644-3655.

Harrop, C. (2015) Evidence-Based Caregiver Mediated Interventions for Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: The Case of Restricted and Repetitive Behaviors. Autism, 19(6), 662-672.

Harrop, C., Shire, S., Gulsrud, A., Chang, Y., Ishijma, E., Lawton, K., & Kasari, C (2015). Does gender moderate core deficits in ASD? An investigation into social-communication and play. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 45(3), 766-777.

Sethi, C., Harrop, C., Zhanq, W., Pritchett, J., Whitten, A., & Boyd. B. (online first). Parent and professional perspectives on behavioral inflexibility in autism spectrum disorders: A qualitative study. Autism

Harrop, C., Amsbury, J, Wright-Towner, S., Reichow, B & Boyd, B. (online first). That’s what I like: The use of circumscribed interests within intervention for individuals with autism spectrum disorder. A systematic review. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Harrop, C., Jones, D., Zheng, S., Nowell, S., Boyd, B., & Sasson, N (online first). Sex differences in social attention in autism. Autism Research

Harrop, C., Jones, D., Zheng, S., Nowell, S., Boyd, B., & Sasson, N (online first). Circumscribed interests and attention in autism: The role of biological sex. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disabilities

Research Interests

  • Restricted and repetitive behaviors in ASD
  • Sex differences in ASD
  • Early intervention
  • Translational research methods

Research funding

  • 2018 – 2019 – Autism Speaks Central Auditory Processing Disorders Pilot Grant (Investigator). Understanding pathways to auditory processing disorders in infants at high risk for ASD
  • 2018 – 2021 NC TraCS KL2 Career Development Award (PI). Female Specific Electrophysiological Biomarkers in Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • 2018 – 2019 UNC Pilot Sleep Grant (Co-PI). Applying EEG and Behavioral Methods to Understand Sleep Issues in Infants At-Risk for Autism

Affiliated groups and grants

  • Behavioral Inflexibility in Developmental Disabilities (PI: Boyd)
  • CIDD Autism Journal Club