People
Grace Baranek PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA ⟩
Associate Dean, Chair, and Mrs. T.H. Chan Professor of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
Dr. Grace Baranek’s research focuses on the identification of behavioral and neurophysiological risk markers in young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and related neurodevelopmental disorders, primarily in the domains of sensory reactivity and regulation, motor functions, and social communication. Trained as both an occupational therapist and developmental psychologist, she is an internationally renowned expert on the clinical characterization of sensory features in children with ASD and on the impact of these heterogeneous presentations on child and family outcomes using mixed methods research. Dr. Baranek has developed numerous assessment tools, including the First Year(s) Inventory and the Sensory Experiences Questionnaire. As a Principal Investigator (PI) of the Parents and Infants Engaged (PIE) project funded by NICHD, she is developing novel intervention to promote caregivers’ awareness and responsiveness to their infant’s sensory reactivity and prelinguistic communication in everyday life. During her career, Dr. Baranek has served as the PI or Co-PI of multiple extramural grants funded by federal agencies and private foundations and is the author of more than 90 peer-reviewed papers. She has been a member of working groups of the National Academy of Science and the National Institutes of Health to establish guidelines for evidence-based practices and served as a technical expert for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Committee on comparative effectiveness of interventions targeting sensory challenges in children with ASD. As the director of the new Innovations in Neurodevelopmental Sensory Processing Research (insp!re) Laboratory, she leads a dynamic multidisciplinary team of investigators, students, and postdoctoral fellows, all of whom are dedicated to promoting optimal engagement and development for young children with neurodevelopmental differences. Dr. Baranek also serves on the executive committee of the Program for Early Autism Research, Leadership, and Service (PEARLS), a multisite, interdisciplinary network of researchers committed to earlier identification and interventions for young children at-risk for ASD and related neurodevelopmental disorders.
Dr. Baranek’s favorite occupations: She enjoys yoga (by herself!) and cooking and hiking with her son and husband in her spare time.
John Sideris PhD ⟩
Professor of Research
Director of Instrument Development and Psychometric/Statistical Analysis
Dr. Sideris is a quantitative psychologist and psychometrician. He has served as the data analyst on many projects ranging from investigations of children with developmental delays — particularly with regard to children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and related syndromes — to studies of early childcare programs. His studies of children with delays have focused primarily on children and adolescents with ASD, Down syndrome, and FXS. Much of this research has centered on their sensory features, social engagement, language, neural processes, and developmental trajectories. In early childcare, his work has focused on the measurement of childcare quality generally and as it relates to children with disabilities. Dr. Sideris has particular expertise in longitudinal modeling (e.g., change over time in children with developmental delays) and in latent variable models (e.g. factor analysis of existing and new measures).
Dr. Sideris’s favorite occupation: He is a great lover of comedy and can frequently be found shaking with laughter at one of LA’s great comedy theaters.
Julia Lisle OTD, OTR/L ⟩
Assistant Professor of Clinical Occupational Therapy
Dr. Julia Lisle received her Bachelor of Science in Special Education and Rehabilitation from the University of Arizona, and both her Master of Arts and Doctorate of Occupational Therapy degrees from the University of Southern California. Dr. Lisle completed her doctoral residency with the USC Chan Autism Initiative, where she engaged in research, community consultations with local museums, and supported the TRUST project. She has also completed advanced training in hippotherapy through the American Hippotherapy Association. Dr. Lisle worked clinically in early intervention and in outpatient pediatrics using hippotherapy. Within the division Dr. Lisle teaches in the Post-professional Master’s program and Entry-level Doctorate program. She also serves as the Lab Manager for the Innovations in Neurodevelopmental Sensory Processing Research lab. Her research interests include sensory processing, autism, and early intervention.
Allison Phillips OTD, OTR/L ⟩
Assistant Professor of Clinical Occupational Therapy
Dr. Allison Phillips received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from USC, her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Tufts University, and her Doctor of Occupational Therapy from USC. Within the Chan division, she works primarily in the Innovations in Neurodevelopmental Sensory Processing Research (insp!re) laboratory. As the lab’s Clinical Assessment Training Coordinator, she trains doctoral and master’s level students and administers early autism screening tools and assessments. Her research interests include early risk signs for autism and early autism screening with high-risk infants and understudied populations abroad. In addition to her role in the insp!re lab, she assists the academic fieldwork team with out of area and out of state level II fieldwork outreach.
Emily Sopkin OTD, OTR/L ⟩
Assistant Professor of Clinical Occupational Therapy
Emily Sopkin received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from California State University, Fullerton, and both her Master of Arts and Doctorate of Occupational Therapy degrees from the University of Southern California. She also completed the USC Chan Sensory Integration Continuing Education Certificate Program in 2017. Dr. Sopkin studied community programming for individuals with autism during her doctoral residency with USC Chan’s autism initiative, and continues to consult with local museums on ways of expanding their access and inclusivity efforts. Additional interests include the role of creative and performing arts in occupational therapy practice. Currently, Dr. Sopkin is facilitating the development, implementation and monitoring of the USC Chan 2019-2023 Strategic Plan.
Sapir Soker-Elimaliah PhD ⟩
Postdoctoral Scholar
Dr. Sapir Soker-Elimaliah earned her PhD in Developmental Psychology (2022) and Master’s degree in psychology from the City University of New York. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Education from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. Her current research explores the physiological mechanisms underlying sensory processing, as well as restricted and repetitive behaviors, in autistic children and infants at increased likelihood for autism. Dr. Soker-Elimaliah brings clinical experience working with young autistic children as a preschool teacher and behavioral therapist. Since 2021, she has served as an initiative leader for the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) Student and Trainee Committee.
Katherine Hayes ⟩
Data Management Coordinator
Katherine has a BS in Global Health and a Master of Public Health in Biostatistics and Epidemiology from the University of Southern California. While working towards her Master’s degree, Katherine was a teaching assistant for multiple undergraduate courses in the Health Promotion/Disease Prevention department at USC including “Environmental Impacts on the Brain,” “Behavior and Education Strategies for Nutrition and Fitness,” and “Obesity and Health.” She also worked as a student researcher assisting with qualitative and quantitative data collection, management, and analysis for a study funded by both USC’s Keck School of Medicine and the LA County Department of Public Health that investigated smoke-free policies in multi-unit housing in Los Angeles. She is passionate about making a positive impact on people’s lives through health research.
Katherine’s favorite occupations: traveling, going to concerts, trying new restaurants, and singing.
Savannah Gluck MOT, OTR/L ⟩
PhD Student in Occupational Science
Savannah received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from St. Ambrose University. She is an occupational therapist with experience in public schools, charter schools, and clinics near the central coast and Bay Area in California. Her research interests are focused on early indicators that may lead to an autism diagnosis, including sensory processing and communication differences. She is particularly interested in strengths-based parent education in relationship to screening, diagnosis, and early-intervention. Additionally, researching the relationships between physiological markers and the aforementioned factors. She plans to pursue a career in academia after her time in the insp!re lab.
Savannah’s favorite occupations: She enjoys dancing (ballet in particular), yoga, rock-climbing, and adventuring outdoors with her pug and fiancé.
Yu (Tony) Tang ⟩
PhD Student in Occupational Science
Tony is a licensed occupational therapist. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Economics from New York University and his occupational therapy degrees from University of Southern California. After working as a pediatric occupational therapist in China for three years, he decided to pursue his PhD at Chan. His current interests focus on children’s development and the support needed for neurodivergent individuals throughout their life cycles. Some of the specific aspects of his inquiries include: What are protective (predictive) factors that can enhance the developmental outcomes of autistic children? What are the factors that can mediate the risk factors of disadvantaged autistic children? What are factors that can foster autonomy and meaningful occupational engagement among autistic children and youth? How to create culturally attuned sensory and occupation-based assessment tools for different age groups?
Tony’s favorite occupation: he enjoys traveling, trying new foods, and playing tennis and badminton.
Brianna Stevens PT, DPT ⟩
PhD Student in Occupational Science
Brianna is a licensed physical therapist with a BA in Biology from Columbia College and a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Washington University in St. Louis, where she developed a keen interest in sensory processing in early childhood. She has clinical experience working with diverse pediatric populations in Southern California, with a special interest in supporting developmental outcomes in early intervention. Her research interests include learning and attention differences in neurodiverse young children, identifying neural structures and biomarkers for early diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders, and supporting meaningful participation in occupations among neurodiverse children.
Brianna’s favorite occupations: Exercising with friends, going to new coffee shops, and “nerding out” in D&D and other RPGs.
Megan Kim
Research Student Worker
Megan is currently a student in the Entry-Level OTD Program at USC and previously received her Bachelor of Science in Psychological and Brain Sciences from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her experience at UCSB’s Koegel Autism Center provided her with a background in early intervention and neurodiversity-affirming practice, solidifying her interest in working with individuals with autism. She is excited to explore the relationship between infants and caregivers through a child development lens. Megan’s research interests align with the insp!re lab, as she is passionate about sensory regulation and social communication in pediatric settings.
Audrey Taylor
Research Student Worker
Audrey is currently a student in the Entry-Level OTD Program at USC and previously received her Bachelor of Arts in Child and Adolescent Development from California State University, Northridge. During her time at CSUN, she was a research assistant studying the role of language in children’s cognitive development, with a focus on bilingual perception and growth mindset. While volunteering at different pediatric occupational therapy clinics in Los Angeles, she gained insight on interacting with children with a wide range of disabilities. Audrey’s current interests include exploring early risk signs of autism, learning about interventions that support caregivers and infants in fostering development in social communication, and sensory regulation.