Dr Jane Waite

I joined Aston University as a lecturer in 2017, having spent the previous four years working at the Cerebra Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders as a research fellow and clinical psychologist.
My research focuses on understanding the development of mental health difficulties, and improving the identification of these difficulties, in people with intellectual disabilities and neurodevelopmental disorders. I am currently beginning a programme of work to develop clinical assessment tools for minimally verbal individuals with intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder.
I am passionate about dissemination of research findings to families and clinicians, and I am lead for an online resource that facilitates this process for people with rare genetic syndromes (www.findresources.co.uk).

• BSc with First Class Honours in Psychology, University of Birmingham, 2007

• PhD, University of Birmingham, 2011

• ClinPsyD, University of Birmingham, 2013
  

2017 – date: Lecturer in Psychology, School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University.
2013 – date: Editorial Assistant, Journal of Intellectual Disability Research.
2013 – date: Honorary Research Fellow, Cerebra Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham
2013 – 2017: Research Fellow, Cerebra Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham.
2010 – 2013: Trainee Clinical Psychologist, Black Country Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

Abnormal Psychology

My research focuses on the following areas:

• Describing the cognitive, emotional and behavioural characteristics of people with rare genetic syndromes and intellectual disabilities. Understanding the needs of these populations can help inform and guide clinical interventions.

• Identifying factors that give rise to poor mental health in people with rare genetic syndromes and intellectual disabilities.

• Identifying mental health problems in people with intellectual disabilities who are minimally verbal and cannot self-report

• Adaptation and development of assessment methods for use with people with intellectual disabilities

• Parents’ perceptions of emotional and behavioural difficulties in people with intellectual disabilities
  

Current:

• Expanding accessible resources for neurodevelopmental disorders. Waite., J et al. (PI). Aston Impact Fund. £4545.38.

• Ten-year longitudinal follow-up of people with Runbinstein-Taybi syndrome: Predicting mental health outcomes. Waite, J. et al. (PI). Lejeune Fondation. € 19,993.

• Personal characteristics, mental health and well-being in Bardet-Biedl syndrome. Waite, J. (PI). Baily Thomas Charitable Fund. £75,969.60.

• Towards improved assessment of mental health difficulties in people with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Waite, J., (Joint PI) et al. Autistica. £166,000.

• Developing a clinical screening tool for anxiety in children with severe to profound intellectual disabilities. Waite, J. (PI), Liew, A., Oliver, C., Crawford, H., Ruddick, L. Birmingham Children’s Hospital Research Foundation. £41,227.

• Intervening through information in Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome. Waite, J. (Co-I). University of Birmingham, £2,000.
  

Previous (2013-2016):

• A novel knowledge exchange package for rare genetic syndromes. Economic and Social Research Council Impact Acceleration Account. Waite, J. (PI) et al. £9,646.76.

• Long-term memory (LTM) capacity in people with Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome. Waite, J. (PI) et al. Memory and Learning Theme, University of Birmingham. £2,500.

• Development of a DVD: Cognitive characteristics of Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome. Baily Thomas Charitable Fund. Waite, J. (PI). £500.

• The Development and Evaluation of a DVD for Challenging Behaviour. Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. Waite, J. (Co-I) et al. £25,000.

• Challenging and Adaptive Behaviour in Lowe Syndrome. Lowe Syndrome Foundation. Waite, J. (Co-I) et al. £67,300.
  

Co-supervision of projects conducted by:

Rachel Royston, Cerebra Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Birmingham. Rachel is investigating the factors that lead to anxiety in people with Williams syndrome. 

HPCP Registered (PYL30539)
Society for the Study of Behavioural Phenotypes