PhD

Associate Clinical Professor

Educational background

• Undergraduate: University of Texas at Arlington, BA., Psychology
• Graduate: Sam Houston State University, MA., Psychology
• Graduate: University of Houston, PhD., School Psychology

Biography

Dr. Kerri P. Nowell is an assistant clinical professor and licensed psychologist. Housed at the Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Dr. Nowell’s research focuses broadly on improving the diagnostic process for individuals suspected of having ASD. Specifically, her clinical research to date has focused on diagnostic evaluation and characterization of the ASD phenotype. Her scientific contributions fall into three major categories: 1) characterizing phenotypic profiles in ASD with an aim to identify possible subpopulations within the spectrum 2) working on interdisciplinary research teams to examine the relation between behavioral phenotype and genotype, and 3) examining how socio-demographic and individual factors may influence timeliness of ASD diagnosis. She receives research funding from the Simon’s Foundation, Apple, and the CDC.

Current active grants

Principal Investigator: Pilot Catatonia Investigation (2017 – 2018)

Funded by the Sears Trust. Total Funded: 10,000

• Project to evaluate a measure developed to evaluate treatment effects in young adults with neurodevelopmental disorders (primarily Down Syndrome and ASD) and catatonia

Recent publications

Nguyen, T., Nowell, K., Bodner, K. E., & Obafemi-Ajayi, T.  (2018). Ensemble validation paradigm for intelligent data analysis in autism spectrum disorders. Accepted for presentation and publication in the IEEE CIBCB 2018 conference proceedings. 

Nowell, K. P., Goin-Kochel, R. P., McQuillin, S., & Mire, S. (2017). Intellectual functioning and autism spectrum disorder: Can profiles inform subpopulation identification? Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. doi 10.007/s40489-017-0118-0

Current projects

Types of Special Interests in ASD.  (in collaboration with Stephen Kanne)

• Survey study to collect detailed information about types of special interests and preoccupations in a large sample of children/adolescents with ASD. One of the research questions is to ascertain any differences across gender.

Recent presentations

Miles, J. H., Ithman, M. L., Muckerman, J., & Nowell, K. P. (2018). Catatonia in Down syndrome: Prospective Study Indicates No Distinctions between Catatonia in DS and Other Psychiatric or Medical Disorders. Poster accepted for presentation at the Down Syndrome Medical Interest Group – USA Annual Symposium, Sacramento, CA.

Nowell, K.P. & Jorgenson, C (2018, May). Types of restricted interests and preoccupations: Are there differences across sex? Poster presented at the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR), Rotterdam, Netherlands

Nowell, K. P. (Invited Discussant) (2017, August). In S. S. Mire (Chair), Autism spectrum disorder: Psychologists’ opportunities for cross-setting practice and research.  Symposium presented at the American Psychological Association’s 125th Annual Convention, Washington, D.C.

Miles, J. H., Ithman, M. L., Muckerman, J., & Nowell, K. P. (2017). Catatonia in Down syndrome: An additional treatment option. Poster presented at the Down Syndrome Medical Interest Group – USA Annual Symposium, Sacramento, CA.

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