Francesca Happé

Francesca Happé is a Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at the MRC SGDP Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London (KCL). Previously, she held roles including Reader in Cognitive Neuroscience (2000–2008) and Senior Scientist (1996–2000) at the same institution. Her research focuses on autism spectrum disorders, social cognition, cognitive style, and neurodevelopmental disorders.

Education:

• B.A. (HONS) Experimental Psychology, Top First, Corpus Christi College, Oxford University (1988)
• Ph.D. (Psychology), University College London (UCL), funded by an MRC Studentship (1991)

Research & Professional Contributions:
Happé has advised the MRC’s Review of Autism Research (2001), edited the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry (2000–2006), and served on editorial boards for journals like Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders and Mind and Language. She has delivered plenary lectures globally, including at the Royal Society–British Academy Discussion Meeting on ‘Talent and Autism’ (2008).

Awards & Recognition:

• 1998 British Psychological Society Spearman Medal
• 1999 Experimental Psychology Society Prize
• 1999 Royal Institution ‘Scientists for the New Century’ Lecturer

Public Engagement:
Happé has appeared in documentaries (e.g., Channel 4’s ‘Living Science’ series) and contributed to media including BBC and The Daily Telegraph. She regularly speaks at schools and academic conferences worldwide.

Supervision: Oversees >10 PhD students now in prestigious institutions (e.g., UCL, Yale) and mentors postdoctoral fellows.