Katie Maras

Katie Maras is an Associate Professor (Reader) in Psychology at the University of Bath, affiliated with the Centre for Applied Autism Research and the Institute for Digital Security and Behaviour. Her research focuses on neurodiversity and forensic psychology, particularly addressing how autistic individuals navigate police and legal systems. She has pioneered methods like the Witness-Aimed First Account (WAFA) to improve testimony reliability in interviews.

Her work includes collaborations with Avon and Somerset Police and the Home Office on initiatives such as the Cyber Prevent strategy. Notable grants include a £657,224 ESRC grant (2023-2026) for 'Measuring Special Measures' to support autistic access to justice, and a £279,555 ESRC Future Research Leaders grant (2017-2021) developing interview adaptations for autistic individuals. Projects span criminal justice system reform, cybercrime prevention, and employment interview adaptations.

Maras has authored over 80 publications, including studies on mock juror perceptions, autistic communication challenges in legal contexts, and digital interventions for self-determination. She actively engages with policy makers, delivering keynotes on neurodivergence in criminal justice and advising parliamentary committees like the House of Lords Autism Act review.