Lavinia Uscatescu

Dr. Lavinia Uscatescu is an Assistant Professor at Virginia Tech's Psychology Department within the College of Science. Her research focuses on autism spectrum disorder, neurodiversity, and the application of universal design principles to create inclusive environments. She emphasizes a strength-based perspective in understanding neurodivergent individuals and their unique capabilities.

• Joined Virginia Tech in January 2024 for her first faculty appointment
• Advocates for neurodiversity-inclusive design in educational and employment settings
• Research spans cognitive neuroscience, clinical psychology, and psychiatric biomarkers

Her recent publications analyze neural excitation/inhibition ratios, intrinsic timescales, and connectivity patterns in autism and schizophrenia using fMRI and computational modeling. Key subtopics include social-emotional regulation, diagnostic differentiation, and sensory processing.

Dr. Uscatescu enjoys drawing, daily reading, and circus arts like aerial yoga. She wishes to visit Australia, Japan, and Alaska for their unique cultural and natural landscapes.

Fun fact: She humorously admits to struggling with face recognition, contrasting with her husband's exceptional ability in this area.