Melanie Palmer

Dr Melanie Palmer is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow and Guest Lecturer at King’s College London’s School of Academic Psychiatry, Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. She holds roles in research and teaching, focusing on child and adolescent psychology, neuropsychology, and interventions targeting mental health challenges in neurodivergent populations. Her work emphasizes randomized controlled trials (RCTs), parenting interventions, and digital health solutions, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Education includes a PhD from the Universitas 21 Joint Program at the University of Auckland and University of Glasgow, and undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Education from the University of Auckland. She is an Associate Fellow of The Higher Education Academy and affiliated with multiple professional societies.

Research interests span autism spectrum disorders, ADHD in neurodivergent children, and the impact of adverse events on mental health. Her projects include the SPARKLE trial (digital parenting app for pandemic-related behavioral issues), Positioning Parent Positive (app optimization), and ASTAR (group parenting intervention for autistic children). She has secured grants from King’s College London and the Baily Thomas Charitable Foundation.

Key contributions include over 30 peer-reviewed publications on topics like pandemic mental health, behavioral activation for autistic adolescents, and diagnostic accuracy in ADHD screening. Awards include recognition for her work on digital parenting interventions.

Teaching includes MSc courses on child mental health at King’s and developmental psychology at the University of Auckland. Her research also addresses systemic challenges in education, such as teacher work-life balance and teacher mentoring programs.