معرفی
Nicole Sparapani is an Associate Professor at the University of California, Davis, jointly affiliated with the School of Education and the MIND Institute. Her research focuses on improving educational experiences for neurodivergent learners, particularly children on the autism spectrum, through the study of classroom environments, teacher-student interactions, and active engagement strategies.
Education:
- Postdoctoral Research Scholar, Developmental Psychology, Arizona State University (2016)
- Ph.D., Communication Science and Disorders, Florida State University (2013)
- M.A., Speech-Language Pathology, University of Northern Colorado (2003)
- B.A., Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Florida (2000)
- Certificate of Clinical Competence, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (2005)
Research Interests: Dr. Sparapani’s work centers on autism spectrum disorder, observational research methods, classroom active engagement, social communication, and instructional practices. She investigates how teacher language and classroom dynamics influence learning outcomes for autistic students in inclusive settings. Her research emphasizes equity, individualized support, and the development of tools to measure classroom quality.
Recent Research Trends: Her most recent publications (2020–2024) reveal a strong focus on teacher-student interactions in mathematics and literacy instruction, measurement of joint attention and communication in autistic children, emotion regulation, transition planning, and the implementation of evidence-based practices. Her work increasingly integrates psychometric validation of observational tools and explores socio-emotional and behavioral predictors of academic success.
Scientific Awards:
- UC Davis Office of the Provost Faculty Development Award (2021–2022)
- Hellman Fellowship Award, UC Davis (2020)
- Education Graduate Student Association Award for Outstanding Service (2019)
- Dean’s Research Excellence Award (2018)
- AERA Outstanding Reviewer (2016)
- U.S. Department of Education Training Fellowship (2009–2012)
Advising and Grants: Dr. Sparapani mentors students through the Human Development Graduate Group, Graduate Group in Education, and the Autism Research Training Program. She has secured significant external funding from IES, NIH, and private foundations. Current projects include an IES-funded study on teacher-student interactions in early elementary classrooms (R324A210288), a Mental Health Services Act contract on relationship education for neurodivergent adolescents, and a Neurodiversity in Teacher Education initiative. She also serves as Co-Investigator on NIH-funded projects related to Fragile X Syndrome and autism interventions.
Labs and Teams: Dr. Sparapani leads the CARE Lab at UC Davis, a collaborative interdisciplinary team of researchers, postdoctoral scholars, doctoral students, and undergraduates focused on understanding the dynamic relationship between autistic learners and their classroom environments. The lab uses video coding and observational methods to analyze instructional practices and student engagement.
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