Telma Sousa Almeida

Telma Sousa Almeida serves as an Assistant Professor at Ispa – Instituto Universitário and is an Integrated Member of the Social Development Team at the William James Centre for Research. With over 15 years of experience in forensic and developmental psychology, she holds a PhD from the University of Cambridge along with specialized qualifications in Legal Medicine and Forensic Psychological Assessment.

Her research centers on vulnerable populations within justice systems, particularly focusing on autistic children's eyewitness testimony and best practices for investigative interviewing. Her work bridges developmental psychology with practical forensic applications, examining how professionals interact with neurodivergent individuals across legal contexts.

Dr. Almeida leads the BEJUST project funded by the La Caixa Foundation, which addresses barriers in Portugal's justice system for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. She also co-leads the 'Investigation, Interviewing, Interrogation' Working Group within COST Action Implemendez (CA22128), implementing the Méndez Principles for ethical treatment of vulnerable individuals in legal proceedings.

Her scientific contributions include publications in high-impact journals such as Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders and Frontiers in Psychology, demonstrating consistent scholarly output focused on autism, memory retrieval, and forensic interviewing techniques over the past five years.

• La Caixa Foundation funding for BEJUST project
• COST Action Implemendez (CA22128) participation

As Director of the Forensic Office at the Ispa Clinic, she provides scientific supervision and conducts Forensic Psychological Assessments. Her supervisory work includes doctoral projects on interviewing rape victims and young offenders, contributing to evidence-based training frameworks for justice professionals. Her research trajectory shows increasing focus on practical applications of psychological science within legal contexts, with particular emphasis on creating more inclusive justice systems for neurodivergent populations.