Matea Balabanovska

Doctoral Scientist

Matea is a research assistant working with Prof Simon Baron-Cohen, Dr Carrie Allison, Dr Richard Bethlehem and Dr Izabela Przezdzik on a project exploring exceptional talent in autism.

Matea completed her BSc at The University of Manchester in “Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology with Industrial Experience” and her MSc at King’s College London in “Clinical Neurodevelopmental Sciences”. As part of her studies she worked on projects exploring facets of sensory processing in autism. Matea worked with cognitive and psychophysical methods – particularly in visual sensory processing for her BSc and tactile sensory processing for her MSc. In parallel to her studies, Matea worked as research assistant as part of a clinical trial research study looking at whether social-communication therapy helps improve autism symptoms and also worked on implementation science research.

Matea’s main research interests are centered around sensory processing and sensory traits in autism, particularly in understanding the relation between low-level sensory processing and clinical sensory symptoms. She is also interested in translational research and clinical methodologies within the field.