STARS Lab – Science of Child Development and Neurodiversity Lab

Welcome to the STARS lab at UAB! Led by Dr. Caroline G. Richter, we conduct research with typically developing children and with children who are neurodiverse. We are interested in understanding the cognitive and socio-emotional aspects that contribute to the variability on the academic achievement, adaptive outcomes, and emotional well-being of children who are neurodiverse. We focus our work particularly on children with Learning Differences, Williams syndrome, and Down syndrome. We hope that the results of our research can be used to inform targeted assessments and interventions, leading to improvements in the quality of life of children and their families. Our projects are funded by seed grants from the NIH, NICHD, and NCCIH (via the University of Connecticut), the Learning Disabilities Foundation of America, the UAB Center for Engagement in Disability Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (CEDHARS), and the McNulty Civitan Scientist Award offered by the Civitan International Research Center (CIRC) and the Foundation for Children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (FCIDD).

Fall 2024
Fall 2024
Fall 2023
Fall 2023
Fall 2023
Spring 2023
Fall 2022

Our publications and presentations:

Publications

  1. *Yu, W., Ward, O.F., *Paquette, B., Mrug, S., Richter, C. G. (2025). Teacher personality predicts emotional well-being and academic achievement in students with specific learning disorders. Children, 12(6), 764;1-20. https://doi.org/10.3390/children12060764
  2. *Mercier, A., Sherrod, G., Ennis, R., Clay, O., Richter, C. G., & Stavrinos, D. (2025). Examination of driving performance across autistic drivers: A meta-analysis. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 46(3), e312-e320.http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/DBP.0000000000001360
  3. *Espinoza, C. N., *Goering, M., *Dahlman, A., Patki, A., Tiwari, H., Richter, C. G., & Mrug, S. (2025). Is virtue its own reward? Moral identity, empathy, and volunteering during adolescence as predictors of subsequent epigenetic aging. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, 17, e70026. https://doi.org/10.1111/aphw.70026
  4. Hall, S., Koslouski, J. B., Richter, C. G., & Chafouleas, S. M. (2025). Measuring of emotional well-being of individuals with intellectual disabilities: A scoping review of reviews. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 158, 104940. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2025.104940
  5. *Mercier, A., Sherrod, G., Ennis, R., Richter, C. G., & Stavrinos, D. (2025). The driving profile of autistic drivers and their driving experiences: A systematic review. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 55, 2141-2156. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-024-06586-x
  6. Schneider, D, Bouhali, F., Richter, C. G., Costache, R., Costache, C., Kirchhoffer, K., Sheth, V., MacDonald, I.,& Hoeft, F. (2024). Perinatal influences on academic achievement and the developing brain: A scoping systematic review. Frontiers in Psychology, 15:1352241. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1352241
  7. *Stein, B., Hoeft, F., & Richter, C. G. (2024). Stress, resilience, and emotional well-being in children and adolescents with specific learning disabilities. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, 58: 101410. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cobeha.2024.101410
  8. *Goering, M., *Espinoza, C. N., *Mercier, A., *Johnson, W., *Eason, E., & Richter, C. G.(2024). Moral Identity in Relation to Emotional Well-Being: A Meta-Analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 15:1346732. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1346732
  9. Richter, C. G., *Li, C., Turnbull, A., Haft, S. L., Schneider, D, Luo, J., Lima, D. P., Lin, F. V., Davidson, R. J., & Hoeft, F. (2024). Brain imaging studies of emotional well-being: A scoping review. Frontiers in Psychology, 14:1328523. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1328523
  10. Haft, S. L., Greiner de Magalhães, C., & Hoeft, F. (2023). A systematic review of the consequences of stigma and stereotype threat for individuals with specific learning disabilities. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 56(3), 193-209. https://doi.org/10.1177/00222194221087383
  11. Richter, C. G., Cardoso-Martins, C., & Mervis, C. B. (2023). Longitudinal predictors of word reading for children with Williams syndrome. Reading and Writing: An Interdisciplinary Journal, 36, 2119–2145. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11145-022-10370-7
  12. Richter, C. G., Siegelman, N., Mahaffy, K., van den Bunt, M., Kearns, D. M., Landi, N., Sabatini, J., Pugh, K., & Hoeft, F. (2022). The impact of computer-assisted technology on literacy acquisition during COVID-19-related school closures: Group-level effects and predictors of individual-level outcomes. Frontiers in Psychology, 13:1001555. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1001555
  13. Mervis, C. B., Greiner de Magalhães, C., & Cardoso-Martins, C. (2022). Concurrent predictors of word- reading and reading comprehension for 9-year-olds with Williams syndrome. Reading and Writing: An Interdisciplinary Journal, 35, 377–397. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11145-021-10163-4
  14. Greiner de Magalhães, C., Pitts, C. H., & Mervis, C. B. (2022). Executive function as measured by the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-2: Children and adolescents with Williams syndrome. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 66(1-2), 94–107. https://doi.org/10.1111/jir.12858
  15. Greiner de Magalhães, C., Cardoso-Martins, C., & Mervis, C. B. (2022). Spelling abilities of school-aged children with Williams syndrome. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 120, 104129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2021.104129
  16. Greiner de Magalhães, C., Mervis, C.B. & Cardoso-Martins, C. (2021). Cognitive predictors of arithmetic, reading, and spelling in Brazilian Portuguese-speaking children. Reading and Writing: An Interdisciplinary Journal, 34, 174–198. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11145-020-10062-0
  17. Greiner de Magalhães, C., O’Brien, L. M. & Mervis, C. B. (2020). Sleep characteristics and problems of 2-year-olds with Williams syndrome: Relations with language and behavior. Journal     of Neurodevelopmental Disorders, 12(32), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s11689-020-09336-z
  18. Abreu, A., Ohno, P. M., de Magalhães, C. G., & Barreto, I. S. (2016). Treinamento de pais e autismo: uma revisão de literatura [Parent training and autism: a literature review]. Ciências & Cognição, 21, 7–22.
  19. Cardoso-Martins, C., Gonçalves, D. T., de Magalhães, C. G., & da Silva, J. R. (2015). Word reading and spelling ability in school-age children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders: evidence from Brazilian Portuguese. Psychology & Neuroscience, 8, 479–487. https://doi.org/10.1037/pne0000029
  20. Cardoso-Martins, C., Gonçalves, D. T., & de Magalhães, C. G. (2013). What are the mechanisms behind exceptional word reading ability in hyperlexia?: Evidence from a 4-year-old hyperlexic boy’s invented spellings. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 43, 3001–3003. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-013-1857-0
  21. Barreto, I. S., de Magalhães, C. G., Gonçalves, D. T., & Abreu, A. (2013). Processos de intervenção para crianças e adolescentes com Síndrome de Asperger: uma revisão de literatura [Intervention processes for children and adolescents with Asperger syndrome: A literature review].  Contextos Clínicos, 6, 132-143. https://doi.org/10.4013/ctc.2013.62.06
  22. de Magalhães, C. G., Barbosa, P. G., Abreu, C. S. D., & Cardoso-Martins, C. (2012). Early joint attention deficits in autism: Evidence from a retrospective case study. Revista Brasileira de Psiquiatria, 34, 509–510. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rbp.2012.04.004

Book chapter

  1. Mervis, C. B. & Greiner de Magalhães, C. (2022). Williams syndrome. In M. Beauchamp, R. Peterson, M. D. Ris, H. G. Taylor, & K. O. Yeates (Eds.). Pediatric neuropsychology: Research, theory, and practice, 3rd ed (pp.377-405). New York: Guilford.

Selected Conference Presentations (peer-reviewed)

  1. Wicker, P., Chen, Y.-Y., Harb, F., Rahrig, H., Adams, E., *Schaefer, M., *Alvarado-Resendiz, T., Moreno, J., Richter, C. G., & Wilson-Mendenhall, C. (2025, June). Headwork and heartwork: A collaborative autoethnographic reflection on transforming academic conferences. Poster presented at the 2025 Summer Research Institute.
  2. *Paquette, B., *Mercier, A., Albright, M. G., Mrug, S., Campbell, K., & Richter, C. G. (2025, July). Reading anxiety, inattention, and reading ability in youth with specific learning disabilities. Symposium accepted to be presented at the Society for the Scientific Study of Reading, Calgary, Canada.
  3. Schaefer, M., *Alvarado-Resendiz, T., *Moreno, J. M., Chen, Y.-Y., Harb, F., Rahrig, H., Adams, E. V., Richter, C. G., Wilson-Mendenhall, C. D., & Wicker, P. (2025, May). Dismantling Hierarchy in Academic Workshops to Foster Community and Care: A Qualitative Investigation. Poster presented at Association for Psychological Science (APS), Washington, DC.
  4. *Tollett, B. Q., *Lovejoy, K., *Yu, W., *Paquette, B., *Albright, M. G., Mrug, S., Austin, H., Lanzi, R., Campbell, K., & Richter, C. G. (2025, May). Predicting Anxiety and Depression in Students with Specific Learning Disabilities: The Role of Stigma Consciousness after Social and Emotional Learning Programs. Poster presented at Association for Psychological Science (APS), Washington, DC.
  5. *Yu, W., Ward, O., *Paquette, B., *Albright, M. G., Austin, H., Lanzi, R., Campbell, K., Mrug, S., & Richter, C. G. (2025, May). Teacher Characteristics and Student Outcomes: Predicting Academic Achievement and Emotional Well-Being in Adolescents with Specific Learning Disabilities. Poster presented at Association for Psychological Science (APS), Washington, DC.
  6. *Li, C. M., *Yu, W., *Paquette, B., *Mercier, M., Chen, J. M., Hoeft, F., & Richter, C. G. (2025, May).A Cluster Analysis Approach to Understanding Depression, Social Stress, and Well-Being in Adolescents with Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Poster presented at Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting (SRCD), Minneapolis, MN.
  7. *Mercier, A., *Paquette, B., Pitts Arnold, H., Mervis, C., & Richter, C. G. (2025, April). Relations between Mastery Pleasure, Negative Affect, and Behavior in Children with Williams Syndrome. Poster presented at the Gatlinburg Conference on Research and Theory in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, San Diego, CA.
  8. *Burns, K., *Kirshy, S., *Paquette, B., *Yu, W., Mrug, S. & Richter, C. G. (2025, March). Exploring sleep behaviors and intervention willingness in Down syndrome: A caregiver-child comparison. Oral paper presented at the online Down Syndrome Research Forum 2025.
  9. *Pyle, A., Rodriguez, C., *Kirshy, S., Mrug, S., Thomas, S. J., & Richter, C. G. (2025, March). Mindfulness-based treatment for insomnia: Adaptations for use in young people with Down syndrome. Oral paper presented at the online Down Syndrome Research Forum 2025.
  10. *Paquette, B., *Albright, M. G., Mrug, S., Campbell, K., & Richter, C. G. (2025, February). A school-based mindfulness intervention for youth with learning disabilities: Design and implementation of an active control pilot study. Poster presented at the 2025 Disability Health Symposium, Birmingham, AL.
  11. *Li, C. M., *Yu, W., *Paquette, B., *Mercier, M., Chen, J. M., Hoeft, F., & Richter, C. G. (2024, October). Agreement Between Parental Proxy Reports and Adolescent Self-Reports of Emotional Well-Being Predicts Internalizing Behaviors in Adolescents with and Without Specific Learning Disabilities. Standard poster presented at the 2024 Association for Psychological Science (APS) Global Psychological Science Summit, Virtual.
  12. Schneider, D., Richter, C. G., *Li, C., Kinnie, B., *Moore, K., *Sawtelle, K., *Chen, D., *Tollett, B., Prachiben, P., *O’Hagan, E., & Hoeft, F. (2024, September). A Systematic review of the effects of intervention on the brain and behavior in individuals with autism spectrum disorders. Poster presented at the 2024 Flux Congress, Baltimore, MD.
  13. *Goering, M., *Espinoza, C.N., *Mercier, A., *Eason, E.K., *Johnson, C.W., & Richter, C. G. (2024, October). Moral identity in relation to emotional well-being. Paper presentation at the 50th annual conference of the Association for Moral Education, New York, NY.
  14. *Yu, W., *Li, C. M., *Stein, B., *Mercier, A., Chen, J., Hoeft, F., & Richter, C. G. (2024, August). Exploring the relations among parental well-being, parenting practices, and mental well-being in adolescents with and without Specific Learning Disabilities. Data Blitz Presentation at Alabama Psychological Association (aPA), Orange Beach, AL.
  15. Richter, C. G., *Stein, B., Johnson, R. J., Hart, S., & Gallen, C. L. (2024, July). Association between reading achievement, general anxiety, and test anxiety. Poster presented at the Society for the Scientific Study of Reading, Copenhagen, Denmark.
  16. *Yu, W., *Li, C. M., *Stein, B., *Mercier, A., Chen, J., Hoeft, F., & Richter, C. G. (2024, May). The impact of parenting styles on adolescents’ anxiety and emotional well-being: Parental well-being as mediator. Poster presented at the Association for Psychological Science (APS), San Francisco, CA.
  17. *Kehl, M., P., *Stein, B., Kirshy, S. M., Albright, M.G., Mrug, S., Austin, H. M., Campbell, K., & Richter, C. G. (2024, May). Examining the relationship between anxiety, executive functioning, and reading achievement in adolescents with specific learning disabilities. Poster presented at the Association for Psychological Science (APS), San Francisco, CA.
  18. *Li, C. M., *Jones, M., *Stein, B., *Mercier, A., *Berisha, A., Chen, J. M., Hoeft, F., & Richter, C. G. (2024, May). Risk and resilience factors in adolescents with specific learning disabilities: Exploring the relations between internalizing behaviors and emotional well-being. Poster presented at the Association for Psychological Science (APS), San Francisco, CA.
  19. *Dahlman, A. Arnold, P. H., *Mercier, A., Mervis, C. M., & Richter, C. G. (2024, April). The role of persistence in adaptive functioning for 6 – 8-year-olds with Williams syndrome. Poster presented at the Gatlinburg Conference on Research and Theory in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Kansas City, KS.
  20. *Hawrych, R. C., *Moore, J., Deaver, J., & Richter, C. G. (2024, April). Executive functions of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A systematic review. Poster presented at the Gatlinburg Conference on Research and Theory in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Kansas City, KS.
  21. *Mercier, A., Hall, S., Ruiz, O., *Kirshy, S., Koslouski, J., Chafouleas, S., & Richter, C. G. (2024, April). Emotional well-being measures used with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their psychometric properties. Poster presented at the Gatlinburg Conference on Research and Theory in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Kansas City, KS.
  22. *Stein, B., *Albright, M. G., Austin, H., Mrug, S., & Richter, C. G. (2024, April). A school-based mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention for underserved youth: Exploring stress as a mediator of emotional well-being. Poster presented at the Society for Research on Adolescence, Chicago, IL.
  23. *Boatright, V. A., *Kirshy, S., & Richter, C. G. (2024, February). Navigating Puberty: A comprehensive review of sex and puberty education for children with autism spectrum disorder. Poster presented at the 23rd Annual Alabama Autism Conference, Tuscaloosa, AL.
  24. Richter, C. G., *Li, C., Chen, J. M., & Hoeft, F. (2023, May). Emotional well-being in middle-schoolers with specific learning disabilities. Data Blitz Presentation; Mechanisms Underlying Mind-Body Interventions & Measurement of Emotional Well-Being (M3EWB) Research Summit, Washington, DC.
  25. *Heard, M. R., *Hawrych, R. C., Ennis, R., Mrug, S. & Richter, C. G. (2023, May). Risk and protective factors of life satisfaction in early adolescence. Poster presented at the 2023 Association for Psychological Science Annual Convention, Washington, DC.
  26. Luo, J., *Li, C., Richter, C. G., Turnbull, A., & Hoeft, F. (2023, May). Human neural correlates of emotional well-being: A meta-analytical review of MRI studies. Poster presented at the 2023 Association for Psychological Science Annual Convention, Washington, DC.
  27. Hall, S., Richter, C. G., & Koslouski, J. (2023, May). A scoping review of emotional well-being measures for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Symposium presented at the 2023 Association for Psychological Science Annual Convention, Washington, DC.
  28. Koslouski, J., Hall, S., Chafouleas, S., Wittenberg, E., Fabiano, G., & Richter, C. G. (2023, May). What about us?: Reviewing the Current Landscape of Emotional Well-Being Measures for Historically Overlooked Populations. Symposium presented at the 2023 Association for Psychological Science Annual Convention, Washington, DC.
  29. Richter, C. G., Hillock, M. L., Becerra, A. M., Guimarães, V. N, *Williams, C. J., & Mervis, C. B. (2023, April). Mastery motivation in young children with Williams syndrome or Down syndrome. Poster presented at the Gatlinburg Conference on Research and Theory in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Kansas City, KS.
  30. Richter, C. G., *Dahlman, A., Siegelman, N., Mahaffy, K., van den Bunt, M., Kearns, D. M., Landi, N., Sabatini, J., Pugh, K., & Hoeft, F. (2023, March). The impact of computer-assisted technology on literacy acquisition during COVID-19-related school closures: Group-level effects and predictors of individual-level outcomes. Poster presented at Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting (SRCD), Salt Lake City, UT.
  31. Richter, C. G. (chair), Hoeft, F., Hendren, R., Al Otaiba, S., Kockler, R. (2022, Nov). Socio-emotional challenges in learning disorders. Symposium presented at the Reading, Literacy & Learning Annual International Dyslexia Association (IDA) Conference, San Antonio, TX. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.23669.45281