Introducing Dr Shuting Li: Our CNH June Post-Doc Feature Story
Can you describe your research interests?
"I study the neurocognitive profiles of developmental disorders, with a primary focus on autism. My research focuses on translational work between humans and animals. I have adapted two classic human attention tasks for use in mice. Using the new tasks, I have been conducting parallel research in autistic people and a mouse model of autism. I integrate cognitive assessments, eye-tracking methods, and mouse touchscreen technology in my research."
What inspired you to pursue this research topic?
"I am very fascinated by why we think and behave in similar and different ways. I once volunteered in an autism support centre. From that experience, I came to realise how much remains unknown about neurodivergent individuals. I am hoping that through my work, I can facilitate greater mutual understanding between people with diverse neurocognitive profiles."
What do you like most about your work so far?
"I love being creative in study design and contributing new knowledge to the field. I value interdisciplinary collaborations, which always spark new ideas. It is also deeply rewarding to know that our work can support and build a better community. I am very grateful to my supervisor, Professor Katherine Johnson, and everyone in the Attention Dynamics Lab. It is a supportive and inspiring team to be apart of."
Do you have any exciting projects or news upcoming?
"I am adapting a widely used computer-based attention task for use in naturalistic, day-to-day contexts. This new paradigm will connect findings from tightly controlled laboratory environments with everyday experiences. After the task is fully developed, we will use it to explore how people with different neurodevelopmental conditions control their attention in daily life."