Laura Carnevali

Laura Carnevali, PhD, is a Research Associate in the Department of Psychology at the University of Cambridge. Her research investigates the drivers of social connection across neurodevelopment: what predisposes individuals to engage with others, why some do so more readily, and how these processes can be supported from the earliest stages of life, when brain plasticity is greatest.

During her PhD at the University of Padova, she examined these questions in the context of autism. Using behavioural and meta-analytic approaches, she demonstrated that social interactions in both autistic and neurotypical children are shaped by dynamic interpersonal factors, including partner responsiveness and dyadic characteristics, underscoring the interpersonal dimension of social engagement. Building on this foundation, her postdoctoral research focuses on how early context influences developmental trajectories.

At the University of Cambridge, she now integrates neuroimaging and behavioural data collected with wearable devices in both home and lab environments to clarify how early interactions shape emerging functional brain networks and relate to later outcomes. Through participatory research, she is also working closely with caregivers to make research more accessible and to co-design support strategies grounded in empirical evidence and responsive to families’ lived experiences.

Education: 

• PhD in Psychological Sciences (2024, summa cum laude), – University of Padova, Italy; Advisor: Prof. Teresa Farroni
• State exam to practice as a licensed psychologist (2020) passed with maximum grade: 50/50
• MSc in Clinical Developmental Psychology (2019, First-class honours with distinction) – University of Padova, Italy
• BSc in Developmental and Educational Psychology (2017) – University of Padova, Italy