Somer Bishop, PhD
Professor in Residence
Dr. Bishop is a Professor in Residence in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Weill Institute for Neurosciences at UCSF. She is a clinical psychologist with expertise in assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of individuals with autism spectrum disorders. Her research and clinical interests are focused on ASD symptom manifestations in individuals of different ages and levels of ability, as well as on differentiating between ASD and other developmental disabilities across the lifespan.
Lindsay Olson, PhD
Clinical Research Scientist
Lindsay Olson, PhD, is a Clinical Research Scientist and Licensed Clinical Psychologist specializing in neurodevelopmental disorders. Her research interests relate to social drivers of health and contextual factors as related to development in the context of autism. She has a background in multi-modal research methods, including the use of eye tracking, neuroimaging, and behavioral measures. In the Bishop Lab she is primarily involved in data curation, visualization, and analysis across a range of projects. See her publications here.
Sheila Ghods, ASW, MPH, CCRP
Senior Clinical Research Coordinator
Sheila is a Senior Clinical Research Coordinator with the Bishop Lab and is a registered Associate Clinical Social Worker. Sheila earned her Master of Public Health from the University of San Francisco in 2018 and her Master of Social Welfare from the University of California, Berkeley in 2024. Sheila has extensive experience leading multi-site behavioral research projects and overseeing clinical-research databases. Sheila has a keen understanding for psychosocial factors impacting behavioral health and developmental outcomes, and a passion for strengthening the social-emotional well-being of youth and families by advocating for patient-centered care and equitable access to vital social services.
China Parenteau
Clinical Research Coordinator
China is a Clinical Research Coordinator with the Bishop Lab. Her interest in working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) began during her studies at Pitzer College where she helped lead a social skills group at the Claremont Autism Center. After graduating with a degree in Psychology and Economics, she moved back to the Bay Area to work at the UC Davis MIND Institute assisting with studies that examined language development in children with ASD, Fragile X syndrome and Down syndrome. In the Bishop Lab, China helped build and now manages the REDCap database. She also helps with assessment and treatment for children at the clinic. In the future, China plans to apply for a PhD program in Clinical Psychology to advance research on evidence-based interventions.
Cecily Van Remortel
Clinical Research Coordinator
Cecily serves as a Clinical Research Coordinator at the Bishop Lab, having earned her bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of San Francisco. Her passion for working with children with neurodevelopmental disorders sparked during her role as a cooking instructor for a group of children with chronic illnesses. Within the Bishop Lab, Cecily runs the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) training program, connecting clinicians from all over the world with the proper resources. She is also coordinating a new study examining the early developmental signs of neurodevelopmental disorders in children with Down Syndrome. Intrigued by autism research, she is actively pursuing a career in pediatric clinical psychology.
Olga Laporta-Hoyos
Post Doc
Olga Laporta-Hoyos is a neuropsychologist funded by an EU Marie Sklodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship. Her project ‘EASED-CP’ aims to develop ASD assessment best-practices in peoples presenting with motor conditions. She is particularly interested in understanding the overlap and differentiation of symptoms across developmental disabilities.
Olga’s Endeavour-fellowship funded PhD was conducted at the Universities of Barcelona (Spain), Queensland, and CSIRO (Australia), where she characterised cognitive functioning and its biological basis in dyskinetic cerebral palsy. Post PhD, Olga worked as a clinician at a non-profit organisation providing comprehensive care to children with various developmental disorders and lectured at several public and private universities. Between 2020-2022 she conducted neuroimaging research as an honorary fellow at the University of Queensland.
Katie Dennison, MPH
Clinical Research Coordinator
Katie Dennison, MPH is a Clinical Research Coordinator and Training Coordinator at the Bishop Lab. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Child and Family Development from San Diego State University and her Master of Public Health from the University of San Francisco. Her passion for working with neurodiverse populations began during her undergraduate internship with San Diego Youth Services and was further shaped by her experience as a Board Certified Autism Technician providing ABA therapy. At the Bishop Lab, she coordinates a study focused on academic outcomes among autistic adolescents and helps run the Regulating Together treatment group.
