Endowed Chairs Impact: Vanessa Hus Bal, the Karmazin and Lillard Chair in Adult Autism

Vanessa Hus Bal, an associate professor at the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, conducts research to advance understanding of the aging population of adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Emphasizing a lifespan perspective, her lab encompasses four broad research areas:

• Defining meaningful achievements and specific needs of adults with ASD
• Characterizing how ASD symptoms manifest across the range of cognitive and language abilities at developmental stages across the lifespan
• Identifying behavioral, biological, and contextual factors that affect longer-term adult outcomes
• Developing clinical services to support autistic adults

Across these areas, research in the lab strives to develop and refine methods to assess and quantify individual strengths and challenges. This includes projects evaluating both biological and behavioral approaches that may be useful in screening and diagnosis, tracking symptoms across development, and evaluating response to treatment.

Bal works collaboratively with the Rutgers Center for Adult Autism Services, the New Jersey Autism Center of Excellence, and other Rutgers schools to expand the university’s research and teaching related to adults with autism.

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