Adjunct faculty typically have an academic or research appointment at another institution and contribute or collaborate with one or more School of Medicine faculty members or programs.
Adjunct rank detailsFrederick Shic, PhD
Director, Technology and Innovation Laboratory (TIL)About
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Titles
Director, Technology and Innovation Laboratory (TIL); Co-Director, Yale Early Social Cognition Laboratory (YESCog)
Biography
Frederick Shic, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor at the Yale Child Study Center. Dr. Shic's current research interests include applications of eye-tracking and neuroimaging techniques (e.g. near infrared spectroscopy and magnetic resonance spectroscopy) to the study of the social and cognitive development in infants, toddlers, and children with ASD, and the exploration of new technologies and methodologies for enriching both our understanding of ASD and the lives of children with ASD and their families. Prior to his appointment, Dr. Shic was an associate research scientist under Dr. Katarzyna Chawarska, director of the Infant and Toddlers Developmental Disabilities Clinic and the Yale Early Social Cognition Laboratory. Prior to this, Dr. Shic completed an NIMH T32 training program in childhood neuropsychiatric disorders led Drs. James Leckman and Elena Grigorenko. Dr. Shic received his doctorate in Computer Science from Yale University and an undergraduate degree in Engineering and Applied Sciences from the California Institute of Technology. During his graduate work, Dr. Shic developed computational and mathematical approaches for analyzing eye-tracking data, with a focus on what these techniques can tell us about the social and cognitive development of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Prior to this, Dr. Shic was software engineer at the Sony Interactive Studios of America, and, later, a researcher at the Huntington Medical Research Institutes, where he conducted research in 1H and 13C magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), developing techniques for quantifying and visualizing brain metabolism and neurochemistry.
YCCI Scholar 2012
Project: 07/01/12 - 06/30/14
Teaching Prototypical Monitoring of Others and their Activities to Toddlers with ASD using Perceptual Augmentation and Gaze Contingent Technology
Appointments
Child Study Center
Associate Professor AdjunctPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
- Child Study Center
- Developmental Disabilities Program
- Yale Ventures
Education & Training
- Postdoctoral Fellowship
- Yale University (2010)
- PhD
- Yale University Graduate School (2008)
- MS
- Yale University Graduate School (2004)
- BS
- California Institute of Technology (1996)
Research
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Overview
Medical Research Interests
ORCID
0000-0002-9040-1259
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Publications Timeline
Research Interests
Katarzyna Chawarska, PhD
Brian Scassellati, PhD
Adam Naples, PhD
James McPartland, PhD
James Dziura, MPH, PhD
Suzanne Macari, PhD
Autistic Disorder
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Publications
2025
Face perception, attention, and memory as predictors of social change in autistic children
Webb S, Kwan B, Bernier R, Charwarska K, Dawson G, Dziura J, Faja S, Hellmann G, Jeste S, Kleinhans N, Levin A, Naples A, Sabatos-DeVito M, Şentürk D, Shic F, Sugar C, McPartland J. Face perception, attention, and memory as predictors of social change in autistic children. Journal Of Neurodevelopmental Disorders 2025, 17: 54. PMID: 40885894, PMCID: PMC12398159, DOI: 10.1186/s11689-025-09646-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsFace memoryN170 latencyFace memory taskEye trackingAutistic social behavioursNon-autistic childrenSocial behavior scoresMemory taskSocial cognitionUpright facesFace perceptionNaturalistic studySocial abilitiesSocial attentionChild behaviorSocial perceptionSocial behaviorAutistic childrenPredictive relationsBaseline performanceVisual attentionBehavior 4Social approachParent interviewsBehavior scoresHeart rate defined sustained attention relates to visual attention in autism and fragile X syndrome
Wall C, Smith K, Shic F, Kelleher B, Hogan A, Will E, Roberts J. Heart rate defined sustained attention relates to visual attention in autism and fragile X syndrome. Scientific Reports 2025, 15: 25389. PMID: 40659735, PMCID: PMC12259907, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-09537-3.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsFragile X syndromeCognitive engagementVisual social attentionNeurodiverse childrenSocial attentionSustained attentionX syndromeMeasures of social attentionVisual attentionVideo-based assaysSocial attention taskPositive social interactionsVisual attention measuresAttentional processesAttention taskAttention measuresNeurotypical developmentConsistent with previous workAutistic childrenComprehensive assessmentAutismEye trackingSocial interactionNeurodiversitySocial orientationGenetic Associations of Blink Behavior in Infants and Toddlers: A Computer Vision Approach
Bae Y, Li B, Dommer K, Reninger M, Hegerberg K, Ajwani A, Falck-Ytter T, Shic F. Genetic Associations of Blink Behavior in Infants and Toddlers: A Computer Vision Approach. 2025, 1-6. DOI: 10.1145/3715669.3726903.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBlink detectionComputer vision approachesFacial landmarksVision approachEfficientNet-B4Toddlers' attentionGenetic influencesGaze patternsChildren faceSocial communicationEye trackingDizygotic twinsHead orientationBlink rateBlink measuresComputerGenetic contributionAge predictionStrong associationsRetinaFaceBlinkInfantsIntrinsic characteristicsAssociation between joint attention and autism traits in young adults: A gaze-contingent eye-tracking study
Yoon C, Meadan H, Xia Y, Shic F. Association between joint attention and autism traits in young adults: A gaze-contingent eye-tracking study. Research In Autism 2025, 125: 202622. PMID: 40842483, PMCID: PMC12366835, DOI: 10.1016/j.reia.2025.202622.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAssociated with autism traitsAutism traitsJoint attentionEye-tracking taskInteractive eye-trackingTraits in adulthoodEye-tracking methodologyYoung adultsDifficulties associated with autismEye-tracking studyHuman communication partnerEye-tracking researchAttentional demandsAutistic childrenCommunication partnersAutismEye trackingAttention variationDevelopmental significanceAdulthoodTraitsAdultsLinear mixed modelsAttentionAdolescentsLongitudinal relationships between social anhedonia and internalizing symptoms in autistic children: results from the Autism Biomarkers Consortium for Clinical Trials
Gerber A, Naples A, Chawarska K, Dawson G, Kleinhans N, Jeste S, Faja S, Dziura J, Webb S, Sugar C, Shic F, Levin A, McPartland J, Trials F. Longitudinal relationships between social anhedonia and internalizing symptoms in autistic children: results from the Autism Biomarkers Consortium for Clinical Trials. Psychological Medicine 2025, 55: e104. PMID: 40170613, PMCID: PMC12094631, DOI: 10.1017/s0033291725000650.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsSocial anhedoniaSocial anxietyInternalizing symptomsAutistic childrenAutism severityCASI-5Parent-reported social anxietyAssociated with increased internalizing symptomsAutism Diagnostic Observation ScheduleCross-lagged panel modelBidirectional relationshipAttention-deficit/hyperactivity disorderBidirectional longitudinal associationsCross-lagged modelsAnhedonia subscaleAttention-deficit/hyperactivityAnhedoniaFifth editionReduced pleasureObservation ScheduleAutistic youthConcurrent relationshipsAutismLongitudinal relationshipDevelopmental modelIdentifying and Responding to Gaps in the Academic Research Pipeline: Findings From the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) Early Career Committee
Villalobos M, Vivanti G, Jayanath S, Carpenter K, Shen M, Shic F, Locke J. Identifying and Responding to Gaps in the Academic Research Pipeline: Findings From the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) Early Career Committee. Autism Research 2025, 18: 717-724. PMID: 40125848, PMCID: PMC12015790, DOI: 10.1002/aur.70028.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsEarly career researchersInternational Society for Autism ResearchCareer researchersEarly career academicsAutism researchNetwork ProgrammingCareer academicsField of autismProfessional collaborationMentoring initiativesAutism fieldInitial pilotResearch fieldSenior researchersMentoringNetworking opportunitiesResearch careerAcademicsJournal editorsGaze Behavior During a Long-Term, In-Home, Social Robot Intervention for Children with ASD
Ramnauth R, Shic F, Scassellati B. Gaze Behavior During a Long-Term, In-Home, Social Robot Intervention for Children with ASD. 2025, 00: 949-957. DOI: 10.1109/hri61500.2025.10973892.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsGaze behaviorGaze patternsRobot-assisted interventionsRobot gazeSocial robotsAutism spectrum disorderSocial robot interventionsRobotic interventionRobotGazeAtypical gaze behaviourEye contactJoint attentionUsersAutism spectrum disorder faceCommunication challengesInstancesSpectrum disorderNovelty effectIn-home interventionBehavioral variablesTriadic interactionsPreserved but Un-Sustained Responses to Bids for Dyadic Engagement in School-Age Children with Autism
Wall C, Hudac C, Dommer K, Li B, Atyabi A, Foster C, Wang Q, Barney E, Ahn Y, Kim M, Mahony M, Bernier R, Ventola P, Shic F. Preserved but Un-Sustained Responses to Bids for Dyadic Engagement in School-Age Children with Autism. Journal Of Autism And Developmental Disorders 2025, 1-9. PMID: 39754656, DOI: 10.1007/s10803-024-06691-x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNeurotypical childrenDyadic engagementEye-tracking paradigmEye-tracking taskNo significant group differencesSignificant group differencesSocial attention mechanismAutism groupAttentional responsesAttention shiftsAutism featuresReduced attentionSchool-aged childrenSocial cuesNeurotypical peersGroup differencesSocial attentionChildren's attentionAutistic childrenStudying social attentionAutismOverall attentionSchool-ageExploratory analysisInteraction context
2024
Clinician–caregiver informant discrepancy is associated with sex, diagnosis age, and intervention use among autistic children
Azu M, Han G, Wolf J, Naples A, Chawarska K, Dawson G, Bernier R, Jeste S, Dziura J, Webb S, Sugar C, Shic F, McPartland J. Clinician–caregiver informant discrepancy is associated with sex, diagnosis age, and intervention use among autistic children. Autism 2024, 29: 614-626. PMID: 39344965, PMCID: PMC11906266, DOI: 10.1177/13623613241279999.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsAutism-related behaviorsAutism featuresClinician ratingsParent ratingsInformant discrepanciesCaregiver ratingsCaregiver reportsAutism diagnosisAutistic childrenChild sexAutismCaregiver perceptionsIntervention useClinicians' perceptionsAssociated with sexCaregiversChildrenDiagnosis ageCliniciansOlder ageInterventionPerceptionGirlsSexAgeSpatiotemporal Eye Movement Dynamics Reveal Altered Face Prioritization in Early Visual Processing Among Autistic Children
Griffin J, Naples A, Bernier R, Chawarska K, Dawson G, Dziura J, Faja S, Jeste S, Kleinhans N, Sugar C, Webb S, Shic F, McPartland J, Trials A. Spatiotemporal Eye Movement Dynamics Reveal Altered Face Prioritization in Early Visual Processing Among Autistic Children. Biological Psychiatry Cognitive Neuroscience And Neuroimaging 2024, 10: 45-57. PMID: 39237004, PMCID: PMC11710975, DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2024.08.017.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsReduced social attentionEye movement patternsSocial attentionVisual processingLongitudinal time pointsClinical features of autismContext of social perceptionAutism symptom severityFeatures of autismEarly visual processingWell-characterized sampleFace regionSymptom severityNeurotypical childrenAdaptive functioningExploratory patternsSocial difficultiesSocial perceptionAutismAutistic childrenFace informationTime pointsAssociated with clinical featuresFace recognitionDecreased likelihood
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