- Home
- Our Team
- Researchers
- Visiting Scholars
- Clinicians
- Post-Doctoral Fellows
- Other Staff
- Erin Bogue, BA
- Kira Carter, BA
- Kim Davis, MA, CIP
- Debra Dunn, Esq
- Harini Eavani
- Casara Ferretti , MS
- Christine Ghilain, BA
- Elinora Hunyadi
- Ayana King-Pointer
- Janelle Letzen
- Julianne Mesaric, BA
- Aarti Nair, MA
- Michelle Petrongolo , MA,MS,BCBA
- Stephanie Ricchini-Egan
- Meghan Riley, MS
- Tiffany Ryan, MS, MS
- Christine Shin
- Gail Stein
- James Taylor
- Salim Zayat, MET
- Research
- Autism FAQ
- News
- Events
- Gallery
- Visiting Philadelphia
Susan Faja, PhD
3535 Market Street
8th Floor, Suite 860
Philadelphia, PA 19104
267-426-4927
Dr. Faja is a research fellow at the Center for Autism Research. After receiving her bachelor's degree in neuroscience from the University of Michigan, she earned her doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Washington. Working with the UW Autism Center team led by Dr. Geraldine Dawson, she contributed to projects investigating the early diagnosis, longitudinal brain and behavioral development, and genetic basis of autism, and she developed computerized training to improve the face recognition skills of adults with autism spectrum disorders. She completed her clinical internship at the University of California, Los Angeles, with a specialization in developmental disabilities.
Susan's research interests include investigation of the neural systems underlying social cognition and their plasticity in response to intervention and learning. Her dissertation investigated how reward feedback impacts decision making and executive function in children with autism spectrum disorders. Her clinical interests include assessment of developmental disabilities and targeted treatments to improve social functioning.
Publications
Faja, S, Aylward, E, Bernier, R, Dawson, D. Becoming a Face Expert: A Computerized Face Training Program. Developmental Neuropsychology. 2008. 33: 1-24.
Faja, S, Webb, SJ, Merkle, K, Aylward, E, Dawson, G. Brief report: Face configuration accuracy and processing speed among adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 2009. 39: 532-538.
Munson, J, Dawson, G, Abbott, R, Faja, S, Webb, SJ, Friedman, S, Shaw, D, Artru, A, Dager, S. Amygdalar volume and behavioral development in autism. Archives of General Psychiatry. 2006. 63: 686-693.
Munson, J, Faja, S, Meltzoff, A, Abbott, R, Dawson, G. Neurocognitive predictors of social and communicative developmental trajectories in preschoolers with autism spectrum disorders. . Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society. 2008. 14: 956–966.
Tager-Flusberg, H, Plesa Skwerer, D, Faja, S, Joseph, RM. People with Williams syndrome process faces holistically. Cognition. 2003. 89: 11-24.