Dr. Andrea Wieckowski  is an Assistant Research Professor in the Early Detection and Intervention research program at the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute.

Dr. Wieckowski received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Virginia Tech in 2019 and completed APA-approved clinical internship at Western Psychiatric Hospital and Clinic in Pittsburgh. Dr. Wieckowski’s research has focused on utilization of technology in assessment and treatment of social communication deficits in children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). She has published peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters focusing on understanding and treating facial emotion recognition and expression deficits in school age children and adolescents with ASD, through the use of low cost, transportable technology (i.e., eye tracking, Kinect sensor), with the goal of translating research into clinical treatment strategies. She has also been involved with studies using eye-tracking technology to explore eye gaze patterns in adolescents with Social Anxiety Disorder. In addition, she has contributed to studies examining sex-based differences in autistic traits and skills and evaluating the presentation and symptoms, including emotion dysregulation, of females with ASD.  

Dr. Wieckowski is currently extending her expertise downward to research involving younger children and developing new expertise in early detection. In her role at the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, Dr. Wieckowski contributes to current funded studies, including the Autism Center of Excellence network examining the long-term effects of early detection and evidence-based treatment. In addition, Dr. Wieckowski is expanding her prior research on emotion recognition and expression impairments in ASD  by exploring emotional development in toddlers and preschool age children with ASD.