Heather Fielding-Gebhardt, Ph.D.


Heather Fielding-Gebhardt
  • Postdoctoral Researcher, Life Span Institute, University of Kansas

Contact Info

DHDC 1101
Lawrence
1000 Sunnyside Ave.

Biography

Heather is a postdoctoral researcher in the Life Span Institute at the University of Kansas working with Matt Mosconi (BRAIN Lab) and Nancy Brady (FXS Lab). She is interested in understanding the various phenotypes of FMR1-associated conditions across the lifespan. One focus is on language development in children and adolescents with fragile X syndrome (FXS), as well as the transactional effects between parenting and child development in families with FMR1-associated disorders. Additionally, Heather has recently begun to study aging-associated declines in these disorders, specifically focusing on linguistic, executive, and motor function, as well as psychiatric and physical health in premutation females.

"The interdisciplinary focus of the CLDP prepared me to approach questions around language and neurodevelopmental disorders from many perspectives and provided me with a strong background in analytical and methodological approaches."

Education

Ph.D. in Child Language, University of Kansas, 2021
M.A. in Child Language, University of Kansas, 2017
B.S. in Linguistics, Northeastern University, 2015

Selected Publications

Boorom, O., Fielding-Gebhardt, H., Bredin-Oja, S. L., Fleming, K., Romine, R., & Brady, N. (Accepted). Language Skills Influence Transition Planning in Adolescents with Fragile X Syndrome. American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

Fielding-Gebhardt, H., Brady, N., Bredin-Oja, S. L., & Warren, S. F. (2023). Transactional relationships between maternal requesting and responsivity, adolescent compliance, and task demands in fragile X syndrome. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2022.104417

Fielding-Gebhardt, H., Romine, R., Bredin-Oja, S. L., Brady, N., & Warren S. F. (2022). Maternal Well-Being and Family Adaptation during COVID-19 in Fragile X Syndrome. Frontiers in Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.952118

DaWalt, L. E., Fielding-Gebhardt, H., Fleming, K. K., Warren, S. F., & Brady, N. (2022). Change in Behavior Problems from Childhood Through Adolescence for Children with Fragile X Syndrome. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 52, 4056-4066. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-021-05270-8

 

Selected Presentations

Brady, N., Fielding-Gebhardt, H., & Fleming, K. “Perseverations in Adolescents with Fragile X Syndrome.” Gatlinburg Conference, Kansas City, MO, April 2023.

Fielding-Gebhardt, H., McGarvey, K., Bredin-Oja, S. L., & Brady, N. “Maternal Input Quality and Child Language Development in Fragile X.” Gatlinburg Conference, Kansas City, MO, April 2023.

Fielding-Gebhardt, H., Kelly, S. E., Unruh, K. E., Schmitt, L., White, S. P., Khemani, P., & Mosconi, M. W. “Oculomotor Response Inhibition in Female FMR1 Premutation Carriers.” 18th NFXF International Fragile X Conference, San Diego, CA, July 2022.

Boorom, O., Fielding-Gebhardt, H., Bredin-Oja, S., Fleming, K., & Brady, N. “Language Skills Influence Maternal Expectations and Transition Planning in Adolescents with Fragile X Syndrome.” 18th NFXF International Fragile X Conference, San Diego, CA, July 2022.

 

Awards & Honors

University of Kansas, Jeanette Johnson Staff Professional Development Fund. Travel Award. May 2022.

University of Kansas, Graduate Studies. Doctoral Student Research Fund. Dissertation support. November 2020.

Rice Child Language Doctoral Fund Award, University of Kansas Research Excellence Initiative. January 2019.

Schiefelbusch Child Language Scholarship, Child Language Doctoral Program, May 2017.

National Fragile X Foundation, Travel Award, March 2017.