Professional Documents
Culture Documents
EDUCATION
Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina
2013-present
PI: Jane Roberts
Research areas: Physiological, genetic, and psychological correlates of language ability in
children, adolescents, and adults with fragile X syndrome, the FMR1 premutation, autism, and
the broad autism phenotype
Ph.D., Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Advisor: Molly Losh
Dissertation: Pragmatic language in autism and fragile X syndrome: Links with physiological
arousal and anxiety
2008-2012
Clinical Fellow in Speech-Language Pathology, FPG Child Development Institute, Chapel Hill NC
Supervisors: Betsy Crais & Kathy Davis
2009-2010
2006-2008
B.A., Communication Science & Disorders, University of Pittsburgh (QPA 3.83, Summa Cum Laude)
2003-2006
2010-present
2012-present
2010-2013
2015
2015
2015
2015
2015
2015
2015
2015
2014
2014
2014
2014
2013
2013
2013
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2008-2012
RESEARCH POSITIONS
Principal Investigator, Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (F32), NIDCD
2014-present
Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina
Led all aspects of research project, from participant recruitment to dissemination of findings
Completed mentored training in physiological data collection (heart activity, skin conductance,
cortisol), eyetracking methods, and clinical characterization of anxiety and mood disorders
Postdoctoral Fellow, Neurodevelopmental Disability Research Project
2013-present
Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina; PI: Jane Roberts
Project manager for cross-site study with the MIND Institute at UC Davis (PI: Len Abbeduto),
focused on language development in fragile X syndrome and autism.
Led research team to recruit and assess 35 adolescents with fragile X syndrome and 20 with
autism with language, cognitive, and autism assessments in a longitudinal study.
Supervised and trained two full-time research associates, several part-time graduate assistants,
and undergraduates.
Student Principal Investigator, National Fragile X William and Enid Rosen Student Research Fellowship
Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of North Carolina
Trained two research assistants to reliability on the Pragmatic Rating Scale.
Coded language samples of ~80 participants with the FMR1 premutation or the broad autism
phenotype and contributed to resultant manuscript (Losh, Klusek et al., 2012).
2009
2008
Assessor, Joint Attention and Symbolic Play & Advancing Social-Communication and Play
2010-2012
Department of Allied Health Sciences, University of North Carolina; PIs: Linda Watson & Brian Boyd
Administered the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) to preschoolers with
autism spectrum disorder in the Durham County school system.
Student Research Assistant, Kinematic Comparison of Speech and Nonspeech Oral Tasks
2006-2008
Department of Communication Science and Disorders, University of Pittsburgh; PI: Susan Shaiman
Analyzed intraoral pressure waveform data using specialized software.
REFEREED PRESENTATIONS
Klusek, J., Hughes, R., Butler, C., & Roberts, J. E. (accepted). Gesture use in one-year-old infants with fragile X
syndrome and typical development. Poster to be presented at the American Speech- Language-Hearing
Association Convention, Denver, CO.
Klusek, J., Schmidt, J., Porter, A., & Roberts, J. E. (2015, September) Pragmatic language ability in the FMR1
premutation is associated with autonomic reactivity and viewing patterns during gaze processing. Poster to
be presented at the 2nd International Conference on the FMR1 Premutation: Basic Mechanisms and Clinical
Involvement, Barcelona, Spain.
Losh, M., Lee, M., Klusek, J., Martin, G., & Berry-Kravis, E. (2015, September). Executive functioning and social
cognition among FMR1 premutation carriers: Links to autism endophenotypes. Abstract to be presented at
OTHER PRESENTATIONS
Klusek, J. (2015, March). Pragmatic language ability in the FMR1 premutation is associated with gaze patterns
and autonomic reactivity to direct eye contact. Department of Psychology Hard Data Caf Seminar Series,
University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC.
Klusek, J. (2014, February). Anxiety as a predictor of pragmatic language difficulties in women with the FMR1
premutation. Department of Psychology Hard Data Caf Seminar Series, University of South Carolina,
Columbia, SC.
Klusek, J. (2013, February). Physiological arousal in autism and fragile X syndrome: Links with pragmatic
language. Department of Psychology Hard Data Caf Seminar Series, University of South Carolina, Columbia,
SC.
Klusek, J. (2012, October). Pragmatic language in autism and fragile X syndrome: Links with physiological
arousal. FPG Child Development Institute Seminar Series, Chapel Hill, NC.
Klusek, J. & Sabatino, A. (2012, September). Early indicators of developmental delay: Autism. Community
workshop, presented to child development professionals at Advancing Skills & Knowledge: A Day for Child
Development Professionals, Chapel Hill, NC.
Martin, G. E. & Klusek, J. (2011, September). Pragmatic language in autism and fragile X syndrome. FPG Child
Development Institute Seminar Series, Chapel Hill, NC.
Patten, E., Klusek, J., & Wilson, K. (2011, January). Building social communication in young children with autism.
Community workshop, presented to child development professionals at Advancing Skills & Knowledge: A
Day for Child Development Professionals, Chapel Hill, NC.
Klusek, J., Sabatos-Devito, M., & Sabatino, A. (2011, January). Look now, act now: Early indicators of
developmental delay: Autism. Community workshop, presented to child development professionals at
Advancing Skills & Knowledge: A Day for Child Development Professionals, Chapel Hill, NC.
Patten, E., Klusek, J., & Wilson, K. (2011, December). Building social communication in young children with
developmental disabilities. Invited talk presented to caregivers and teachers at the Durham Public Schools,
Durham, NC.
SPECIALIZED TRAINING
CardioEdit/CardioBatch Heart Activity Software, Research reliable (Trainer: Keri Heilman), UNC
Pragmatic Language Scale- School Age, Research reliable (Trainer: Rebecca Landa)
Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale (ADOS), Research reliable (Trainer: Kaite Gotham)
Autism Diagnostic Interview (ADI-R), Research reliable (Trainer: Susan Risi)
Phlebotomy 101, training course and supervised practice, Clinical & Translational Research Center, UNC
2014
2012
2012
2011
2009
2013-present
2010-present
2008-present
2005-2010
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
Mentor, SC Governors School for Science & Mathematics Summer Program for Research Interns (SPRI)
2015
Panel Member, A Discussion on Autism, Brookland Baptist Community Health Fair 2015, Columbia SC
2015
Mentor, Student to Empowered Professional (S.T.E.P.) Mentoring Program, ASHA
2014
Ad Hoc Journal Reviewer: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, Autism Research,
2013-present
Research in Developmental Disabilities, American Journal of Intellectual and Developmental
Disabilities, Journal of Affective Disorders, Applied Psycholinguistics, Autism: International
Journal of Research and Practice
Reviewer, Communication and Language Section, 2014 International Meeting for Autism Research
2013
Admissions Committee, M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology, UNC
2013
Planning Committee, Professional Seminar, Speech and Hearing Sciences, UNC
2012
Panel Member, So You Want a PhD?, NC Speech, Hearing, & Language Association Annual Convention 2011
Admissions Committee, M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology, UNC
2011
President, Student Advisory Board, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh 2006-2008
TEACHING ACTIVITIES
Co-Mentor, Magellan Apprentice for Capstone Scholars, USC (1 student)
2015-present
Role: Directly supervised the planning and implementation of an undergraduate research project.
Instructor, COMD 710: Special Topics in Speech Pathology: Autism, USC
2014
1 credit graduate level course focused on diagnostics, etiology, assessment, and intervention.
Co-Instructor, PSYC 589: Selected Topics in Psychology: Neurodevelopmental Disabilities, USC
2014
3 credit undergraduate course. Role: Provided lectures, directly supervised student lab work.
Co-Mentor, SURF Scholars Program, USC (4 students)
2014-present
Role: Directly supervised the planning and implementation of undergraduate research projects.
Supervisor, PSYC 499: Independent Study, USC (12 students)
2013-present
Role: Directly supervised undergraduate student lab work, 9 hours/week.
Co-Mentor, Magellan Scholars Program, USC (3 students)
2013, 2015
Role: Directly supervised the planning and implementation of undergraduate research projects.
Co-Instructor, PSYC 841E: Advanced Study in Selected Topics: Autism Theory and Diagnosis, USC
2013
3 credit graduate level course for psychology doctoral students focused on autism diagnostics.
Role: Provided lectures, developed syllabus and teaching materials, provided clinical feedback.
Co-Instructor, SPHS 802: Special Topics in SLP: Autism, UNC
2011
3 credit graduate level course for SLP and education graduate students focused on diagnostics,
etiology, assessment, and intervention. Role: Provided lectures, developed syllabus and materials.
Supervisor, SPHS 196: Independent Study, UNC (18 students)
2009-2012
Role: Directly supervised undergraduate lab work, 9 hours/week.
Teaching Assistant, SPHS 530: Introduction to Clinical Phonetics, UNC
2009
Role: Provided two lectures, graded weekly assignments and tests, helped to manage course materials.
Teaching Assistant, SPHS 570: Anatomy & Physiology of Speech, UNC
2008
Role: Provided one lecture, graded tests, answered student questions regarding material.
RESEARCH SUPPORT
Profiles and Predictors of Pragmatic Language Impairments in the FMR1 Premutation
$159,396
NIDCD F32 DC013934 (Impact Score: 19; funded first submission)
1/24/14-1/23/17
This project adopts a behavior-biomarker approach to clarify the nature, underlying mechanisms, and functional
consequences of pragmatic (i.e., social language) impairments in women with the FMR1 premutation.
Role: Principal Investigator
Eye Contact in Mothers of Children with Autism and Mothers of Children with Fragile X Syndrome $3,000
USC Science Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF), PI: Alexis Ruber
10/1/15-6/30/15
This grant supports an undergraduate research assistant, Ms. Ruber, to code EDA data for F32DC013934.
Role: Co-faculty Mentor
Autonomic Cardiac Response and Language in Adolescent Males with Fragile X Syndrome
$3,000
USC Science Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF), PI: Clarice Randall
10/1/15-6/30/15
This grant supports an undergraduate research assistant, Ms. Randall, to code and analyze heart activity and
language data of adolescents with fragile X syndrome.
Role: Co-faculty Mentor
Language Dysfluencies and the Aging Cognitive Phenotype of Mothers with the FMR1 Premutation $1,500
USC Science Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF), PI: Anna Porter
10/1/15-12/31/15
This grant supports an undergraduate research assistant, Ms. Porter, to code language data for F32DC013934.
Role: Co-faculty Mentor
Mechanisms of Executive Function Impairment In Women With the FMR1 Premutation
$1,000
USC Magellan Apprentice for Capstone Scholars, PI: Geoffrey Marston
8/15/15-5/1/16
This grant supports an undergraduate research assistant, Mr. Marston, to analyze data for F32DC013934.
Role: Co-faculty Mentor
Gesture Development as an Early Marker of Communication Deficits in Children with Fragile X
$2,800
USC Magellan Scholar Award, PI: Killian Rainey Hughes
1/1/15-8/15/15
This grant supports an undergraduate research assistant, Ms. Hughes, to code and analyze data related to gesture
development in infants with fragile X syndrome and infant siblings of children with autism.
Role: Co-faculty Mentor
Maternal Anxiety and Child Language Outcomes in Fragile X
$3,000
USC Science Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF), PI: Anna Porter
9/15/14-9/15/15
This grant supports an undergraduate research assistant, Ms. Porter, to code and analyze language and heart
activity data for F32DC013934.
Role: Co-faculty Mentor