Experiences of student and trainee autism researchers during the COVID ‐19 pandemic

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Kaku, S. M., McVey, A. J., Gerber, A. H., Pretzsch, C. M., Jones, D. R., Kodakkadan, F., Lei, J., Singer, L., Chitehwe, L., Poulsen, R., & Coffman, M. C. (2021). Experiences of student and trainee autism researchers during the COVID ‐19 pandemic. Autism Research, 15(3), 413-420. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.2662

Publication date: 23 Dec 2021 Added to AutiHub: 5 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
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Authors

Publication authors
11
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 11 (9.1%)
  1. Sowmyashree Mayur Kaku
  2. Alana J. McVey
  3. Alan H. Gerber
  4. Charlotte M. Pretzsch
  1. Desiree R. Jones
  2. Fathima Kodakkadan
  3. Jiedi Lei
  4. Lauren Singer
  1. Lucy Chitehwe
  2. Rebecca Poulsen *
  3. Marika C. Coffman

Abstract

Circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in significant personal and professional adjustments. Students and trainees, including those in autism research, face unique challenges to accomplishing their training and career goals during this unprecedented time. In this commentary, we, as members of the International Society for Autism Research Student and Trainee Committee, describe our personal experiences, which may or may not align with those of other students and trainees. Our experiences have varied both in terms of the ease (or lack thereof) with which we adapted and the degree to which we were supported in the transition to online research and clinical practice. We faced and continue to adjust to uncertainties about future training and academic positions, for which opportunities have been in decline and have subsequently negatively impacted our mental health. Students and trainees' prospects have been particularly impacted compared to more established researchers and faculty. In addition to the challenges we have faced, however, there have also been unexpected benefits in our training during the pandemic, which we describe here. We have learned new coping strategies which, we believe, have served us well. The overarching goal of this commentary is to describe these experiences and strategies in the hope that they will benefit the autism research community moving forward. Here, we provide a set of recommendations for faculty, especially mentors, to support students and trainees as well as strategies for students and trainees to bolster their self-advocacy, both of which we see as crucial for our future careers. LAY SUMMARY: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected students and trainees, including those in autism research, in different ways. Here, we describe our personal experiences. These experiences include challenges. For example, it has been difficult to move from in-person to online work. It has also been difficult to keep up with work and training goals. Moreover, working from home has made it hard to connect with our supervisors and mentors. As a result, many of us have felt unsure about how to make the best career choices. Working in clinical services and getting to know and support our patients online has also been challenging. Overall, the pandemic has made us feel more isolated and some of us have struggled to cope with that. On the other hand, our experiences have also included benefits. For example, by working online, we have been able to join meetings all over the world. Also, the pandemic has pushed us to learn new skills. Those include technical skills but also skills for well-being. Next, we describe our experiences of returning to work. Finally, we give recommendations for trainees and supervisors on how to support each other and to build a strong community.

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These indicators describe the cited bibliography imported for this publication. Cited-reference metrics use the cited-reference total as denominator. Cited-author metrics state whether they use all cited-author occurrences or only occurrences linked to authors already integrated in the AutiHub database. They use cached links between cited authors and authors integrated in the AutiHub database. Last computed: 16 Aug 2026 11:30.

Cited references
31
Total cited references integrated for this publication.
Cited references with an identified autistic author
0 / 31 (0.0%)
Cited author occurrences identified as autistic
0 / 132 (0.0%)
Among occurrences linked to AutiHub author records: 0 / 12 (0.0%). Distinct cited authors identified as autistic: 0 / 132 (0.0%).
Cited author occurrences linked to AutiHub author records
12 / 132 (9.1%)
Distinct linked cited authors: 12 / 132 (9.1%)
Linked cited-author occurrences not identified as autistic
12 / 12 (100.0%)
Among linked cited-author occurrences only. Across all cited-author occurrences: 12 / 132 (9.1%). Distinct linked cited authors not identified as autistic: 12 / 12 (100.0%).
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