Bio

 Hari SRINIVASAN BIO Updated Nov '24

Hari is a PhD Candidate in Neuroscience at Vanderbilt University. He is a NSF Graduate Research Fellow, a NISE Fellow (Neurodiversity Inspired Science and Engineering) at the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation at Vanderbilt, a PD Soros Fellow, and an AIRP-Answer Scholar  (Autism Intervention Network on Physical Health - Autistic and Neurodivergent Scholars Working for Equity in Research).

Hari researches sensorimotor issues in autism and is co-mentored by Prof Mark Wallace (Multisensory Lab) and Prof Carissa Cascio (LASR Lab). He hopes his graduate school research will not just add to knowledge in this area, but also contribute to translatable solutions. He also hopes to redefine the way autism research itself is done so it is more inclusive of the entire spectrum. 

Hari is an alum of UC Berkeley (Psychology, Disability Studies) where he was University Medal Finalist and Phi Beta Kappa amongst other honors and distinctions. He was President of the student body, Spectrum at Cal and ran a weekly class on autism for seven semesters. He led Team Propaganda at the UC Berkeley Disability Lab. As a Berkeley Haas Scholar, he conducted funded independent research into the emotions of awe and empathy in autism under the guidance of Professor Dacher Keltner.

Hari has autism, ADHD, limited spoken communication (the spoken part continues to improve, but he primarily uses text-speech software), sensory processing issues, OCD, body schema, poor fine motor, social anxiety & coordination, health issues and other challenges that do present significant challenges in his everyday life. His lived experience means he is very motivated and vested in seeing not just explanations but also real solutions and progress for autistics across the spectrum. 

Hari is active in the autism advocacy space and on the boards / advisory boards / scientific advisory of multiple disability organizations that address policy and research -  Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF), Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), Duke University’s Autism Center for Excellence (ACE), The Brain Foundation, and Autism Europe Congress. He was also selected to be on NIMH’s Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee  (IACC) which helps advise federal policy on autism research priorities. His advocacy has been featured on a US President's instagram on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act and his talks include speaking at the UN, a TedX talk and several keynotes.  Hari was recently awarded the 2024 AUCD Young Professional Award, recognizing his dedication and commitment to people with disabilities and their families, and his work in bridging the gap between the academic sector and the community.

Hari also writes extensively on issues related to autism and has been published in various high impact forums such Time, Newsweek, Fortune, Boston Globe and Psychology Today. His writings have been used in an amicus brief, in the congressional discussions for the renegotiation of the Autism Cares Act, in disability trainings at college campuses and included in Psychology and Disability Studies curricula. 

Hari is an also avid poet and creative writer with many of his works having won awards and published in numerous places, and has consulted on character development for Netflix's 'Ada-Twist, Scientist," science themed animated series for children.

You can read up or follow Hari on YouTube @neuroscientist108, X/IG/FB @harisri108, Bluesky @neuroscientist and his blog uniquelyhari.blogspot.com

Past affiliations include INSAR's Autistic Researcher's Committee, Public Voices Fellow at the Op-Ed Project.