Doctoral Researcher
Research Interests
Hattie Ruffer is a doctoral researcher in behavioural genetics whose research focuses on the early developmental origins of ADHD. Her work examines how infant temperament, motor activity, and genetic propensity contribute to later neurodevelopmental outcomes, using longitudinal cohort data and advanced quantitative methods. She is particularly interested in developmental psychopathology, early behavioural markers of ADHD, and the interplay between genes and behaviour across development.
Before pursuing a career in research, Hattie trained and worked as a professional actress. She later completed her undergraduate psychology degree at Birkbeck, University of London, where she now teaches across a range of undergraduate and postgraduate modules, with a particular focus on statistics and research methods.
Hattie has presented her research at several international conferences, including the Behaviour Genetics Association (BGA) in the US; the Budapest CEU Conference on Cognitive Development (BCCCD) in Hungary; and the International Congress of Infant Studies (ICIS) in Panama. Outside academia, Hattie is a professional ballet and barre teacher and enjoys exploring the connections between movement, development, and wellbeing.