Queen Mary PhD Students Champion Neurodivergent Inclusion at Night of Science and Engineering

Daniel Gill, Emma Hayashibara and Zara Arain Saqlan share their research at the Night of Science and Engineering

Their work—spanning mental health, human‑centred technology and maternal health—showcases the powerful role of research in creating more accessible futures. 

Emma Hayashibara: Co‑producing Mental Health Tools for Neurodivergent Young People 

PhD researcher Emma Hayashibara presented her work addressing long‑standing mental health disparities among neurodivergent children and adolescents. Her project uses an intersectional approach, focusing especially on the experiences of young people from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds—groups whose needs are often overlooked in clinical assessment. 

Emma is co‑producing an inclusive mental health assessment tool shaped directly by the voices of neurodivergent young people. She also leads the PhD Participatory Research Network, a cross-London initiative supporting doctoral researchers to embed participatory values meaningfully in their work. Her commitment to shared decision-making and community-led research reflects a growing movement toward mental health tools designed with neurodivergent people, not just for them. 

Daniel Gill: Understanding Motion and Interaction Through a Neurodivergent Lens 

From the Centre for Human-Centred Computing, Daniel Gill bridges robotics, psychology and design to study how neurodivergent people move, interact and communicate through touch and motion. By collaborating closely with neurodivergent participants, his work explores differences in motor control and haptic interaction—areas that remain under-researched despite their importance in daily life. 

Daniel’s findings aim to influence the next generation of inclusive technologies. By identifying patterns that shape how neurodivergent people physically interact with the world, he hopes to contribute to tools, interfaces and systems that better reflect the diversity of human experience. 

Dr Zara Arain Saqlan: Using Machine Learning to Support Health in Pregnant People 

Clinical research fellow and third‑year PhD student Dr Zara Arain Saqlan presented work linking obstetrics, environmental health and data science. Her current research, part of the Air Pollution and Pregnancy Clinical Trial (NCT06340971) in partnership with UCLH, uses machine learning models to predict preterm birth. 

Predictive tools like the ones Zara develops have the potential to improve maternal care for all patients—but are especially valuable for neurodivergent people, who often face barriers in accessing consistent, personalised healthcare. Her project highlights how inclusive research can help ensure that medical innovation benefits every community. 

Celebrating Neurodivergent Voices in Research 

Together, Emma, Daniel and Zara represent Queen Mary’s commitment to research that centres lived experience and challenges inequality. Their presentations at the Night of Science and Engineering not only showcased cutting-edge science, but also reinforced the importance of empowering neurodivergent communities through co-production, interdisciplinary collaboration and inclusive design. 

A fitting reflection for Neurodiversity Celebration Week, their work shows how research can drive more inclusive systems, technologies and healthcare that recognise and respect the full diversity of minds.