Nathan Caruana

Senior Lecturer

College of Education, Psychology and Social Work

nathan.caruana@flinders.edu.au

Social Sciences North

GPO Box 2100, ADELAIDE, SA, 5001

I am a cognitive neuroscientist focused on understanding the factors that shape positive social interactions involving neurotypical and neurodivergent individuals (e.g., autism, schizophrenia) as well as artificial agents (e.g., virtual avatars, robots). My broader goal is to improve the lives of all neurodiverse people by informing how we can optimise social communication in various contexts by fully understanding the perceptual (bottom-up) and psychological/cognitive (top-down) factors that shape social perception, attention and action.

A second stream of my research is exploring the potential application of social robots as an assistive technology in education settings. A particular focus of this research is to examine how the social capabilities of robots can promote positive experiences during children’s reading and language acquisition – particularly for those who experience social anxiety. Relating to this research stream, I am collaborating across several projects examining the relationship between literacy difficulties and emotional health outcomes in children and adults.

Qualifications

B. Psych. (Hons 1)

PhD (Human Cognition and Brain Sciences)

Honours, awards and grants

AWARDS

Flinders Institute for Mental Health and Wellbeing - Best Thought Leader of the Year: Excellence in communicating mental health and wellbeing research to diverse audiences - $400 prize money (2024)
Best ECR Platform Presentation, Australasian Society for Social and Affective Neuroscience (2023)
Paul Bourke Award, Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia (2021)
Cognitive Science Research and Teaching Service Award, MQ (2018)
Staff Awards: Excellence in Higher Degree Research Award, MQ (2017)
Excellence in Higher Degree Research Award, MQ (2017)
David Hall Prize (Best Thesis), Faculty of Human Sciences, MQ (2016)
Vice Chancellor’s Commendation for Academic Excellence, MQ (2016)
ARC CCD Excellence in Research (2015)
ARC CCD Excellence in Research Student Award (2014)

GRANTS

Enterprise Scholarship (Bookbot.com) (2025) - Caruana, McArthur * DeWitts. $172,406.
Bial Foundation Grant (2025-2026) Tidoni, E., Campagnoli, C., & Caruana, N. €57, 500; AUD$94, 300.
Norman Munn Visiting Distinguished Visiting Fellowship (2023) - Balzan & Caruana. $8,000.
Experimental Psychology Society (2023) - Tidoni*, Caruana* & Cross. $15,821.
MQ Research Acceleration Scheme (2022) - McEwan, Nalepka, Caruana, Richardson, Kallen, & Curby. $49,959.86.
MQ Strategic Infrastructure Scheme (2022) - Ryan … Caruana & Nalepka. $134,013.
ARC CCD Legacy Scheme (2018-2019) - Caruana, Nalepka, Kaplan, Richardson & Pellicano. $24,072.83.
MQ Research Fellowship (2018-2023) - Caruana. $441,384.
MQ Strategic Infrastructure (2017) - Kruger … Caruana, Stephen, Mitchison. $132,887.
ARC CCD Neural Markers (2017) - Caruana, Woolgar, Seymour, McArthur. $17,478.
ARC CCD Cross Program Support (2017) - Sutherland … Caruana, Connaughton, Ewing & Williams. $39,287.
ARC CCD Neural Markers (2016) - Schubert, Kohnen, Castles, Nickels, Caruana, & de Lissa. $5,180.
ARC CCD Cross Program Support (2016) - Caruana, Langdon, Seymour, McArthur, Rhodes, Kloth, & Murphy. $39,947.
ARC CCD Cross Program Support (2016) - Seymour, Caruana, Rhodes, Clifford & Wardle. $39,790.
MQ Human Sciences Equipment Grant (2015) - Badcock, Caruana, ... & McArthur. $2,902.
ARC CCD Cross Program Support (2015) - McArthur, Sowman, Bishop, Savage, Caruana, & Francis. $39,000.
MQ Postgraduate Research Fund (2014) - Caruana. $5,000.
MQ Faculty of Human Sciences Equipment Grant (2014) - McArthur, Sowman, Savage, Caruana, & Francis. $10,000.

Key responsibilities

Deputy Course Coordinator (Undergraduate Psychology: Outreach & Student Partnership)

Director, HAVIC Lab for Human, Artificial & Virtual Interactive Cognition

Teaching interests

I teach Cognitive Psychology - the science of understanding how our minds work. I showcase emerging research in my teaching to show how experimental psychology and cognitive neuroscience methods can inform how the brain makes sense of the world around us and to explore ways in which we can improve cognitive outcomes in various contexts.

Topic coordinator

PSYC3008 Applied Cognitive Psychology

Topic lecturer

PSYC3008 Applied Cognitive Psychology

PSYC2020 Cognition and Learning

Professional engagement

MEDIA ENGAGEMENT

Caldwell, I. These robot cats have glowing eyes and artificial heartbeats – and could help reduce stress in children. Guardian Australia. May, 2025.
Caruana, N. Dr Nathan Caruana ASSA Paul Bourke Award Research Highlight. Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia. December, 2021.
Coombs, C. B. Spectrum Community Newsletter: A Double Dose of Double-Empathy Problem Studies. Spectrum News. 21 March, 2021.
Musser, G. Virtual reality could show others what autism feels like – and lead to potential treatments. Science Magazine. 26 October 2018.
Caruana, N. & Brock. J. Virtual Reality May Reveal New Clues About Autism Social Difficulties. Scientific American. 24 May 2017.
Caruana, N. & Brock. J. Virtual reality yields clues to social difficulties in autism. Spectrum News. 16 May 2017.

OUTREACH ACTIVITIES

Flinders Project ECHO – Neurodiversity & Cognitive Assessment (2025). Invited to join the Project ECHO team as an expert panel member and instructor. This network supports NT health professionals to maintain professional competencies through cutting-edge knowledge, particularly in neurodiversity, autism, and cognitive assessment.

SA Office for Autism – Autism Works Employment Summit Exhibition (2025). Invited by the SA Office for Autism to exhibit our research and provide neuro-inclsion training to > 450 industry delegates. Showcased our research using virtual reality to support inclusive job interview practices.

Flinders University Enrichment Days (2024 – Present). Leading Y10 student engagement sessions with mini-workshops on Visual and Body Ownership Illusions.

Flinders University Open Day (2024 – Present). As Academic Lead for Psychology Open Days, I’ve revitalised our promotional materials, introducing interactive activities (e.g., brain scanning) and coordinated staff involvement to showcase our supportive culture. This contributed to a 30% increase in first preferences in 2024.

SA Brain Bee (2024). Interactive brain imaging workshop with Yr 10 students.

Leap UP Refugee Mentoring Program – Reading with Robots Demonstration (2021). Robotics and STEM activities with high school students from Sydney’s Western Suburbs from refugee backgrounds.

Science and Industry Stakeholder Workshop Mediator (2015). Mediated a seminar on emerging neuro-tech.

Promoting Higher Degree Research at Macquarie (2013 – 2014). Spoke at four university commencement events to promote higher degree research training.

EXTERNAL APPOINTMENTS