I am a current Ph.D. student working with Dr. Aubyn Stahmer in the Collaborative Start Lab at the UC Davis MIND Institute. Generally, my research interests focus on the experiences of autistic individuals and their families in their religious communities. In particular, I am interested in deepening our understanding of the extent to which religious communities are inclusive of autistic individuals. Additionally, I have explored the influence of religious beliefs on perceptions of autism among Muslim parents of children with autism. My overall aim is to develop community guidelines and interventions to promote inclusivity and increase awareness of neurodiversity across religious community settings. 

Certification

2024 – 2025 Early Childhood Intervention: Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities Trainee, University of Connecticut 
2024 – 2025 Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities, UC Davis MIND Institute

Grants & Awards 

2025     Suad Joseph Graduate Student Research Award, UC Davis ($2,000)  
2025     Graduate Student Association Travel Award, UC Davis ($500)  
2025    Erna and Orville Thompson Research Award, Human Development Graduate Group, UC Davis ($2,200)  
2025    SALAM Mosque Education Scholarship, Sacramento, CA ($1,500)  
2024    Public Scholars for the Future Research Stipend, UC Davis ($1,500)  

Publications

Vejnoska S., Hochheimer S., Yu Y., Diaz Navarro J., Alkhatib H., Michaelsen J., Iadarola S., Pellecchia M., Gulsrud A., Hassrick E., Mandell D., Kasari C.,  Stahmer A., (2023) Empowering Caregivers Through an Innovative Peer Navigator Program. Autism Spectrum News. https://autismspectrumnews.org/tag/family-resource-centers/

Conferences 

Alkhatib, H., Bayoumi, S.C., Stahmer, A.C. (2025, May 15). Role of Religion in Service Access for Muslim Parents of Children with Autism: Preliminary Results [Oral Presentation]. UC Davis Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities. Sacramento, California.  

Alkhatib, H., Stahmer, A.C. (2025, April 30 – May 2). Role of Religion in Service Access for Muslim Parents of Children with Autism: Preliminary Results [Poster]. International Society for Autism Research Conference. Seattle, Washington.  

Alkhatib, H., Stahmer, A.C. (2025, April 11-12). Role of Religion in Service Access for Muslim Parents of Children with Autism: Preliminary Results [Poster]. Muslim Mental Health Conference, Detroit, Michigan.  

Alkhatib, H., Nelson Potter, S., Abbeduto, L. (2021, July 27-30). Relationships Between Parental Warmth, Parental Responsivity, and Child Language Outcomes in Children with Fragile X Syndrome [Oral Presentation]. National Ronald E. McNair Conference, University of California, Los Angeles. 

Alkhatib, H., Nelson Potter, S., Abbeduto, L. (2021, May 7). Challenging Behaviors and Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children with Fragile X Syndrome [Poster]. Psychology Conference, University of California, Davis.