Emily Robertson

Emily L. Robertson, PhD, is an Assistant Professor (Research) of psychology at Florida International University in the Center for Children and Families. 

Dr. Robertson completed her undergraduate training at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, FL. She then worked at Georgetown University prior to attending Louisiana State University for her doctoral training in Clinical Psychology. She completed her clinical residency at the University of Miami's Mailman Center for Child Development where she specialized in interventions for children 5-17 years old. Dr. Robertson was awarded a Ruth L. Kirschstein Institutional National Research Service Award (T32) Fellowship (NIH/NIDA) in the Center for Children and Families at FIU which she completed in 2021. She then transitioned into a Research Assistant Professor faculty position in August 2022. 

Dr. Robertson’s research program examines how children and adolescents develop conduct problems (frequently referred to as disruptive behavior disorders), which are mental health conditions that involve aggression, defiance, rule-breaking, and can worsen into antisocial/criminal behavior. Using knowledge gained of how children develop conduct problems, Dr. Robertson's research also seeks to improve the assessment and treatment of these difficulties. The aim of this research program is to use cross-sectional and longitudinal data to identify at-risk children and adolescents who would benefit from interventions, understand when interventions may be most effective, and tailor interventions to improve outcomes for children who have varying subtypes of conduct disorders (i.e., Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Conduct Disorder, with or without Limited Prosocial Emotions).

Dr. Robertson has published >20 scientific articles and book chapters. Her research has been recognized by the Society for Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology (APA Division 53), Society for Research on Adolescence, and the Society for the Scientific Study of Psychopathy. She also serves as Co-Assistant Director for the Summer Treatment Program – Elementary (STP-E), an intensive, evidenced based intervention for children with ADHD and related behavioral concerns, and is the Co-Clinical Director of the After School Program (ATP), a program modeled after the STP-E.

Research Areas

• Etiological pathways to the development of subtypes of conduct problems, with a particular focus on children with Limited Prosocial Emotions (i.e., callous-unemotional traits)
• Development, evaluation, and dissemination of evidence-based interventions for ADHD and related disruptive behavior disorders (Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Conduct Disorder)
• Utilizing innovative technology to improve assessment and treatment of ADHD and related disruptive behavior disorders (Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Conduct Disorder)
• Caregiver-child relationship and interactions

Education

• Ruth L. Kirschstein Institutional National Research Service Award (T32) Fellowship (NIH/NIDA), Children and Families, Florida International University, Miami, FL
• PhD, Clinical Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
• Clinical Residency, Mailman Center for Child Development, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
• MA, Clinical Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
• BS, Psychology, minor in Criminal Justice, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL

Publications

• Robertson, E.L., Frick, P.J., Walker, T.M., Kemp, E.C., Ray, J.V., Thornton, L.C., Wall Myers, T.D., Steinberg, L., & Cauffman, E. (2020). Callous-unemotional traits and risk of gun carrying and use during crime. American Journal of Psychiatry. Doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.19080861.
• Robertson, E.L., Frick, P.J., Ray, J.V., Thornton, L.C., Wall Myers, T.D., Steinberg, L., & Cauffman, E. (2020). Do callous-unemotional traits moderate the effects of the juvenile justice system on later offending behavior? Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13266.
• Robertson, E.L., Walker, T.M., & Frick, P.J. (2020). Intimate partner violence perpetration and psychopathy: A comprehensive review. European Psychologist, 25(2), 134-145. DOI: 10.1027/1016-9040/a000397.
• Frick, P.J., Robertson, E.L., & Clark, J.E. (2018). Callous-unemotional traits. In M.M. Martel (Ed.), Disruptive, impulse-control, and conduct disorders: Features, assessment, pathways, and intervention. New York: Elsevier. p. 139-160.
• https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=5s5eKs0AAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate