About Me
Education
2023 Ph.D. Counseling Psychology (Concentration : Autism Spectrum Disorder)
Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Chennai, India
Dissertation: Development and Validation of Social Emotional Rating Scale and
Emotional Enhancement Intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorder
2019 M.Sc. Counseling Psychology (University Gold Medalist)
Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Chennai, India
Thesis: Development of Sexual Orientation Scale
2017 B.Sc. Psychology
University of Madras, Chennai, India.
Current Position
2023 – Present: Assistant Professor & Research Co-ordinator
School of Psychological Sciences
CHRIST University,
Bangalore (Central Campus), Karnataka, India.
Fellowships
European Commission – Horizon Europe MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2025 | Seal of Excellence Award
Awarded the EU Seal of Excellence by the European Commission for the high-quality research proposal titled: “Enhancing Social Wellbeing for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder through Adaptive Virtual Reality Training” (Submitted under Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships 2025), with Trinty College Dublin, Ireland.
Senior Research Fellowship (ICMR - SRF) 2022 - 2023
Indian Council of Medical Research - Socio Behavioural Health System Research Division,
Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
Junior Research Fellowship (CARE - JRF) 2019 - 2022
Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Chennai, India.
Intellectual property - Patents/Copyright
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2022 - Emotional Enhancement Intervention Manual for Autism Spectrum Disorder - Registration number from Gov. of India: L-111362/2022, Sagayaraj Kanagaraj & C. N. Ram Gopal. A manual for planning an emotional-based intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder.
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2021 - Social-Emotional Rating Scale for Autism Spectrum Disorder (SERA) - Registration number from Gov. of India: L-103900/2021, Sagayaraj Kanagaraj & C. N. Ram Gopal. Pioneer scale on social and emotional assessments for autism spectrum disorder based on the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) diagnostic guidelines.
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2019 - Sexual Orientation Scale - Registration Number from Gov. of India: L-85143/2019, Sagayaraj K & C. N. Ram Gopal. The first-ever psychological scale on sexual orientation to be developed and standardized in the Indian context
Awards and recognitions
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Best Paper Award – “Development and Validation of the Multidimensional Metamemory Skills (MDMS) Scale for Students in an Indian Sample” presented at RESONANCE-2022: International Virtual Conference on Cognitive Approach, Social Ethics & Sustainability, Woxsen University, Telangana, India (2022).
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Best Paper Award – “Social Emotional Rating Scale for Autism Spectrum Disorder (SERA)” presented at International E-Conference on “The New Normal: Psychological Perspectives”, Department of Psychology, Dr. MGR Janaki College for Arts and Science for Women, Chennai, India (2021).
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Guest of Honour – Recognised for research presentation at the 3rd BMI International Autism Conference, Behaviour Momentum India Foundation, Hyderabad, India (2020).
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Raja Muthiah Award for Proficiency – Awarded First Class with Distinction (Gold Medal) for M.Sc. Counseling Psychology, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Chennai, India (2017–2019).
Affiliations and Memberships in Professional Associations
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International Affiliate Member of the American Psychological Association (APA).
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Member of the International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IASSIDD).
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Full Member of the International Society of Autism Research (INSAR).
Mentors in INSAR (C-CAP) program (2022-2023):
Dr. Cristan Farmer, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Dr. Sofie Vettori, French National Centre for Scientific Research, Lyon, France.