Dr Giacomo Vivanti received his PhD in Cognitive Science from the University of Siena, Italy, in 2008. He joined the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre (OTARC) at La Trobe University, in August 2010. After completing a visiting fellowship at the Yale Child Study Center, Yale University, and a clinical internship at the University Hospital of Siena, he completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California, Davis under the mentorship of Professor Sally Rogers, Professor Sally Ozonoff, and Professor Peter Mundy.

Dr Vivanti's current research is focused on the cognitive processes underlying action understanding, imitation, and social learning in Autism, and the impact of early intensive treatment on the outcomes of young children with Autism. Dr Vivanti is a member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders and a member of the Italian Department of the Health Committee to establish evidence-based guidelines for Autism treatment in Italy. In addition he is a consultant for University programs, scientific institutions, advocacy groups, scientific journals, and service providers across Europe, U.S.A., and Australia. He is the author of three books, several book chapters and numerous research papers published in leading peer-reviewed Psychology journals.