Social and Behavioral Development Lab

Welcome

The Social and Behavioral Development Lab investigates genetic and environmental factors that contribute to individual differences in the development of psychopathology, including depression, ADHD, and other externalizing disorders. Research in our lab combines advanced molecular genetic approaches (e.g., genome-wide association studies, polygenic risk scores, gene-pathways analyses) with rigorous measurements of environmental influences to uncover mechanisms of developmental outcomes. The goal of this research is to better understand how individual differences in child behavioral development and the development of psychiatric outcomes arise as a function of our DNA and our environments, and to ultimately create more effective and personalized mental health care. Studies in our lab have been funded by NICHD, the UW Center for Human Genomics and Precision Medicine, and the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation.