Advisors:  Hermine H.M. Maes, Ph.D., Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics; Elizabeth C. Prom-Wormley, Ph.D., Department of Epidemiology

My research focuses on the etiology of risk factors underlying psychiatric traits—particularly substance use—and health risk behaviors in adolescents and young adults. The goal is to advance population health, prevent disease, and reduce the overall health burden. In terms of methodology, I’m interested in combining twin study designs with molecular genetic approaches to better understand how and what genetic variants influence psychiatric traits and health behaviors.

Currently, I work for the RESIST Project, funded by the National Institutes of Health, which aims to identify resistant factors aggregated at the low end of the liability distribution for substance use.