Why do people’s lives turn out differently?

People end up with very different amounts of health, wealth, and life itself. My scientific research uses twin studies and big genetic datasets to understand why people’s lives turn out differently. Genetic data don’t just tell us about our biology; they are also a tool for understanding how our environments affect us.

Many social inequalities are rooted in differences that emerged early in life. I am particularly interested in adolescence — a period of rapid and formative change. Whether or not a teenager succeeds in school, begins childbearing, begins abusing substances, or engages in criminal behavior will affect the rest of their lives. My work focuses on the causes and consequences of these and other aspects of adolescent development.

You can see all of my publications on Google Scholar. Or, scroll down to explore some of my favorite work from the past five years.