“Biological Mediators and Moderators of Social Disadvantage From Birth to Adolescence”

Colter Mitchell, PhD

Research Assistant Professor at the Institute of Social Research, University of Michigan

 

Colter Mitchell is the Director of the Institute for Social Research Biospecimen Lab, the Associate Director of the Biosocial Methods Collaborative, and is a Research Assistant Professor at the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan. He has a broad background in sociology, demography, statistics, genetics, and molecular biology. His research utilizes population-based studies to examine the influences of family and social environmental influences on health and behavior—specially focusing on development over the life course using genetic, epigenetic, and neurobiological measures. He examines how social contextual factors such as family instability, poverty, incarceration, childhood trauma, neighborhood characteristics, and parenting, interact with and influence genetic, epigenetic, neurodevelopmental, and telomere measures and how those in turn predict later life health and wellbeing (including behavioral problems, cognition, morbidity, mental health, sexual behavior, marriage and fertility). He also has several articles on the collection and analyses of biosocial data. This work has resulted in publications in social science, medical, and general science journals such as American Journal of SociologyAmerican Journal of Public HealthAnnual Review of Sociology, Proceedings of the National Academy of SciencesDevelopment and PsychopathologyPediatrics, JAMA Psychiatry, American Journal of Medical Genetics, Biodemography and Social Biology, American Journal of Medical Genetics, and American Journal of Preventive Medicine. He is currently funded by multiple NIH institutes and the Jacobs foundation. He co-directs an NIA funded R25 course on Genomics for Social Scientists. He leads the collection and analysis of the biological data for the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing project. He is a 2019 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientist and Engineers winner, nominated by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. 

 

Monday, 30h September 11:00am - 12:00pm
Medical Plaza 300, 3rd Floor, Marisa Leif Conference Room

 

Refreshments will be provided

 With questions, please contact Marina Samaltanos at ext: 58281