Laurel Raffington
@laraffington.bsky.social
Research Group Leader MPRG Biosocial | Max Planck Institute for Human Development | Jacobs Foundation Fellow
We have an open postdoc position in Social Science Genomics in Berlin!
Includes gene-environment interplay within German population cohorts & experimental online survey studies to probe public perceptions of potential DNA biomarker applications
🔗 www.mpib-berlin.mpg.de/2196134/2025...
Includes gene-environment interplay within German population cohorts & experimental online survey studies to probe public perceptions of potential DNA biomarker applications
🔗 www.mpib-berlin.mpg.de/2196134/2025...
Postdoctoral Position in Social Science Genomics | Max Planck Research Group Biosocial
www.mpib-berlin.mpg.de
October 28, 2025 at 2:22 PM
We have an open postdoc position in Social Science Genomics in Berlin!
Includes gene-environment interplay within German population cohorts & experimental online survey studies to probe public perceptions of potential DNA biomarker applications
🔗 www.mpib-berlin.mpg.de/2196134/2025...
Includes gene-environment interplay within German population cohorts & experimental online survey studies to probe public perceptions of potential DNA biomarker applications
🔗 www.mpib-berlin.mpg.de/2196134/2025...
If you are enthusiastic about making developmental sociogenomics magic using AI, I just signed up as an "X" advisor in the new Max Planck AI Network.
PhD applications open from October 1 - 31 >>> ai.mpg.de/@maxplanck.de
PhD applications open from October 1 - 31 >>> ai.mpg.de/@maxplanck.de
September 29, 2025 at 12:37 PM
If you are enthusiastic about making developmental sociogenomics magic using AI, I just signed up as an "X" advisor in the new Max Planck AI Network.
PhD applications open from October 1 - 31 >>> ai.mpg.de/@maxplanck.de
PhD applications open from October 1 - 31 >>> ai.mpg.de/@maxplanck.de
Reposted by Laurel Raffington
The new application cycle for our fully funded international graduate program has just started. You can now apply via our website, sign up for a Q&A, or participate in the Applicant Support Program cognition.maxplanckschools.org/en ! 👍🏻🧠👏🏾#passionforscience, #maxplanckschools
September 4, 2025 at 11:21 AM
The new application cycle for our fully funded international graduate program has just started. You can now apply via our website, sign up for a Q&A, or participate in the Applicant Support Program cognition.maxplanckschools.org/en ! 👍🏻🧠👏🏾#passionforscience, #maxplanckschools
Reposted by Laurel Raffington
“The impact on health of a childhood in poverty may not be apparent until later life.”
@laraffington.bsky.social studies how children’s early environments become embedded in their biology and may affect later outcomes. #ChildDev
boldscience.org/the-developm...
@laraffington.bsky.social studies how children’s early environments become embedded in their biology and may affect later outcomes. #ChildDev
boldscience.org/the-developm...
What are the long-term impacts of childhood interventions?
Laurel Raffington uses epigenetic biomarkers to measure the long-term impacts of childhood interventions
boldscience.org
August 21, 2025 at 9:35 AM
“The impact on health of a childhood in poverty may not be apparent until later life.”
@laraffington.bsky.social studies how children’s early environments become embedded in their biology and may affect later outcomes. #ChildDev
boldscience.org/the-developm...
@laraffington.bsky.social studies how children’s early environments become embedded in their biology and may affect later outcomes. #ChildDev
boldscience.org/the-developm...
Using saliva DNA methylation to study genetic susceptibility to common diseases given limitations of GWAS to identify molecular mechanisms (LD between nearby polymorphisms and most of the identified markers are in non-coding regions of the genome) >>> www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Saliva as a potential diagnostic medium: DNA methylation biomarkers for disorders beyond the oral cavity - npj Genomic Medicine
npj Genomic Medicine - Saliva as a potential diagnostic medium: DNA methylation biomarkers for disorders beyond the oral cavity
www.nature.com
July 22, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Using saliva DNA methylation to study genetic susceptibility to common diseases given limitations of GWAS to identify molecular mechanisms (LD between nearby polymorphisms and most of the identified markers are in non-coding regions of the genome) >>> www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Interesting application "Epigenetic clocks may enhance IVF success prediction, particularly in women between 31 and 35.... importance of developing epigenetic models specifically tailored to fertility outcomes " link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Epigenetic age and fertility timeline: testing an epigenetic clock to forecast in vitro fertilization success rate - Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology
Background In the field of in vitro fertilization (IVF), the search for reliable success predictors is ongoing, with novel biomarkers gaining increasing attention. Epigenetic clocks, mathematical mode...
link.springer.com
July 21, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Interesting application "Epigenetic clocks may enhance IVF success prediction, particularly in women between 31 and 35.... importance of developing epigenetic models specifically tailored to fertility outcomes " link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Humbled to receive the BGA's early career award ☺️ Thank you to my brilliant team #MPRGBiosocial, the @maxplanck.de for investing in early career researchers, @mpib-berlin.bsky.social for the excellent environment, and my many mentors incl @kph3k.bsky.social @tuckerdrob.bsky.social #ScienceTeamSport
🏆 @laraffington.bsky.social won the early career award, and Paul Liechtenstein won the Dobzhansky award
July 3, 2025 at 6:20 AM
Humbled to receive the BGA's early career award ☺️ Thank you to my brilliant team #MPRGBiosocial, the @maxplanck.de for investing in early career researchers, @mpib-berlin.bsky.social for the excellent environment, and my many mentors incl @kph3k.bsky.social @tuckerdrob.bsky.social #ScienceTeamSport
Reposted by Laurel Raffington
🔍 Behind the paper: 'Racism Gets Under the Skin: Social Disparities in Children’s Mental Health and Epigenetic-Clock-Measured Biological Aging' by @munaaikins.bsky.social, @denizfraemke.bsky.social, @laraffington.bsky.social, Yayouk Willems & Bridget Goosby. Read more ➡️ bit.ly/43fLZVN
June 11, 2025 at 3:00 PM
🔍 Behind the paper: 'Racism Gets Under the Skin: Social Disparities in Children’s Mental Health and Epigenetic-Clock-Measured Biological Aging' by @munaaikins.bsky.social, @denizfraemke.bsky.social, @laraffington.bsky.social, Yayouk Willems & Bridget Goosby. Read more ➡️ bit.ly/43fLZVN
Reposted by Laurel Raffington
Planning to apply for #research #funding from the ERC?
From the next application rounds, expect changes to the:
• proposal structure
• evaluation process
• extra funding you can request
• eligibility for Starting & Consolidator #Grants (from 2027)
More 👇 europa.eu/!RPHWvv
From the next application rounds, expect changes to the:
• proposal structure
• evaluation process
• extra funding you can request
• eligibility for Starting & Consolidator #Grants (from 2027)
More 👇 europa.eu/!RPHWvv
Changes to the 2026 and 2027 Work Programmes
With the launch of the competitions for grants under ERC Work Programme 2026 in July of this year, several changes to the submission of applications and the evaluation of proposals will apply. The mai...
europa.eu
June 2, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Planning to apply for #research #funding from the ERC?
From the next application rounds, expect changes to the:
• proposal structure
• evaluation process
• extra funding you can request
• eligibility for Starting & Consolidator #Grants (from 2027)
More 👇 europa.eu/!RPHWvv
From the next application rounds, expect changes to the:
• proposal structure
• evaluation process
• extra funding you can request
• eligibility for Starting & Consolidator #Grants (from 2027)
More 👇 europa.eu/!RPHWvv
Lower socioeconomic status and marginalized race/ethnicity is associated with more accelerated and faster biological aging as measured by epigenetic clocks and there was NO evidence of publication bias - a rare finding for biomarkers 🤯 Meta-analytic dataset will be released soon! 🔖
🏡🧬 Our new meta-analysis of 140 studies including ~66,000 people finds that lower socioeconomic status and marginalized race/ethnicity is associated with faster epigenetic biological aging. Find out which epigenetic clocks show the strongest effects 👇
tinyurl.com/metaclocks
tinyurl.com/metaclocks
Social determinants of health and epigenetic clocks: Meta-analysis of 140 studies
Social determinants of health are social factors that affect health and survival. Two of the most powerful social determinants are socioeconomic status (SES) and race/ethnicity; people with lower SES ...
tinyurl.com
May 16, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Lower socioeconomic status and marginalized race/ethnicity is associated with more accelerated and faster biological aging as measured by epigenetic clocks and there was NO evidence of publication bias - a rare finding for biomarkers 🤯 Meta-analytic dataset will be released soon! 🔖
You’ve collected saliva and want to work with epigenetic clocks⏱️ developed in blood DNAm, will you get the same measure? Check out @sepidehzarandooz.bsky.social first pub and thread for the answer!
doi.org/10.1186/s131... #MPRGBiosocial @imprs-life.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1186/s131... #MPRGBiosocial @imprs-life.bsky.social
April 29, 2025 at 1:02 PM
You’ve collected saliva and want to work with epigenetic clocks⏱️ developed in blood DNAm, will you get the same measure? Check out @sepidehzarandooz.bsky.social first pub and thread for the answer!
doi.org/10.1186/s131... #MPRGBiosocial @imprs-life.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1186/s131... #MPRGBiosocial @imprs-life.bsky.social
Reposted by Laurel Raffington
It would be scientifically catastrophic to end this decades long study with 42k women continuing to be followed up, providing unique opportunities to learn new insights into women’s health and characterize risk of many health ailments including chronic disease
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
NIH cancels its first and largest study centered on women
The Women’s Health Initiative has produced numerous influential findings
www.science.org
April 23, 2025 at 12:40 PM
It would be scientifically catastrophic to end this decades long study with 42k women continuing to be followed up, providing unique opportunities to learn new insights into women’s health and characterize risk of many health ailments including chronic disease
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Laurel Raffington
New #MPRGBiosocial paper in Molecular Psychiatry:
“Linked emergence of racial disparities in mental health & epigenetic biological aging across childhood & adolescence”
w/ @yayoukwillems @denizfraemke.bsky.social @laraffington.bsky.social
🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Blog Post: lnkd.in/dKsgagYc
“Linked emergence of racial disparities in mental health & epigenetic biological aging across childhood & adolescence”
w/ @yayoukwillems @denizfraemke.bsky.social @laraffington.bsky.social
🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Blog Post: lnkd.in/dKsgagYc
Linked emergence of racial disparities in mental health and epigenetic biological aging across childhood and adolescence - Molecular Psychiatry
Molecular Psychiatry - Linked emergence of racial disparities in mental health and epigenetic biological aging across childhood and adolescence
www.nature.com
April 10, 2025 at 1:01 PM
New #MPRGBiosocial paper in Molecular Psychiatry:
“Linked emergence of racial disparities in mental health & epigenetic biological aging across childhood & adolescence”
w/ @yayoukwillems @denizfraemke.bsky.social @laraffington.bsky.social
🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Blog Post: lnkd.in/dKsgagYc
“Linked emergence of racial disparities in mental health & epigenetic biological aging across childhood & adolescence”
w/ @yayoukwillems @denizfraemke.bsky.social @laraffington.bsky.social
🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Blog Post: lnkd.in/dKsgagYc
We are looking for a scientist passionate about developmental psychology, sociogenomics, and DNA methylation in a cash gift RCT postdocprogram.mpg.de/node/692! 3.5+ yr position in Berlin (until April 30, 2029) integrated into a new Max Planck postdoc program www.mpg.de/en/max-planc... #MPRGBiosocial
Postdoc position | Max Planck Postdoc Program
postdocprogram.mpg.de
March 21, 2025 at 10:33 AM
We are looking for a scientist passionate about developmental psychology, sociogenomics, and DNA methylation in a cash gift RCT postdocprogram.mpg.de/node/692! 3.5+ yr position in Berlin (until April 30, 2029) integrated into a new Max Planck postdoc program www.mpg.de/en/max-planc... #MPRGBiosocial
Reposted by Laurel Raffington
9/9. In line with transactional models of human development, rooted in evocative/active gene-environment correlation, children seek out environmental experiences that align with their genetic dispositions, partly based on their non-cognitive characteristics, leading to different learning outcomes.🧬🌳
February 28, 2025 at 10:59 AM
9/9. In line with transactional models of human development, rooted in evocative/active gene-environment correlation, children seek out environmental experiences that align with their genetic dispositions, partly based on their non-cognitive characteristics, leading to different learning outcomes.🧬🌳
Reposted by Laurel Raffington
🧬🌳 New CoDE lab preprint: From genetic disposition to academic achievement: The mediating role of non-cognitive skills across development.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
On 🦋: @andrealle.bsky.social @kailirimfeld.bsky.social @laraffington.bsky.social
A short thread 👇 (1/9)
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
On 🦋: @andrealle.bsky.social @kailirimfeld.bsky.social @laraffington.bsky.social
A short thread 👇 (1/9)
From genetic disposition to academic achievement: The mediating role of non-cognitive skills across development
Genetic effects on academic achievement are likely to capture environmental, developmental, and psychological processes. How these processes contribute to translating genetic dispositions into observe...
www.biorxiv.org
February 28, 2025 at 10:59 AM
🧬🌳 New CoDE lab preprint: From genetic disposition to academic achievement: The mediating role of non-cognitive skills across development.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
On 🦋: @andrealle.bsky.social @kailirimfeld.bsky.social @laraffington.bsky.social
A short thread 👇 (1/9)
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
On 🦋: @andrealle.bsky.social @kailirimfeld.bsky.social @laraffington.bsky.social
A short thread 👇 (1/9)
Watch this space for an MPRG Biosocial postdoc call within this dreamwork postdoc program (at least three years, extended mentorship program, science & industry career coaching)!
‼️Save the date‼️The new Max Planck #Postdoc Program kicks off its first call for applications from April 1, 2025; applications can be submitted until May 13, 2025. mpg.de/en/max-planc... #ScienceCareer
February 19, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Watch this space for an MPRG Biosocial postdoc call within this dreamwork postdoc program (at least three years, extended mentorship program, science & industry career coaching)!
Reposted by Laurel Raffington
King's College London launches the Atlas of Longitudinal Datasets, in partnership with @wellcometrust.bsky.social / @mqmentalhealth.bsky.social, a free platform with over 1,600 datasets, to support mental health research worldwide. 🌍
Read more and learn how to access: www.kcl.ac.uk/news/kings-l...
Read more and learn how to access: www.kcl.ac.uk/news/kings-l...
King's launches the Atlas of Longitudinal Datasets to support mental health research
Researchers at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London have launched a new free platform to allow people to discover hundreds of longitudinal mental hea...
www.kcl.ac.uk
January 23, 2025 at 2:27 PM
King's College London launches the Atlas of Longitudinal Datasets, in partnership with @wellcometrust.bsky.social / @mqmentalhealth.bsky.social, a free platform with over 1,600 datasets, to support mental health research worldwide. 🌍
Read more and learn how to access: www.kcl.ac.uk/news/kings-l...
Read more and learn how to access: www.kcl.ac.uk/news/kings-l...
Reposted by Laurel Raffington
Are mental disorders extreme manifestations of continuous traits or genetically distinct entities? We present Genomic Taxometric Analysis of Continuous and Case-Control data (GTACCC) for evaluating genetic continuity and differentiation of traits across the severity spectrum. Tweetorial coming soon.
February 5, 2025 at 1:15 AM
Are mental disorders extreme manifestations of continuous traits or genetically distinct entities? We present Genomic Taxometric Analysis of Continuous and Case-Control data (GTACCC) for evaluating genetic continuity and differentiation of traits across the severity spectrum. Tweetorial coming soon.
Our “Genetic Pinball” gamifies the interplay between genetics and social inequality in life course outcomes. I was asked: “How do you define freedom?” And replied: “To live your genetically influenced preferences”. Visit the boat or play a few rounds here >>> purplesloth.itch.io/genetic-pinb...
Laurel Raffington on LinkedIn: #mswissenschaft
Excited to be a part of the science museum #MSWissenschaft featuring interdisciplinary exhibits on “Freedom”. Our “Genetic Pinball” gamifies the interplay…
www.linkedin.com
December 13, 2024 at 3:31 PM
Our “Genetic Pinball” gamifies the interplay between genetics and social inequality in life course outcomes. I was asked: “How do you define freedom?” And replied: “To live your genetically influenced preferences”. Visit the boat or play a few rounds here >>> purplesloth.itch.io/genetic-pinb...