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Laurel Raffington @laraffington.bsky.social · 9d

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

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Reposted by Laurel Raffington

Max Planck School of Cognition @mps-cognition.bsky.social · Sep 4

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

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Reposted by Laurel Raffington

BOLD @boldinsights.bsky.social · Aug 21

“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...

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

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Reposted by Laurel Raffington

Kathryn Paige Harden @kph3k.bsky.social · Aug 8

🌟🌟🌟 We are hiring! My group is looking to recruit a postdoc interested in genomic and epigenomic studies of child development. Start date flexible; one-year contract with option to renew.

utaustin.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/UTstaff/job/...

Postdoctoral Fellow (Harden)

Job Posting Title: Postdoctoral Fellow (Harden) ---- Hiring Department: Population Research Center ---- Position Open To: All Applicants ---- Weekly Scheduled Hours: 40 ---- FLSA Status: Exempt ---- E...

utaustin.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com

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Laurel Raffington @laraffington.bsky.social · Jul 22

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

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Laurel Raffington @laraffington.bsky.social · Jul 21

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

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Laurel Raffington @laraffington.bsky.social · Jul 3

• Linked emergence of racial disparities in mental health and epigenetic biological aging across childhood and adolescence >>> www.nature.com/articles/s41...

• Genetic Pinball Videogame on gene X wealth/ health/ and education inequality >>> purplesloth.itch.io/genetic-pinb...

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

Laurel Raffington @laraffington.bsky.social · Jul 3

Polygenic Associations with Educational Attainment in East Versus West Germany: Differences Emerge After Reunification >>> pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...

• Social determinants of health and epigenetic clocks: Meta-analysis of 140 studies >>> www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...

Differences in polygenic associations with educational attainment between West and East Germany before and after reunification

Here we examine geographical and historical differences in polygenic associations with educational attainment in East and West Germany around reunification. We test this in n = 1902 25–85-year-olds fr...

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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Laurel Raffington @laraffington.bsky.social · Jul 3

Some of our research >>> Utilizing epigenetics to study the shared nature of development and biological aging across the lifespan >>> www.nature.com/articles/s41...

• Beyond a Shared History: A Biosocial Perspective on Sociogenomics and Racism in Germany >>> link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Utilizing epigenetics to study the shared nature of development and biological aging across the lifespan - npj Science of Learning

npj Science of Learning - Utilizing epigenetics to study the shared nature of development and biological aging across the lifespan

www.nature.com

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Laurel Raffington @laraffington.bsky.social · Jul 3

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

Behavior Genetics Association @behaviorgenetic.bsky.social · Jul 2

🏆 @laraffington.bsky.social‬ won the early career award, and Paul Liechtenstein won the Dobzhansky award

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Reposted by Laurel Raffington

Humanities & Social Sciences @hss.springernature.com · Jun 11

🔍 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

Two line graphs (A and B) display log-transformed CBCL scores across ages 3, 5, 9, and 13. Graph A shows Externalizing scores; Graph B shows Internalizing scores. Lines represent racial groups—Black (blue), Latinx (green), Asian (red), White (brown)—with shaded confidence intervals.

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Reposted by Laurel Raffington

European Research Council (ERC) @erc.europa.eu · Jun 2

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

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

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Laurel Raffington @laraffington.bsky.social · May 16

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! 🔖

ywillems.bsky.social @ywillems.bsky.social · May 16

🏡🧬 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

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

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Laurel Raffington @laraffington.bsky.social · Apr 29

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

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Reposted by Laurel Raffington

Prof Jeffrey S Morris @jsm2334.bsky.social · Apr 23

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...

NIH cancels its first and largest study centered on women

The Women’s Health Initiative has produced numerous influential findings

www.science.org

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Reposted by Laurel Raffington

Muna Aikins @munaaikins.bsky.social · Apr 10

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 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

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Laurel Raffington @laraffington.bsky.social · Mar 21

General infos on postdoc positions in Germany >> www.research-in-germany.org/en/your-goal...

Top Postdoc Opportunities in GermanyChat-Icon

Looking for postdoc positions in Germany? Explore opportunities in universities, research institutes and industry.

www.research-in-germany.org

Laurel Raffington @laraffington.bsky.social · Mar 21

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

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Reposted by Laurel Raffington

Margherita Malanchini @marghmalanchini.bsky.social · Feb 28

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.🧬🌳

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Reposted by Laurel Raffington

Margherita Malanchini @marghmalanchini.bsky.social · Feb 28

🧬🌳 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)

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

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Laurel Raffington @laraffington.bsky.social · Feb 19

(plus German social systems incl paid parental leave, child benefit payments, free daycare & schools)

Laurel Raffington @laraffington.bsky.social · Feb 19

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)!

Max-Planck-Gesellschaft @maxplanck.de · Feb 18

‼️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

The new Max Planck Postdoc Program adresses young scientists.

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Reposted by Laurel Raffington

Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience @kingsioppn.bsky.social · Jan 23

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...

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

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Reposted by Laurel Raffington

Elliot Tucker-Drob @tuckerdrob.bsky.social · Feb 5

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.

Genetic correlations between MDD and each neuroticism cut point. The line of best fit is shown, based
on a linear regression model, with parameters estimated using generalized least squares (GLS).

Standardized results (with standard errors) for two-factor genomic structural
equation model as estimated using GenomicSEM software.

Standardized results (with standard errors) for three-severity factor genomic structural
equation model as estimated using GenomicSEM software.

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Laurel Raffington @laraffington.bsky.social · Dec 13

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

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