The Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics (VIPBG; vipbg.vcu.edu) is pleased to invite applications for postdoctoral training with a focus on mental health. The Institute offers a rich interdisciplinary training environment.  Institute faculty include leaders in the fields of behavioral and psychiatric genetics and represent a wide range of scientific backgrounds from molecular and statistical genetics to epidemiology, psychology, psychiatry.

Currently funded research at VIPBG includes molecular-genetic studies of schizophrenia, major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, alcoholism, cannabis and nicotine dependence. VCU’s pioneering twin studies of complex disorders including adolescent behavioral development, adult psychiatric and substance abuse disorders, together with pertinent epidemiological risk factors have given rise to exceptional resources for data analysis. Our collaborative studies of neuroimaging and neurocognition include the NIH funded ABCD study (abcdstudy.org); PTSD and panic disorder projects further extend the opportunities for research.

Faculty are at the forefront of developing methods and software for the statistical genetic analysis of complex traits.  These methods include extensions and adaptations of structural equation models to exploit data collected from relatives to resolve competing models about causation and individual variation.  New methods for exploiting genetic correlations derived from genotyping studies, and analysis of measured genetic and environmental factors are continuously being developed, tested and applied.

Postdoctoral training is tailored to the experience and needs of the student, and has an emphasis on tutorials and collaborative research.  Suitable backgrounds for students include, but are not limited to, mathematics, statistics, psychology, psychiatry, biology and genetics.  A broad array of courses and workshops may be attended as desired. Future employment prospects for trainees are exceptionally good; high demand in the fields of genetics, psychology and statistics are supplemented by industry demands for statistical geneticists.

The training positions will be funded by an NIMH training grant in psychiatric and behavioral genetics, and are restricted to US citizens or Permanent Residents.

Further information on the Institute, its faculty and research may be found at vipbg.vcu.edu Inquiries should be addressed to Professor Michael C. Neale, Director, NIMH Training Program, Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Box 980126, Richmond VA 23298-0126 USA.  Email:  michael.neale@vcuhealth.org