Genomics and life paths: Unraveling the genetic and social interactions shaping social, economic and health inequalities

Why are some people more highly educated, healthier and, in general, happier than others? Understanding the origins of inequalities in life-course outcomes is fundamental to the social sciences.

Recent research demonstrates that these complex social traits, apart from environmental determinants, are also influenced by genetics.

Moreover, it is likely that the genetic influences vary across social circumstances: genes and environment interact.This project aims at developing an international and interdisciplinary research environment at the forefront of social science genomics.

By leveraging the increasing availability of genetic data combined with register and survey data, we intend to enhance the understanding of three broad classes of life course outcomes: (i) education and labor market outcomes, (ii) social, psychological and political traits and (iii) health-related behaviors and outcomes.The project is guided by three objectives.

First, we will perform genome-wide association studies of several new outcomes using novel methodologies.

Second, to reduce barriers to entry for researchers in the wider social science field interested in using genomic data in their research, we will extend a repository for polygenic indices for several major social-scientific surveys.

Third, we intend to foster the growth of this interdisciplinary research environment by providing opportunities for several postdocs to establish themselves in the field of social genomics.