Elizabeth Atkinson Lab

The Atkinson Lab develops statistical genetics methods that account for global variation in human genetic architecture. We use population-representative genomic datasets and advanced computational techniques to improve the study of complex traits across a range of ancestral backgrounds. Much of our work focuses on neuropsychiatric traits, with particular emphasis on admixed American populations. The tools we build are broadly applicable across phenotypes and cohorts, supporting more accurate and generalizable findings in human health research.

A foundational aspect of our research involves characterizing human population history and evolution, which shape the distribution of genetic variation. We use ancestrally informative evolutionary statistics and global DNA collections to study these processes, particularly in genes relevant to brain function. This work informs the development of appropriate methods for statistical and medical genomic analyses across diverse population structures.

Our lab also plays a leadership role in multiple international consortia, including the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PTSD working group), Neuropsychiatric Genetics in African Populations (NeuroGAP), and the Latin American Genomics Consortium (LAGC). These collaborations support the development of globally representative resources for gene discovery and offer trainees valuable experience working with large-scale, richly phenotyped cohorts.

The Atkinson lab is based in the Department of Molecular and Human Genetics and is affiliated with the Computational and Integrative Biomedical Research Center and the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute.