
Institute for Behavioral Genetics
University of Colorado Boulder
447 UCB
Boulder, CO 80309-0447
Research Interests:
Developing models to understand complex trait genetics. Using family-based GWAS datasets to estimate direct genetic effects and the environmental influences of parents on offspring. Modeling and simulating genetically informative designs that better enable us to understand the causes of human differences.
Active Grants:
- NIMH R01 MH130448 7/2022-6/2027 Causes and consequences of mental disorders: The environmental and genetic influences of parents on offspring. Role: Principal investigator
- NIMH 2R01 MH100141 2/2013-4/2023 Estimating the genetic and environmental architecture of psychiatric disorders. Role: Principal investigator
- NIMH R25 MH019918 2/2024-1/2029 Workshop on statistical genetic methods for human complex traits. Role: Principal investigator
- NIDA R01 DA054087 5/1/2022 – 4/30/2027 Understanding the links between parental and adolescent substance use: complementary natural experiments using the children of twins design. Role: Co-Principal investigator
- NIDA R01 DA046064 4/2018-1/2023 Brain and genetic predictors of individual differences in pain and placebo analgesia. Role: Co-investigator
- NIDA R01 DA044283 5/2019 – 2/2024 Deep sequencing, phenotyping, and imputation in large-scale biobanks: A novel and cost-effective framework to identify rare mutations associated with addiction. Role: Principal investigator of subcontract
- NIDA R01 DA053693 4/2024 – 3/2028 Adult Progression of Adolescent Onset Substance Use Disorder in a High Risk Sample. Role: Co-investigator
Additional Resources:
Current Lab






Former Trainees
Spencer Moore
Masters student
2020-2022
Jared Balbona
Doctoral student
2018-2022
Richard Border
Doctoral student
2014-2019
Emma Johnson
Doctoral student
2012-2017
Teresa de Candia
Doctoral student
2011-2015
Matthew Simonson
Doctoral student
2008-2013
Dan Howrigan
Doctoral student
2008-2012
Laramie Duncan
Doctoral student
2008-2010
Subrata Paul
Postdoctoral trainee
2020-2021
Meng Huang
Postdoctoral trainee
2020-2021
Rasool Tahmasbi
Postdoctoral trainee
2015-2018
Luke Evans
Postdoctoral trainee
2015-2018
Doug Bjelland
Postdoctoral trainee
2013-2016
Christine Garver-Apgar
Postdoctoral trainee
2008-2011
Quantification of Inbreeding Due to Distant Ancestors and Its Detection Using Dense Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Data
Publication Date: 2011-09-01
Type: Journal Article
(Mis)understanding Heritability
Publication Date: 2011-07-01
Type: Journal Article
The Social Prediction Dynamic: A Legacy of Cognition and Mixed Motives
Type: Chapter
THE EFFECTS OF RUNS OF HOMOZYGOSITY ON RISK FOR SCHIZOPHRENIA: A REPORT FROM THE PSYCHIATRIC GWAS CONSORTIUM'S ROH SUB-GROUP
Publication Date: 2011-03-01
Type: Journal Article
Mutational load analysis of unrelated individuals.
Publication Date: 2011-01-01
Type: Journal Article
Theory and Methods in Evolutionary Behavioral Genetics
Type: Chapter
Being Unpredictable: Friend or Foe Matters
Publication Date: 2010-07-01
Type: Journal Article
Not by Twins Alone: Using the Extended Family Design to Investigate Genetic Influence on Political Beliefs
Publication Date: 2010-07-01
Type: Journal Article
Are Extended Twin Family Designs Worth the Trouble? A Comparison of the Bias, Precision, and Accuracy of Parameters Estimated in Four Twin Family Models
Publication Date: 2010-05-01
Type: Journal Article
The structure of genetic and environmental influences on common mental disorders among adolescents
Publication Date: 2009-11-01
Type: Journal Article
Non-Pathological Paternal Isodisomy of Chromosome 2 Detected From a Genome-Wide SNP Scan
Publication Date: 2009-08-01
Type: Journal Article
Flexible Mx Specification of Various Extended Twin Kinship Designs
Publication Date: 2009-02-01
Type: Journal Article
Modeling Extended Twin Family Data II: Power Associated With Different Family Structures
Publication Date: 2009-02-01
Type: Journal Article
Modeling Extended Twin Family Data I: Description of the Cascade Model
Publication Date: 2009-02-01
Type: Journal Article
The Evolutionary Persistence of Genes That Increase Mental Disorders Risk
Publication Date: 2008-12-01
Type: Journal Article
Models for Extended Pedigrees: Model Specification and the Power Associated with Different Family Structures
Publication Date: 2008-11-01
Type: Journal Article
Genetic factors predisposing to homosexuality may increase mating success in heterosexuals
Zietsch BP; Morley KI; Shekar SN; Verweij KJH; Keller MC; Macgregor S; Wright MJ; Bailey JM; Martin NG...
- Zietsch BP
- Morley KI
- Shekar SN
- Verweij KJH
- Keller MC
- Macgregor S
- Wright MJ
- Bailey JM
- Martin NG
Publication Date: 2008-11-01
Type: Journal Article
Flexible Mx Specification of Various Extended Twin (ET) Kinship Designs
Publication Date: 2008-11-01
Type: Journal Article
Males Do Not Reduce the Fitness of Their Female Co-Twins in Contemporary Samples
Publication Date: 2008-10-01
Type: Journal Article
An Evolutionary Genetic Framework for Heritable Disorders
Type: Journal Article
Problems with the imprinting hypothesis of schizophrenia and autism
Publication Date: 2008-06-01
Type: Journal Article
Mental exercising through simple socializing: Social interaction promotes general cognitive functioning
Publication Date: 2008-02-01
Type: Journal Article
Association of different adverse life events with distinct patterns of depressive symptoms
Publication Date: 2007-10-01
Type: Journal Article
Resolving the paradox of common, harmful, heritable mental disorders: Which evolutionary genetic models work best?
Publication Date: 2006-08-01
Type: Journal Article
The evolutionary significance of depressive symptoms: Different adverse situations lead to different depressive symptom patterns
Publication Date: 2006-08-01
Type: Journal Article
Pages
Recruiting
The Keller lab is recruiting new graduate students.
Contact Matt Keller directly about postdoctoral trainee positions.