
Professor
Institute for Behavioral Genetics • Psychology & Neuroscience
Institute for Behavioral Genetics
University of Colorado Boulder
447 UCB
Boulder, CO 80309-0447
Research Interests:
Individual differences in liability to substance abuse and related psychopathology. Principal investigator of the family study component of our Drug Abuse Research Center.
Active Grants:
- NIDA R01 DA053693 (MPIs: Hopfer, Stallings, Wall) 8/15/2022 - 5/31/2027. The project proposes to identify genetic and environmental risk factors underlying the progression of early-onset substance use and antisocial behavior, and identify factors that contribute to the persistence of these behaviors into adulthood. Role: MPI
Additional Resources:
Dr. Stallings speaks on Behavior Genetics and Addiction:
Current lab

Noah Berley
Predoctoral Trainee
Psychology & Neuroscience

Deepika Dokuru
Predoctoral Trainee
Institute for Behavioral Genetics

Tanya Horwitz
Predoctoral Trainee
Institute for Behavioral Genetics

Katie Paulich
Predoctoral Trainee
Institute for Behavioral Genetics
South Asia: The Missing Diverse in Diversity
CU Boulder Authors:
Stallings, Michael C; Ehringer, Marissa A
All Authors:
Dokuru DR; Horwitz TB; Freis SM; Stallings MC; Ehringer MA
Published in: Behavior Genetics: an international journal devoted to research in the inheritance of behavior in animals and manPublication Date: 2023-11-02
Type: Journal Article
Genetic diversity fuels gene discovery for tobacco and alcohol use
CU Boulder Authors:
Hewitt, John K; Krauter, Kenneth S; Keller, Matthew C; Boardman, Jason D; Ehringer, Marissa A; Stallings, Michael C; Stitzel, Jerry A
All Authors:
Saunders GRB; Wang X; Chen F; Jang S-K; Liu M; Wang C; Gao S; Jiang Y; Khunsriraksakul C; Otto JM
Published in: NaturePublication Date: 2022-12-22
Type: Journal Article
Genome-wide Association Meta-analysis of Childhood and Adolescent Internalizing Symptoms
All Authors:
Published in: Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent PsychiatryJami ES; Hammerschlag AR; Ip HF; Allegrini AG; Benyamin B; Border R; Diemer EW; Jiang C; Karhunen V; Lu Y...
- Jami ES
- Hammerschlag AR
- Ip HF
- Allegrini AG
- Benyamin B
- Border R
- Diemer EW
- Jiang C
- Karhunen V
- Lu Y
Publication Date: 2022-06-27
Type: Journal Article
Within-sibship genome-wide association analyses decrease bias in estimates of direct genetic effects
All Authors:
Published in: Nature GeneticsHowe LJ; Nivard MG; Morris TT; Hansen AF; Rasheed H; Cho Y; Chittoor G; Ahlskog R; Lind PA; Palviainen T...
- Howe LJ
- Nivard MG
- Morris TT
- Hansen AF
- Rasheed H
- Cho Y
- Chittoor G
- Ahlskog R
- Lind PA
- Palviainen T
Publication Date: 2022-05-01
Type: Journal Article
Executive functions as a mediator of childhood maltreatment on adult psychopathology: A longitudinal mediation analysis comparing maltreatment factor models
CU Boulder Authors:
Stallings, Michael C
All Authors:
Kent KR; Hopfer CJ; Corley RP; Stallings MC
Published in: Child Abuse and NeglectPublication Date: 2022-01-01
Type: Journal Article
The effects of cannabis use on physical health: A co-twin control study
CU Boulder Authors:
Stallings, Michael C; Hewitt, John K
All Authors:
Published in: Drug and Alcohol DependenceRoss JM; Ellingson JM; Frieser MJ; Corley RC; Hopfer CJ; Stallings MC; Wadsworth SJ; Reynolds CA; Hewitt JK...
- Ross JM
- Ellingson JM
- Frieser MJ
- Corley RC
- Hopfer CJ
- Stallings MC
- Wadsworth SJ
- Reynolds CA
- Hewitt JK
Publication Date: 2022-01-01
Type: Journal Article
Exploring Relationships Between Internalizing Problems and Risky Sexual Behavior: A Twin Study
CU Boulder Authors:
Stallings, Michael C; Hewitt, John K
All Authors:
Paulich KN; Stallings MC; Hewitt JK
Published in: Behavior Genetics: an international journal devoted to research in the inheritance of behavior in animals and manPublication Date: 2021-11-01
Type: Conference Proceeding
Musical Instrument Engagement in Adolescence Predicts Verbal Ability 4 Years Later: A Twin and Adoption Study
All Authors:
Gustavson DE; Friedman NP; Stallings MC; Reynolds CA; Coon H; Corley RP; Hewitt JK; Gordon RL
Published in: Developmental PsychologyPublication Date: 2021-11-01
Type: Journal Article
Sex Differences in the Biometrical Model for Substance Use Vulnerability
CU Boulder Authors:
Stallings, Michael C; Hewitt, John K
All Authors:
Dokuru DR; Frieser M; Hewitt JK; Stallings MC
Published in: Behavior Genetics: an international journal devoted to research in the inheritance of behavior in animals and manPublication Date: 2021-11-01
Type: Conference Proceeding
Genetic association study of childhood aggression across raters, instruments, and age
All Authors:
Published in: Translational PsychiatryIp HF; van der Laan CM; Krapohl EML; Brikell I; Sanchez-Mora C; Nolte IM; St Pourcain B; Bolhuis K; Palviainen T; Zafarm...
- Ip HF
- van der Laan CM
- Krapohl EML
- Brikell I
- Sanchez-Mora C
- Nolte IM
- St Pourcain B
- Bolhuis K
- Palviainen T
- Zafarmand H
Publication Date: 2021-07-30
Type: Journal Article
Familial factors may not explain the effect of moderate-to-heavy cannabis use on cognitive functioning in adolescents: a sibling-comparison study
All Authors:
Published in: AddictionEllingson JM; Ross JM; Winiger E; Stallings MC; Corley RP; Friedman NP; Hewitt JK; Tapert SF; Brown SA; Wall TL...
- Ellingson JM
- Ross JM
- Winiger E
- Stallings MC
- Corley RP
- Friedman NP
- Hewitt JK
- Tapert SF
- Brown SA
- Wall TL
Publication Date: 2021-04-01
Type: Journal Article
The structure and subtypes of gambling activities: Genetic, psychiatric and behavioral etiologies of gambling frequency
CU Boulder Authors:
Hewitt, John K; Stallings, Michael C
All Authors:
Huggett SB; Winiger EA; Palmer RH; Hewitt JK; Corley RP; Stallings MC
Published in: Addictive BehaviorsPublication Date: 2021-02-01
Type: Journal Article
An Examination of Genetic and Environmental Factors Related to Negative Personality Traits, Educational Attainment, and Economic Success
CU Boulder Authors:
Stallings, Michael C
All Authors:
Stallings MC; Neppl T
Published in: Developmental PsychologyPublication Date: 2021-02-01
Type: Journal Article
A large-scale genome-wide association study meta-analysis of cannabis use disorder
CU Boulder Authors:
Boardman, Jason D; Stallings, Michael C; Krauter, Kenneth S; McQueen, Matt; Hewitt, John K
All Authors:
Published in: Lancet PsychiatryJohnson EC; Demontis D; Thorgeirsson TE; Walters RK; Polimanti R; Hatoum AS; Sanchez-Roige S; Paul SE; Wendt FR; Clarke ...
- Johnson EC
- Demontis D
- Thorgeirsson TE
- Walters RK
- Polimanti R
- Hatoum AS
- Sanchez-Roige S
- Paul SE
- Wendt FR
- Clarke T-K
Publication Date: 2020-12-01
Type: Journal Article
Etiological Overlap Between Sex Under the Influence and Number of Lifetime Sexual Partners
All Authors:
Huibregtse BM; Hatoum AS; Corley RP; Rhea SA; Hewitt JK; Stallings MC
Published in: Behavior Genetics: an international journal devoted to research in the inheritance of behavior in animals and manPublication Date: 2020-10-28
Type: Journal Article
Genetic Architecture and Molecular Neuropathology of Human Cocaine Addiction
CU Boulder Authors:
Stallings, Michael C
All Authors:
Huggett SB; Stallings MC
Published in: The Journal of NeurosciencePublication Date: 2020-07-01
Type: Journal Article
General factor model of substance use co-morbidity
CU Boulder Authors:
Stallings, Michael C; Hewitt, John K
All Authors:
Dokuru DR; Frieser M; Hewitt JK; Stallings MC
Published in: Behavior Genetics: an international journal devoted to research in the inheritance of behavior in animals and manPublication Date: 2020-06-26
Type: Conference Proceeding
Investigating heterogenous genetic effects contributing to smoking behavior using the UK Biobank
CU Boulder Authors:
Evans, Luke M.; Stallings, Michael C; Boardman, Jason D; Hewitt, John K; Keller, Matthew C
All Authors:
Funkhouser SA; Evans LM
Published in: Behavior Genetics: an international journal devoted to research in the inheritance of behavior in animals and manPublication Date: 2020-06-26
Type: Conference Proceeding
Cocaine'omics: Genome-wide and transcriptome-wide analyses provide biological insight into cocaine use and dependence
CU Boulder Authors:
Stallings, Michael C
All Authors:
Huggett SB; Stallings MC
Published in: Addiction BiologyPublication Date: 2020-03-01
Type: Journal Article
Shared genetic risk between eating disorder- and substance-use-related phenotypes: Evidence from genome-wide association studies
CU Boulder Authors:
Krauter, Kenneth S; Stallings, Michael C; Boardman, Jason D; Hewitt, John K; McQueen, Matt
All Authors:
Published in: Addiction BiologyMunn-Chernoff MA; Johnson EC; Chou Y-L; Coleman JRI; Thornton LM; Walters RK; Yilmaz Z; Baker JH; Hubel C; Gordon S...
- Munn-Chernoff MA
- Johnson EC
- Chou Y-L
- Coleman JRI
- Thornton LM
- Walters RK
- Yilmaz Z
- Baker JH
- Hubel C
- Gordon S
Publication Date: 2020-02-16
Type: Journal Article
APOE effects on cognition from childhood to adolescence
All Authors:
Published in: Neurobiology of AgingReynolds CA; Smolen A; Corley RP; Munoz E; Friedman NP; Rhee SH; Stallings MC; DeFries JC; Wadsworth SJ...
- Reynolds CA
- Smolen A
- Corley RP
- Munoz E
- Friedman NP
- Rhee SH
- Stallings MC
- DeFries JC
- Wadsworth SJ
Publication Date: 2019-12-01
Type: Journal Article
Onset of regular cannabis use and adult sleep duration: Genetic variation and the implications of a predictive relationship
CU Boulder Authors:
Hewitt, John K; Stallings, Michael C
All Authors:
Winiger EA; Huggett SB; Hatoum AS; Stallings MC; Hewitt JK
Published in: Drug and Alcohol DependencePublication Date: 2019-11-01
Type: Journal Article
Age of initiation and transition times to tobacco dependence: Early onset and rapid escalated use increase risk for dependence severity
CU Boulder Authors:
Hewitt, John K; Stallings, Michael C
All Authors:
Huggett SB; Keyes M; Iacono WG; McGue M; Corley RP; Hewitt JK; Stallings MC
Published in: Drug and Alcohol DependencePublication Date: 2019-09-01
Type: Journal Article
Temperament, Childhood Illness Burden, and Illness Behavior in Early Adulthood
CU Boulder Authors:
Stallings, Michael C
All Authors:
Sisco-Taylor BL; Corley RP; Stallings MC; Wadsworth SJ; Reynolds CA
Published in: Health PsychologyPublication Date: 2019-07-01
Type: Journal Article
Imputation of behavioral candidate gene repeat variants in 486,551 publicly-available UK Biobank individuals
CU Boulder Authors:
Stallings, Michael C; Evans, Luke M.; McQueen, Matt; Keller, Matthew C; Krauter, Kenneth S; Hewitt, John K
All Authors:
Published in: European Journal of Human GeneticsBorder R; Smolen A; Corley RP; Stallings MC; Brown SA; Conger RD; Derringer J; Donnellan MB; Haberstick BC; Hewitt JK...
- Border R
- Smolen A
- Corley RP
- Stallings MC
- Brown SA
- Conger RD
- Derringer J
- Donnellan MB
- Haberstick BC
- Hewitt JK
Publication Date: 2019-06-01
Type: Journal Article
Pages
Recruiting
Dr. Stallings is recruiting new students for a fall 2024 start date. Applications are typically due mid November; for exact dates please check the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience webpage, if you intend to work with Dr. Stallings. Additional information is available on IBG's Prospective Students page.