Conor Dolan

Conor Dolan is a Full Professor in the Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences (Biological Psychology Department) and the APH - Methodology group at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. He specializes in behavioral genetics, focusing on genetic and environmental influences on psychological traits, including mental health disorders, intelligence, and developmental processes.

His research employs advanced statistical methods such as twin studies, Mendelian randomization, and genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Key areas include the genetic basis of depression, causal relationships between smoking and DNA methylation, and intergenerational transmission of traits through epigenetic mechanisms.

Dr. Dolan teaches courses on Behavioral Genetics, Complex Trait Genetics, and Statistical Programming in R/Python. He has supervised 9 PhD theses and contributed to the Netherlands Twin Register's research initiatives. His work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly addressing health and well-being through genetic insights.

Recent studies highlight his expertise in causal modeling, including finite mixture modeling for population heterogeneity and environment-polygenic score interactions. Collaborations span international teams, emphasizing twin-based designs and epigenetic analyses.