Dmitri Young

Dmitri Young, PhD, MS is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) and a Staff Research Scientist at NCIRE. He is affiliated with the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences and the School of Medicine, where he conducts research on the neurological underpinnings of trauma-related threat sensitivity and impulsivity in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Dr. Young's educational background includes:

• BA in Psychology from University of California San Diego (2006)
• MS in Psychological Statistics from Columbia University (2011)
• Clinical Internship at University of California San Francisco (2012)
• PhD in Clinical Psychology from Columbia University (2013)
• NIMH Postdoctoral Fellowship at University of California San Francisco (2016)
• Advanced Fellowship in Clinical Research at San Francisco VA Medical Center (2019)

Dr. Young's research program focuses on establishing links between genetic, neurobiological, and behavioral indicators of PTSD. His work particularly examines how neurological mechanisms contribute to trauma-related threat sensitivity and impulsivity, which are associated with adverse outcomes such as aggression and risky behaviors in individuals with PTSD. His approach integrates multiple levels of analysis, from genetic markers to brain structure and function to behavioral manifestations of PTSD.

His publication record shows a consistent focus on the neurobiological correlates of PTSD, with particular attention to how genetic factors (such as BDNF Val66Met and FKBP5), early trauma experiences, and brain structure interact to influence threat sensitivity and impulsivity. His work often employs neuroimaging techniques to examine brain structure and function in relation to PTSD symptoms, with a special emphasis on veteran populations. The research spans multiple disciplines including psychiatry, neuroscience, behavioral sciences, and molecular biology, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of modern PTSD research.

Dr. Young has secured significant research funding as Principal Investigator on the NIH project "Neurofunctional Differences in Cognitive and Behavioral Impulsivity in Veterans with PTSD" (IK2CX001973, 2020-2025) and served as Co-Investigator on "Individual Variation in Effects of Traumatic Stress on Gray Matter Myelin" (R01MH115020, 2019-2023). His research is supported by major funding agencies including the Department of Veteran Affairs, the National Institute of Mental Health, and the Brain and Behavior Foundation.

While specific details about his laboratory or research team are not provided in the available information, Dr. Young's work appears to involve collaboration with researchers across multiple institutions, particularly with colleagues at UCSF including Inslicht, Neylan, O'Donovan, Ross, and others. His research program seems to integrate clinical, neuroimaging, and genetic approaches to understand and ultimately develop more effective treatments for PTSD.