Laurel Raffington

Laurel Raffington is a Research Fellow and leader of the Max Planck Research Group Biosocial – Biology, Social Disparities, and Development at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Berlin, Germany. Her work bridges genetics, epigenetics, and social inequality to understand how early-life conditions influence long-term health and cognitive outcomes. She has secured major grants, including a NIH R01 ($2.5M, 2024–2029) and the 2024 Jacobs Foundation Fellowship. Her research employs epigenetic biomarkers to track the biological impacts of socioeconomic disparities, with a focus on children and adolescents.

Key research areas include epigenetic pathways of health disparities, social determinants of aging, and genetic-environment interactions. Her lab uses multi-omics approaches and randomized controlled trials to evaluate interventions targeting child well-being. Notable projects include analyzing epigenetic data from longitudinal cohorts to trace lifelong health trajectories.

Education: PhD in Psychology (Humboldt-Universität Berlin, 2018), MSc in Social Neuroscience (Freie Universität Berlin, 2013), BSc in Experimental Psychology (University of Bristol, 2010).

Recent awards also include recognition for innovative epigenetic methodologies and contributions to biosocial science. Her work emphasizes translating molecular findings into actionable public health strategies.