Michael McFarland

Michael McFarland is an Associate Professor at Florida State University. His research focuses on understanding racial and socioeconomic disparities in mental and physical health, with a biosocial approach that examines how social processes shape population health outcomes.

Education

• Ph.D. in Sociology, University of Texas at Austin (2012)
• Postdoctoral Researcher, Princeton University Center for Research on Child Wellbeing (2012-2014)

Research Interests

Dr. McFarland’s work centers on four interrelated themes: (a) identifying biosocial mechanisms underlying health disparities, (b) analyzing social exposures during biologically sensitive periods, (c) exploring genetic heterogeneity in social processes that influence health, and (d) providing causally informative evidence for health benefits of education. His research specifically bridges sociology, biodemography, and public health.