Michelle Luciano

Prof Michelle Luciano is a Personal Chair of Behavioural Genetics at the University of Edinburgh's School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences (Psychology Department). Her research focuses on genetic and environmental influences on cognition, personality, and mental health using twin studies, GWAS, and molecular genetics. She co-chairs the UK Specific Learning Difficulties Network and supervises numerous PhD students. Active in teaching, she leads the Behavioural Genetics Honours course (on research leave in 2025/26). She is available for collaboration and advising, emphasizing the interplay between genetic factors and measured environmental variables.

Research interests include:

• Gene-environment interactions in cognitive abilities
• Genetic architecture of personality and mental disorders
• Neurodevelopmental disorders like dyslexia
• Impact of environmental exposures (e.g., air pollution) on aging brains

Her work bridges molecular genetics with large-scale epidemiological studies, contributing to understanding complex traits' biological bases. She collaborates internationally, evidenced by her network memberships and grant projects.

Notable contributions include:

• Decoding dyslexia's genetic foundations
• Linking personality traits to mental health outcomes
• Assessing dementia risks through life-course environmental factors

Her lab's future directions prioritize polygenic risk scoring for aging-related conditions and improving diagnostic biomarkers through genomic integration.