Michigan State University · PsychologyBurt Epigenetics Lab
S. Alexandra Burt · East Lansing, Michigan
Research Focus
Dr. S. Alexandra Burt's lab focuses on understanding how the environments where children grow up, particularly disadvantaged neighborhoods, can influence their behaviors, including risk-taking and aggression. The lab investigates the molecular changes, specifically DNA methylation patterns, that may occur as a result of these environmental factors, helping to shed light on how early experiences can affect behavior throughout adolescence. The aim is to uncover both biological and environmental factors that contribute to youth antisocial behaviors, ultimately contributing to public health betterment.
neighborhood disadvantageyouth behaviorepigeneticsmethylationrisk-taking behaviorsantisocial behaviorenvironmental exposuregene-environment interactionchild developmentpublic health
Research Aims
4AIM 01Explore how neighborhood disadvantage impacts youth risk-taking behaviors through biological mechanisms.
AIM 02Investigate the role of DNA methylation alterations as mediators of environmental influences on behavior.
AIM 03Evaluate the influence of harsh parenting and community violence on the methylome of youth.
AIM 04Identify genetic versus environmental contributions to methylomic changes in adolescents from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Skills the Lab Values
DNA methylation analysisblood and saliva sample collectionstatistical analysis of longitudinal datatwin studies methodologypublic health research techniquesbehavioral assessmentscommunity-based research approachesepigenetic profilingmolecular biology techniquesdata interpretation in social sciences
Output against the department
Publications329top 13% of dept.38th of 296
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations12ktop 22% of dept.65th of 296
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.