Workshop: SUMMER INSTITUTE IN SOCIAL-SCIENCE GENOMICS
SUMMER INSTITUTE IN SOCIAL-SCIENCE GENOMICS
June 19 to July 1, 2016
Sponsored by the Russell Sage Foundation’s Working Group in Biosocial Science
From the evening of Sunday, June 19, to the morning of Friday, July 1, 2016, the Russell Sage Foundation (RSF) will sponsor a new Summer Institute in Social-Science Genomics, to be held at the Rutgers University Inn and Conference Center in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
The purpose of this two-week workshop is to introduce graduate students and beginning faculty in economics, sociology, psychology, statistics, genetics, and other disciplines to the methods of social-science genomics—the analysis of genomic data in social science research. The program will include interpretation and estimation of different concepts of heritability; the biology of genetic inheritance, gene expression, and epigenetics; design and analysis of genetic-association studies; analysis of gene-gene and gene-environment interactions; estimation and use of polygenic scores; as well as applications of genomic data in the social sciences.
The co-organizers and principal faculty of the Summer Institute are Daniel Benjamin (USC) and David Cesarini (NYU), who will be in attendance for the full program. Visiting faculty include Dalton Conley (NYU), James Lee (University of Minnesota), Chris Dawes (NYU), Michelle Meyer (Union Graduate College), Colter Mitchell (University of Michigan), Tõnu Esko (Harvard-MIT Broad Institute), and Kevin Thom (NYU).
The instructional program will be highly quantitative. Participants will be expected to learn relevant software packages and solve problem sets throughout the workshop. The schedule is designed to provide opportunities for students to discuss their ideas and research with the organizers, visiting faculty, and other participants. Participation is restricted to Ph.D. students, postdoctoral researchers, and untenured faculty within 10 years of the Ph.D. Most participant costs during the workshop, including housing and most meals, will be covered, and a capped travel stipend (covering most, but not all, of anticipated travel costs) will also be provided. No more than thirty applicants will be invited to participate. Participants will be required to complete one problem set in
advance, and to fully attend and participate in all sessions of the program.
There is no application form or program information beyond this announcement.
To apply, send (i) a curriculum vitae, (ii) a statement (maximum three pages, single spaced, 11 point font) describing both any current research,
and your interest in social-science genomics, especially as it relates to RSF research priorities (e.g., behavioral economics, social inequality, future of work; immigration), (iii) an (unofficial) course/grade transcript for doctoral students, (iv) two letters of recommendation from faculty advisors for Ph.D. student and postdoctoral researcher applicants, and (v) one writing sample of no more than 35 pages. Letters of recommendation should be as informative as possible about your standing in the program (i.e., approximate rank in your doctoral class),
general ability, research potential, and (if applicable) special interest in social-science genomics.
All applications must include an e-mail address and an alternative means of contact (e.g., phone number). Send your curriculum vitae, statement, course/grade transcript, and writing sample (all collapsed into a single pdf
file) to RSF.Genomics.School@gmail.com. Ask your recommenders to send their letters to the same email address, with the following subject line: RSF recommendation letter for APPLICANT NAME. We anticipate a large pool of highly qualified applicants – applications and letters must be received by the deadline in order to make final decisions quickly. Complete applications, including letters of recommendation, must be received by Friday, February 12, 2pm Eastern Standard Time. We will notify applicants solely through email,
by Monday March 14, and will ask participants to confirm their participation very soon thereafter.
Inquiries can be sent to RSF.Genomics.School@gmail.com.
The Summer Institute in Social-Science Genomics is an initiative of the Russell Sage Foundation and its Biosocial Science Working Group.