PhD Student in UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science, Thesis topic: School Friends Study

Description: The School Friend Study will follow up a longitudinal cohort of twins (ESPRiT Study) at age 7-10 to explore adverse social experiences during primary school to identify the genetic and neurocognitive influence on children’s aggression development. The objectives are to study the impact of primary school social experiences on DNA methylation and cognitive development beyond possible genetic effects in monozygotic twins concordant/discordant on bully-victimization. A sub-cohort will be approached to further examine the influence of the diet-gut-brain linkages using urine and faecal sample collection and dietary intake information, controlling for genetic effects using the twin study design.