Deborah Finkel

Research Scientist (Staff)
Deborah Finkel
Pronouns She / Her / Hers Email dgfinkel@usc.edu

Biography

Deborah Finkel is a Research Scientist (50%) at CESR. She graduated from the University of Minnesota with a PhD in Behavior Genetics in 1992. Starting in 2018, Deborah has a position as professor of psychology (50%) at Jönköping University in Sweden. Her research focuses on genetic and environmental contributions to cognitive aging using longitudinal twin data, with extended interests in related areas: physical aging, self-rated health, health disparities. She has worked extensively with the Swedish twin studies and is currently PI of GENDER, a study of opposite-sex twins aged 70+ in Sweden, and is on the leadership team of the IGEMS: Interplay of Genes and Environment across Multiple Studies. She also collaborates with the team currently extending the Louisville Twin Study into midlife. Deborah is past-president of the Behavior Genetics Association and a Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America.

Education

  • Ph.D. Psychology, University of Minnesota, 1992
  • B.S. Psychobiology and Applied Math, Centre College of Kentucky, 1986
    • Guest Researcher, Karolinska Institutet, Spring 1994
  • Tenure Track Appointments

    • Assistant Professor, Indiana University Southeast, 1992 – 1997
    • Associate Professor, Indiana University Southeast, 1997 – 2001
    • Professor, Indiana University Southeast, 2001 – 2022

    Research, Teaching, Practice, and Clinical Appointments

    • Research Scientist, University of Southern California, 2023-

    Other Employment

    • Professor, Institute for Gerontology, Jönköping Univesity, 2018 –
    • Fellow (or Equivalent) of National Society in Discipline, Gerontological Society of America,
    • Fulbright Award, ,
  • Administative Appointment

    • President, Behavior Genetics Association, 2017 – 2018
    • President, Association for Graduate Liberal Studies, 2014 – 2016

    Conferences Organized

    • Organizer, Behavior Genetics Association, Louisville, KY, 2008

    Editorships and Editorial Boards

    • Associate Editor, Behavior Genetics, 2008 –
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