About Us
The Population, Neurodevelopment and Genetics Program (PNG) is a pioneer and leader in forging linkages across disciplinary perspectives. In addition to the program’s current effort to link developmental, cognitive, clinical, public health, and educational science with neurobiology and genetics, we continue to expand our portfolio and involve new research scholars in other health- and development-related topics from prenatal/infancy through adolescence and on to adulthood and aging, (e.g., cognition, substance use, mental health, problem behavior, environmental toxicants), providing opportunities for synergy and integration of new ideas in the relevant fields.
Faculty

Pamela Davis-Kean
Research Professor

Luke Hyde
Associate Professor

Daniel Keating
Research Professor

Helen Meier
Assistant Research Scientist

Colter Mitchell
Research Associate Professor

Christopher Monk
Research Professor

Fred Morrison
Research Professor Emeritus

Jennifer A. Smith
Research Associate Professor

Erin Ware
Research Assistant Professor
Post-Doctoral Fellows



Research Staff

Uma Hornish
Uma Hornish joined the PNG team as a member of the inaugural Junior Professional Researcher cohort. Uma graduated from The University of Michigan last spring with a major in biology and a minor in quantitative methods in the social sciences (QMSS). Previously Uma worked as a genetics tutor at the Science Learning Center and blog editor for a student-run social sciences blog. Additionally, she has participated in biostatistics research at the School of Public Health, where her project focused on analyzing methylation differences between ethnic groups.
Administrative Staff
Nick Prieur
Nicholas Prieur is a Research Process Senior Manager and he serves as PNG’s overall research administrator. In his role he manages all pre-award research activities, financials, HR transactions, restricted project data contracts, IRB’s, and other program needs. He also leads the program’s shared administrative team, with specializations in post award, editing, publication production, social media, website maintenance and computing support. He received his BS from Michigan State University in 2002.
Amanda Donovan
Amanda Donovan is a project coordinator for PNG, where she assists with post-award project and financial management. She received her BA in Russian Language and Literature from Michigan State University in 2008.
Rachel Oeffner
Rachel Oeffner is a Research Administrator Lead for the PNG program. She graduated with a bachelors in Sport Management from Bowling Green State University in 2014 and a Master of Business Administration from Spring Arbor University in 2018. She works with faculty and staff on pre- and post-award activities.
Abigail Weigel
Abigail Weigel is a Wisconsin native who has joined the PNG program as an Administrative Assistant Senior, where she assists the program with broad based administrative duties in support of the overall research portfolio. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point with a BS in Wildlife Ecology in 2014. Before joining the University, she gained administrative experiences in the wildlife, equine and veterinary medicine fields. In her spare time she enjoys adventuring with her horse Kozy and her Labrador Retriever Nash.