Psychiatric disorders are not only often debilitating for the individuals affected, but can also serve as models for disturbances in complex human behaviors. They are often associated with neuroanatomical changes in affected patients. My own research focuses on the identification of these brain structural changes and their molecular underpinnings. To address these scientific questions, my lab utilizes a broad methodical spectrum ranging from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the systematic application of brain mapping tools in humans to the utilization of animal models and the identification of susceptibility pathways.