LUCA SCLISIZZO

EDUCATION

M.Sc. in Applied Psychology Oct 2024 – Present

University of Trieste, Italy

Current GPA: 29.5/30
Concentration in quantitative and computational methods for psychological research
Coursework in Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), Bayesian modeling, and longitudinal data analysis
Advanced training in probabilistic inference and MCMC methods
EQF Level 7 | 120 ECTS

B.Sc. in Psychology (Cum Laude) Aug 2021 – Sep 2024

University of Trieste, Italy

Thesis: “The well-being of the athlete: analysis of the literature, evolutionary models, and predictive models”
EQF Level 6 | 180 ECTS

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Research Assistant Aug – Nov 2025

Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, USA

Research conducted in the Behavior, Environment, and Genetics Laboratory (PI: Prof. Emma C. Johnson), focusing on behavioral genetics and biological psychiatry applied to psychosis spectrum disorders.

Genetics & Genomics

Applied multivariate genetic modeling (GenomicSEM) for complex trait decomposition and cross-trait genetic architecture analysis
Post-GWAS functional annotation using MAGMA and stratified LD score regression (S-LDSC)
Characterized gene expression trajectories across human brain developmental stages from high-throughput RNA-seq data
Computed Polygenic Risk Scores via Bayesian shrinkage methods (SBayesRC)

Longitudinal Modeling

Implemented longitudinal hierarchical models to examine executive functioning trajectories across development
Survival analysis (Cox proportional hazards) applied to the COGA longitudinal cohort

Computational Methods

Proficient in deploying and managing genomic pipelines on HPC clusters (SLURM, job arrays, parallel execution)
Statistical programming in R and Python, using Bioconductor and GWASlab for genomic analyses

TECHNICAL SKILLS

      Statistical Software:
      R, Python, Stan/cmdstanr (Bayesian MCMC)
    

Genomics Tools: plink, GenomicSEM, MAGMA, stratified-LDSC, FUMA, SBayesRC, DESeq2, edgeR

Statistical Methods: Bayesian hierarchical models, SEM, longitudinal mixed models, survival analysis (Cox), RNA-seq analysis, Polygenic Risk Scores, GWAS downstream analyses

Computing: HPC cluster systems (SLURM), Linux/bash scripting, Git

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

Behavior Genetics Association (BGA) Annual Meeting Jun 2026

Amsterdam, Netherlands

      Role:
      Symposium Chair & Speaker
    

Symposium: Genes and Time: A Dive Into the Temporal Dynamics of Human Phenotypes

Discussant: Michael C. Neale

Oral Presentation:

Dissecting the spectrum of psychosis: leveraging time and dimensionality to explore multiple, functionally separable sources of genetic risk.

Sclisizzo L, Baranger DAA, Clapp Sullivan ML, Hatoum AS, Burnett C, Del Giudice M, Johnson EC. Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Italy; Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.

ONGOING PROJECTS

Parsing the Functional Heterogeneity of the Psychosis Spectrum: A Clinically Informed Application of Genomic Structural Equation Modeling In preparation

Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, USA · University of Trieste, Italy

      Role:
      First author
    

This manuscript investigates the dimensional structure of the psychosis continuum, aiming to use genetic data to disentangle the sources of heterogeneity across the psychotic disorders. The project draws on post-GWAS analytical frameworks and functional annotations to characterize transdiagnostic liability dimensions.

Longitudinal PheWAS in ABCD In preparation

Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, USA · University of Trieste, Italy

      Role:
      Co-author
    

This work extends the Phenome-Wide Association Study (PheWAS) framework to a longitudinal setting, leveraging the ABCD (Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development) dataset. The project investigates the relationships between psychosis dimensionality at the genetic level and its phenotypic associations and developmental trajectories across childhood, and examines the degree of change and stability of genetic liability over time.

CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS

Behavior Genetics Association Annual Meeting Jun 2026

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Attended the annual international conference of the Behavior Genetics Association (BGA), featuring the latest research in behavioral genetics, statistical genetics, and genomics.

Evolutionary Psychiatry and Genetics Conference Jul 2024

Ettore Majorana Foundation, Erice, Italy

Intensive course “Towards a new science of mental disorders: bridging evolution and genetics”. Interdisciplinary forum connecting evolutionary psychiatry, psychopathology, and recent findings in behavioral genetics and genomics.

21st European Conference on Personality (ECP21) Aug 2024

Berlin, Germany

Biennial conference exploring the full spectrum of personality psychology, with emphasis on innovative assessment methods leveraging mobile sensing and AI technologies.

OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

International Racing Service – Biathlon Nov 2023 – Mar 2025

Salomon S.A.S., Annecy, France

Provided high-performance technical support to multiple national biathlon teams at international competitions
Collaborated with the R&D department to contribute product feedback and improve high-performance sport equipment
Operated in demanding, high-pressure international environments requiring cultural adaptability and logistical resilience

Competitive Alpine Skier – Italian National Team Oct 2019 – Oct 2022

Army’s Sport Center (Centro Sportivo Esercito), Courmayeur, Italy

Represented Italy in national and international alpine ski competitions
3rd place finish at the World Championships; multiple European Cup podiums
Collaborated with multidisciplinary performance teams (coaches, physiotherapists, sports psychologists)
Demonstrated sustained high performance under competitive pressure and elite-level self-regulation

Psychology Trainee – Sport Psychology Unit Nov 2022 – May 2023

FIGC (Italian Football Federation), Regional Center, Palmanova, Italy

Analyzed coach-athlete communication dynamics in youth development contexts (children and adolescents)
Designed and delivered emotional awareness and regulation training programs for coaches and athletes
Facilitated goal-setting processes tailored to individual and team performance objectives
Led structured activities aimed at improving teamwork and team cohesion