Rafael Ahlskog

1. How do citizens interpret genetic explanations for socioeconomic inequality? This question is frequently raised in debates about the implications of social science genetics, but has so far been neglected as a research topic. >

Interested in using polygenic scores (PGS) in social science or health research? We are running a 2-day intensive short course @stats_UCL with @timtmorris.bsky.social (20–21 April 2026): tinyurl.com/5n6hwyxy. Ideal for all quantitative researcher across Social and Health Sciences! Get started!

Neat! Which GPUs, and roughly how much did you pay?

Yo #polisky, you don't want to miss this one :)

The deadline has been extended till the end of this week, hurry! :)

Publication alert: Prenatal sugar exposure, genetic variation, and fetal programming By: Stephanie von Hinke, PI ESSGN Wartime rationing during and after World War II is often remembered as a period marked by scarcity, strict regulation and unpalatable diets. Yet a large body of re…

What can sugar rationing during and after WW2 teach us about human health? Surprising findings from Stephanie von Hinke and others!

Podcast The ESSGN produces the podcast “Born and Raised”. Available on all streaming platforms and on essgn.podbean.com, published every other Friday starting January 23, 2026!

Really enjoying the new #ESSGN podcast by @aysuo.bsky.social and @rafaelahlskog.bsky.social. Really good entertainment and a great explainer for all things related to social science genetics. Check it out:

essgn.org/podcast/.

Me and @aysuo.bsky.social went to Berlin to talk to @laraffington.bsky.social about all things epigenetics. Some really cool stuff here!

Paper on statistical power necessary for interaction effects
doi.org/10.1177/2515...

Column: Can Genetics Help Explain Political Behavior? By: Asya Bülbül, ESSGN doctoral candidate at Uppsala universityAll views expressed are those of the author. As political science has matured, it has repeatedly absorbed tools and concepts from neig…

ESSGN doctoral candidate Asya Bülbül reflects on what political scientists can learn from integrating genetics.

Great question! I'll have a look :)

New paper out! Working with geospatial data is cool.

Bluesky Map Interactive map of 3.4 million Bluesky users, visualised by their follower pattern.

I made a map of 3.4 million Bluesky users - see if you can find yourself!

bluesky-map.theo.io

I've seen some similar projects, but IMO this seems to better capture some of the fine-grained detail

Haha that person is next up tho!

Me and @aysuo.bsky.social talk to @sjoerdalten.bsky.social about economics and genetics. And we get some book recommendations. Neat!

Wouldn't miss this if I were you!

📢🧬 Call for Papers — 5th ESSGN Conference
📍 Bologna, May 21–22, 2026

I’ll be co-organising the 5th ESSGN conference in Bologna together with Nicola Barban, Stephanie von Hinke, Paul Hufe, and Niels Rietveld @essgn.bsky.social

📄 Submit here: forms.gle/fmVDUrQqQYju...
🗓 Deadline: 1 March 2026

Me and @aysuo.bsky.social did a thing. Give it a listen!

One more year coming up - have not updated on this.

PhD student in Political Science The Department of Political Science is a dynamic and strong education and research department at the Faculty of Social Sciences at Stockholm University. The Department aims to be nationally leading an

My department is hiring a PhD student in Political Science for an open position!

I really enjoy working here and recommend all who are interested in a PhD in Political Science to apply.

Deadline is 6 February 2026!

su.varbi.com/en/what:job/...

What We Inherit Debating the use of genomic tools and their societal impact

Less than a month before my debut book "What We Inherit" gets released! You can place pre-orders now: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...

Lucky to have gotten to collaborate (and argue) with Sam Trejo for the last 5+ years on this.

✨Winter School #IT19 ✨

Sarting the Nineteenth Winter School on #Inequality and #SocialWelfare Theory (#IT19)

3 days, 85 participants, 25 talks, 3 lab sessions, 40 posters/presentations, a lot to learn about!

@cesifo.org @liser.lu Uni Verona @cy-univ.bsky.social @lseinequalities.bsky.social

I probably won't have time to make a video out of this.

But the materials are available online, and should be pretty self-explanatory.

Hope this is useful to some people.

privefl.github.io/statgen-cour...

Apply to be my colleague!

I feel incredibly lucky and honored to have been selected as one of the recipients of this very generous grant from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation. Looking forward to working hard over the coming years - lots of exciting research in social science genetics coming!

a cartoon of donald duck holding a stack of money ALT: a cartoon of donald duck holding a stack of money

So happy to have received a new, generous grant (500k EUR) from @vetenskapsradet.bsky.social to continue exploring the causes and consequences of voluntary segregation among lesbians, gays and bisexuals in Sweden. This time with a dream team of @rafaelahlskog.bsky.social & @turnbulldugarte.com

A fun way to start the wknd:

We have received the reviews of ”Rallied by thy neighbor: how minority spatial concentration increases voter turnout." […] I am delighted to conditionally accept your article for publication in The Journal of Politics.

@rafaelahlskog.bsky.social @turnbulldugarte.com

Embryo selection based on polygenic prediction risks reinforcing social inequality The rise of companies offering embryo selection based on genetic testing has triggered heated debate about ethical acceptability, as well as the accuracy and scientific validity of these techniques. W...

There’s a new kid in town!

Companies are now selling IVF and embryo selection based on genetic testing for traits related to health and even intelligence.

We outline methodological and ethical concerns, and warn against risks for social inequality.

With the fantastic @gaiaghirardi.bsky.social

This right here is a REALLY cool paper. Must read!

Second thesis article now out in Political Behavior! Using PGIs for ~10 000 full-pair fraternal twins in STR, combined with rich, geo-coded register data, I highlight the compensatory interaction between genetics and family + neighbourhood factors, with regards to voting. 🗳️

doi.org/10.1007/s111...