Dr. Valerie Knopik

Professor

Build a Statement of Purpose

Generate a tailored SOP for Dr. Valerie Knopik. Improve your application with a focused, well-structured draft.

Biography

Valerie Knopik's primary research program focuses on the joint effects of genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors, specifically prenatal and early postnatal risk factors, on birth outcomes and externalizing behaviors such as ADHD. She collaborates with local, national, and international scientists on projects involving cannabis-related outcomes, sleep, adolescent alcohol use disorder, family interventions, and child maltreatment. Her research is inherently collaborative and interdisciplinary, integrating various study designs and incorporating community high-risk genetically-informed samples. Knopik serves as the Editor-in-Chief of Behaviour Genetics and is part of the editorial board for Psychological Medicine, illustrating her leadership in the field. She is the lead author of a textbook on Behavioral Genetics and is accepting graduate student applications for the 2026-2027 academic year.

Research Interests

Awards

#

Elected Fellow

#

Leadership Action Award

#

Miller Endowed Professor

#

Fulker Award

#

Donal MacNamara Award

#

Fuller Scott Early Career Award

Courses

HDFS 305 - Biosocial Foundations of Family HDFS 685 - Introduction to Behavioral Genetics

Requirements for Purdue University

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.5
TOEFL
Listening
Required:22
Reading
Required:22
Writing
Required:22
Speaking
Required:22
Total
Required:100
IELTS
Listening
Required:7
Reading
Required:7
Writing
Required:7
Speaking
Required:7
Overall
Required:7.5
Duolingo
Overall Score
Required:135
Overall
Required:135
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in CS or related field Foundational concepts of computer science Data structures Computer architecture Operating systems Mathematics through differential equations Linear and matrix algebra
Application Checklist
  • Official Transcripts
  • Academic Statement of Purpose
  • Personal History Statement
  • Resume
  • Three Letters of Recommendation
  • CS Supplementary Form
Specialization Notes

GRE is not required.