Principal Investigator


​Robert Althoff, MD, PhD​​

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An Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Dr. Althoff is a practicing Child Psychiatrist and Principal Investigator studying children with profound self-regulatory problems and how these problems may relate to metabolic issues in adulthood. His lab uses a multi-method approach, funded by NIH and private foundations, to look at dysregulation and its multimodal influences on a child's environment and behavior. The lab uses psychophysiological measures performed using eye movement and heart rate variability monitoring in addition to the study of genetic, epigenetic, and environmental contributions to the dysregulation phenotype. Neuroimaging is being performed with our colleagues at UVM and around the world in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, and McGill University.

In addition to his extensive work investigating the mechanisms of child irritability and dysregulation, Dr. Althoff is pursuing research with his colleagues to create and validate a self-administered risk assessment tool for near-term evaluation of suicide in both outpatient and/or community based health settings, as well as acute health care settings.

Education

1991 B.A.  Psychology, cum laude, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
1991 B.S.  Biology, cum laude, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
1998 Ph.D.  Neuroscience, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
1999 M.D.  University of Illinois College of Medicine
1999-2001 Residency in Pediatrics, Washington University, St. Louis
2001-2004 Residency in Psychiatry, University of Vermont, 2001-2004
2004-2006 ​Residency in Child Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital/McLean

Academic Appointments and other Positions

1999-2001   Clinical Instructor, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
2001-2004: Clinical Instructor, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
2004-2006: Officer, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 
2006-2013: Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington
2007-2013: Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
2009-2013: Assistant Professor of Psychology, University of Vermont, Burlington
2009-Present: Director, Division of Behavioral Genetics, Psychiatry Department, University of Vermont
2009 - Present: Faculty of the Graduate College, University of Vermont
2009 - Present: Faculty of the Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Vermont
2013 - Present: Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Pediatrics, and Psychology, University of Vermont
2014 - Present: Executive Vice President, Research Center for Children, Youth & Families, University of Vermont
2017 - Present: Division Chief, University of Vermont - Adirondack Division of Psychiatry
2017 - Present: Medical Director - Psychiatry, UVM Health Network, Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH), Plattsburgh, NY

Awards and Honors

1987-1991: Edmund J. James Scholar
1991: Phi Beta Kappa
1991: Outstanding Teaching Assistant
1992: Arnold Beckman Research Assistantship (competitive award for graduate student engaged in interdisciplinary research)
1998: Daniel K. Bloomfield Fellowship (for outstanding Medical Scholar)
1999: Granville A. Bennett Award (for contributions to medical education)
1999: University of Illinois Alumni Association Student Leadership Award
1999: Rute Medenis Award (for outstanding student in pediatrics)
1999: David Olkon Scholarship (for outstanding student in psychiatry/neurology)
2000: James P. Keating Outstanding Resident Award
2003: General Psychiatry Resident Travel Award, AACAP, Lilly
2003: Emory University Psychiatry Resident’s Symposium
2003: NIMH Outstanding Resident in Psychiatry Award
2007: Klingenstein Third Generation Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow
2008: Future Leaders in Psychiatry Awardee
2008: “Excellence in Academic Teaching” Award by Psychiatry Residents
2009: Richard Todd Memorial Award Lecture in Child Psychiatry, World Congress of Psychiatric Genetics
2010: Nominee, Golden Stethoscope Teaching Award, UVM College of Medicine
2011: Nominee, Kroepsch-Maurice Excellence in Teaching Award, University of Vermont Center for Teaching and Learning
2011: American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 2011 Klingenstein Third Generation Foundation Award for Research in Depression or Suicide.
2011: University of Vermont Medical Group Junior Researcher of the Year
2013: "Excellence in Academic Teaching" Award by Psychiatry Residents
2017: "Fellow Appreciation Award" by Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellows