Research Interests
Key words: genetics of brain structure and development, neural progenitor cell models, computational biology
We are a lab exploring how variations in the genome change the structure and development of the brain, and in doing so, create risk for neuropsychiatric illness. We study genetic effects on multiple aspects of the human brain, from macroscale phenotypes like gross human brain structure measured with MRI to molecular phenotypes like gene expression and chromatin accessibility measured with genome-sequencing technologies. We also use neural progenitor cells as a modifiable and high fidelity model system to understand how disease-associated variants affect brain development.
Mentor Training:
- Bias 101
- Faculty Mentoring Workshop for Biomedical Researchers
Training Program Affiliations:
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
- Genetics and Molecular Biology
- Neuroscience
Publications
Lab Members
If you are a grad student interested in a lab rotation, please email me. If you are interested in a postdoc in my lab, please email me with a cover letter and CV containing contact information for at least 3 references.
Jason Stein in UNC Genetics News

January 22, 2023
Department of Genetics Publications for January 1st – 14th, 2023
Department of Genetics faculty, postdocs, students and collaborators published 10 papers during January 1st – 14th, 2023.

December 18, 2022
Department of Genetics Publications for December 4th – 17th, 2022
Department of Genetics faculty, postdocs, students and collaborators published 8 papers during December 4th – 17th, 2022.

October 10, 2022
Department of Genetics Publications for September 25th – October 8th, 2022
Department of Genetics faculty, postdocs, students and collaborators published 10 papers during September 25th – October 8th, 2022.

September 26, 2022
Department of Genetics Publications for September 11th – 24th, 2022
Department of Genetics faculty, postdocs, students and collaborators published 10 papers during September 11th - 24th, 2022.

August 29, 2022
Department of Genetics Publications for August 14th – 27th, 2022
Department of Genetics faculty, postdocs, students and collaborators published 14 papers during August 14th – 27th, 2022.

July 18, 2022
Department of Genetics Publications for July 3rd – 16th, 2022
Department of Genetics faculty, postdocs, students and collaborators published 12 papers during July 3rd – 16th, 2022.

April 12, 2022
Li, Stein and Zhu Labs Publish Paper in Nature Genetics
The laboratories of Drs. Yun Li (Professor, Genetics), Jason Stein (Associate Professor, Genetics) and Hongtu Zhu (Professor, Computer Science and Genetics) published a paper titled “Common variants contribute to intrinsic human brain functional networks” in Nature Genetics 2022 Apr 7.

April 11, 2022
Department of Genetics Publications March 27th – April 9th, 2022
Department of Genetics faculty, postdocs, students and collaborators published 17 papers during March 27th – April 9th, 2022.

January 6, 2022
Graduate Students Sarah Brotman (GMB) and Brandon Le (BCB) Participate in 2021 “Shadow a Scientist” Program
Sarah Brotman (GMB – Mohlke lab) and Brandon Le (BCB – Stein lab) participated (virtually) in the 2021 UNC “Shadow a Scientist” Program.

January 3, 2022
Jason Stein, PhD Promoted to Associate Professor
Dr. Jason Stein has been promoted to Associate Professor with tenure in the Department of Genetics, effective January 1, 2022.