Dr. Michael MacKenzie Receives International Award

July 3, 2006

New York, NY - Dr. Michael MacKenzie, an assistant professor at the Columbia University School of Social Work, has received an "Early Career Investigator Award" from the International Society on Infant Studies (ISIS). The award was presented at the International Conference on Infant Studies hosted by the Japan Society of Baby Science on June 21, 2006 in Kyoto, Japan. Prince Akishino of the Japanese Imperial Family was among the honorary guests in attendance at the conference banquet.

The International Society on Infant Studies is a professional, nonprofit organization devoted to the promotion and dissemination of research on the development of infants. The prestigious and competitive "Early Career Investigator Awards" are presented annually and recognize outstanding young investigators dedicated to infant care research. Recipients receive a certificate as well as a monetary award.

"We are delighted that Dr. MacKenzie has been honored with this prominent award from the International Society on Infant Studies," says Dean Jeanette Takamura. "The award reflects the significance of Dr. Mackenzie's research in the area of infant care and early childhood development. We are proud of his achievement."

For more information, please contact Jeannie Yip at 212-851-2327 or [email protected].

About CUSSW (www.socialwork.columbia.edu)

For more than 100 years, the Columbia University School of Social Work has been the leader in practice and policy. Located in New York City, the School offers Master's and Doctoral programs that are nationally and internationally recognized for their excellence. With a signature curriculum and far-reaching field education experience, CUSSW continues to be at the forefront of clinical practice, public policy, teaching, research and social work innovation in the 21st Century.

About Michael MacKenzie

Dr. MacKenzie is a Social Worker and Developmental Psychopathologist with a primary interest in the early social and biological factors that contribute to later mental health and psychopathology. He comes to Columbia from the Center for Human Growth and Development at the University of Michigan where he completed his MSW and a dual doctoral degree in Social Work and Developmental Psychology. Dr. MacKenzie also has undergraduate and graduate degrees in Molecular Genetics from the University of Western Ontario, in London, Canada. He is involved in several NIMH funded longitudinal studies investigating the development of self-regulation processes during infancy in families facing social disadvantage and mental health difficulties. His research examines both the social and biological aspects of the parent-infant relationship. This work has several foci, including examining the etiology and developmental consequences of developmental psychopathology and child maltreatment as well as the impact of placement disruptions and instability on children in the child welfare system.