Dr. Larry J. Young earned his Ph.D. in the Department of Zoology at the University of Texas at Austin and then received his post-doctoral training with Dr. Thomas Insel in the Department of Psychiatry at Emory University, where he is now a Professor. He is the Head of the Affiliation Collaboratory in the Center for Behavioral Neuroscience (CBN), and an Affiliate Scientist at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center. Dr. Young‘s research has focused on understanding the molecular and neurobiological mechanisms regulating the social brain. The majority his lab‘s studies have focused on the role of the neuropeptides oxytocin and vasopressin, and their respective receptors, in regulating the neural processing of social signals and social attachment. Dr. Young uses a comparative neuroethological approach to investigate the nature of social bonding in monogamous rodents, or vole. This work has led to the development of neural model of social bonding which shares many features with addiction. In addition, his research provides insights into the evolution of social behavior at a molecular level, as well as into genetic mechanisms underlying individual variation in social behavior. His research demonstrates that variation in the brain region-specific expression of neuropeptide receptor genes contributes to the diversity in social behavioral phenotypes, both among species and between individuals of a species. This work has important implications for understanding the neurobiology of psychiatric disorders with disruptions in social behavior, such as Autism Spectrum Disorders.