Publications

Google scholar link

Books:

• M.C. Mills, N. Barban and F.C. Tropf (2020) An Introduction to Statistical Genetic Data Analysis MIT Press

A comprehensive introduction to modern applied statistical genetic data analysis, accessible to those without a background in molecular biology or genetics.

Peer-reviewed articles:

• S. Minardi, P. Puschmann and N. Barban (2026) Within Families, Across Borders: Lifespans of U.S. Immigrants Born 1850-1890 Compared to Origins, Destination, and Siblings Demography, 1-27

• S. Minardi, S. Greco and N. Barban (2025) A Comparison of Rule-based and Supervised Machine Learning Approaches for Record Linkage of Italian Historical Data Historical Life Course Studies 15, 28-46

• V. Rotondi, M. Allegra, R. Kashyap, N. Barban, M. Sironi and C. Reverberi (2024) Enduring maternal brain changes and their role in mediating motherhood’s impact on well-being Scientific Reports 14, 16608

• S. Minardi, G. Corti and N. Barban (2024) Historical Patterns in the Intergenerational Transmission of Lifespan and Longevity: A Research Note on U.S. Cohorts Born Between 1700 and 1900 Demography 61, 979-994

• G. Corti, S. Minardi and N. Barban (2024) Trends in assortative mating in the United States, 1700–1910. Evidence from FamiLinx data The History of the Family 29, 461-481

• M. Cozzani, S. Minardi, G. Corti and N. Barban (2023) Birth month and adult lifespan: A within-family, cohort, and spatial examination using FamiLinx data in the United States (1700-1899) Demographic Research 49(9), 201-218

• I. Mathieson, F.R. Day, N. Barban et al. (2023) Genome-wide analysis identifies genetic effects on reproductive success and ongoing natural selection at the FADS locus Nature Human Behaviour 7, 790-801

• M.C. Mills, F.C. Tropf, D.M. Brazel, N. Barban et al. (2021) Identification of 371 genetic variants for age at first sex and birth linked to externalising behaviour Nature Human Behaviour 5, 1717-1730

• L.M. Pesando, N. Barban, M. Sironi and F.F. Furstenberg (2021) A Sequence-Analysis Approach to the Study of the Transition to Adulthood in Low- and Middle-Income Countries Population and Development Review 47, 719-747

• N. Barban, E. De Cao, S. Oreffice and C. Quintana-Domeque (2021) The effect of education on spousal education: A genetic approach Labour Economics 71, 102023

• Xuejie Ding, N. Barban, M.C. Mills and F.C. Tropf (2019) The relationship between cognitive decline and a genetic predictor of educational attainment Social Science and Medicine 239, 112549

• Xuejie Ding, N. Barban and M.C. Mills (2019) Educational attainment and allostatic load in later life: Evidence using genetic markers Preventive Medicine 129, 105866

• M.C. Mills, N. Barban and F.C. Tropf (2018) The Sociogenomics of Polygenic Scores of Reproductive Behavior and Their Relationship to Other Fertility Traits. Russel Sage Journal of Social Science 4(4), pp. 122–136

• N. Barban, De Luna X., Svensson I. and Billari, F.C. (2020) Causal effects of the timing of life course events: age at retirement and subsequent health. Sociological Methods and Research 49, 216-249 Supplementary Information

• F.C. Tropf, S. Lee, R. Verweij, G. Stulp, P. van der Most, R. de Vlaming, A. Bakshi, D. Briley, C. Rahal, R. Hellpap, A. Nyman, T. Esko, A. Metspalu, S. Medland, N. Martin, N. Barban, H. Snieder, M. Robinson, M. Mills. (2018) Hidden heritability due to heterogeneity across seven populations Nature Human Behavior 1(10), 757-765.

• Barban N et al. and M.C. Mills (2016) Genome-wide analysis identifies 12 loci influencing human reproductive behavior. Nature Genetics doi: 10.1038/ng.3698 Press release; Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ); Data

• Divya Mehta, Felix C Tropf, Jacob Gratten, Andrew Bakshi, Zhihong Zhu, Silviu-Alin Bacanu, Gibran Hemani, Patrik KE Magnusson, Nicola Barban et al. (2016) Evidence for Genetic Overlap Between Schizophrenia and Age at First Birth in Women JAMA Psychiatry 73(10), 1073-1081

• Sironi M., N. Barban and R. Impicciatore (2015), The Role of Parental Social Class in the Transition to Adulthood, Advances in Life Course Research 26, 89-104

• F. C. Tropf, G. Stulp, N. Barban, P. M. Visscher, J. Yang, H. Snieder, M. Mills (2015). Human Fertility, Molecular Genetics, and Natural Selection in Modern Societies PLOS ONE 10(6), e0126821 Media coverage: The Guardian; openpop.org

• F. C. Tropf, N. Barban, H. Snieder, M. Mills, J.J. Mandemakers (2015) A Behavioural Genetic Study of Age at First Birth of Female UK Twins Population Studies 69(2), 129-145

• N. Balbo and N. Barban, (2014). Does fertility behavior spread among friends? American Sociological Review, 79(3), 412-431 Media coverage: Fox News; New York Daily News; Business Insider; La Stampa; El Mundo; Le Figaro

• N. Barban, Family trajectories and health: A life course perspective, (2013) European Journal of Population, 29(4), 357-385

• Minello A. and N. Barban, (2012) The educational expectations of children of immigrants in Italy, The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Sciences, 643(1), 78–103.

• Barban N and F. C. Billari, (2012) Classifying life course trajectories. A comparison between latent class and sequence analysis, Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series C (Applied Statistics), 61(5), 765–784.

• Barban N. and M.J. White, (2011) Immigrants children’s transition to secondary school in Italy. International Migration Review, 45(3), 702–726.

• Barban N. and G. Dalla Zuanna, (2010) A portrait of immigrant childrens housing experiences in Italy. Housing Studies, 25(4), 559–584.

Chapters in books

• Barban, N. and M. Sironi (2018) “Sequence Analysis as a Tool for Family Demography,” in Analytical Family Demography, The Springer Series on Demographic Methods and Population Analysis, Ed. R. Schoen, Germany: Springer.

• Barban, N. and D. Linder (2013) “Mathematical Modelling in Life Course Research,” in Cumulative Life Course Impairment in Dermatological Diseases, Ed. Kimball, A., Linder, D., Germany: Karger.

• Dalla Zuanna G. and N. Barban (2008) “Le seconde generazioni in Veneto”, in Studiare insieme, crescere insieme? Franco Angeli, Milano.

• Dalla Zuanna G. and N. Barban (2007), “Giovani veneti, vecchi e nuovi” in Immigrazione straniera in Veneto. Dati demografici, dinamiche del lavoro, inserimento sociale. Rapporto 2006. Franco Angeli, Milano

• Barban N. (2006), “La scuola” in Immigrazione straniera in Veneto. Dati demografici, dinamiche del lavoro, inserimento sociale. Rapporto 2005. Franco Angeli, Milano.