January 2026

SINAN GÜLÖKSÜZ

Associate Professor
Department of Psychiatry

Meet Dr. Sinan Gülöksüz, a psychiatrist and physician-scientist based at the UBC Northern Medical Program! His research uses a multidimensional approach to advance early intervention and care for people at risk of mental illness. Outside of work, Dr. Gülöksüz enjoys finding new ways to challenge himself physically and mentally.

Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background?

I am a psychiatrist and a physician-scientist with a background in clinical psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology. I was trained in medicine and psychiatry in Turkey and completed my MSc and PhD in the Netherlands. Over the last decade, I’ve been an academic psychiatrist at Maastricht University and Yale School of Medicine, with a focus on understanding how environmental and genetic factors interact in the development of mental health problems, and on improving outcomes through early intervention and prevention.

Can you describe what kind of research you are involved in?

My research focuses on how environmental and social factors, such as stress, exposure to chemicals/pollutants, social environment, and physical health, interact with genetics to influence mental wellbeing. Rather than examining single risk factors in isolation, I study the combined impact of a person’s lifetime exposures together with their whole genetic makeup to understand how mental health problems develop over time using large datasets. Another part of my work focuses on improving care for people at risk, including research on early detection, prevention, and better mental health services.

What is the best piece of advice you can share with colleagues?

This is a piece of advice you’ve probably heard: find good mentors. No doubt, it matters! From my early psychiatry training until now, I’ve been fortunate to have influential mentors at each stage of my career, and I’ve benefited greatly from their guidance. What is often overlooked, however, is the importance of having good mentees! Just as they learn from you, you learn a great deal from them. And more to that, they keep you motivated. Finally, we should not forget that our future ultimately depends on them. Fortunately, UBC offers an exceptionally rich academic environment in which to find both.

What aspect of your work do you enjoy the most, or find the most exciting?

As a physician-scientist, I find it most rewarding when research insights translate into meaningful changes in how we understand mental health and support our patients. Mentoring young researchers and clinicians is also a major source of satisfaction, particularly seeing them develop independence and confidence in their work.

What are your interests and hobbies outside of work?

I’ve always enjoyed challenging myself both physically and mentally since my teenage years.  Over the years, that’s taken me from basketball to football, and into powerlifting. I hold strength-training certifications, and since moving to the True North, I’ve set a goal to become an expert survivalist.

If you are an IMH member and would like to share more about yourself and your research with the community, please contact Megan Rollerson, Manager, Communications and Partnerships at megan.rollerson@ubc.ca.