Dr. Robert Krueger stands as a preeminent figure in clinical psychology and psychopathology research, currently holding the dual prestigious appointments of Hathaway Distinguished Professor of Clinical Psychology and Distinguished McKnight University Professor at the University of Minnesota. He earned his bachelor's degree with honors in psychology from the University of Wisconsin Madison in 1991, followed by his master's degree in 1993 and PhD in clinical psychology in 1996, with Terrie Moffitt serving as his doctoral advisor. After completing a two year clinical internship at Brown University, Krueger joined the University of Minnesota faculty as an Assistant Professor in 1998, where he advanced through the ranks to full Professor before accepting a position at Washington University in St. Louis in 2008. He returned to the University of Minnesota in 2010 as the Hathaway Distinguished Professor, and since 2014 has additionally held the title of Distinguished McKnight University Professor, recognizing his exceptional scholarly contributions to the field.
Professor Krueger's research has fundamentally reshaped our understanding of the connections between personality traits and mental disorders, positioning him as one of the most highly cited psychologists globally according to Web of Science metrics. As a key leader in The Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology initiative, he has pioneered empirical approaches to classifying mental health issues along symptom spectra rather than traditional categorical diagnoses, with his influential 2018 World Psychiatry publication receiving widespread recognition across the field. His work integrates individual differences research with psychopathology studies, leveraging advances in genetics and computing power to develop quantitative models that empirically describe mental health conditions rather than relying on expert opinion alone. Krueger's directorship of the Minnesota Twin Registry has enabled groundbreaking research on the genetic and environmental origins of psychological traits and disorders through sophisticated twin study methodologies. This integrative approach has provided crucial insights into why some individuals develop psychopathology while others demonstrate resilience, directly addressing his stated research goal of reducing the societal burden of mental health problems.
Beyond his research contributions, Krueger serves as co editor in chief of the Journal of Personality Disorders and previously contributed to the DSM 5 Personality and Personality Disorders Work Group, helping develop the Alternative Model for Personality Disorders that represents a paradigm shift in diagnostic approaches. As director of clinical practicum and internship placements in the University of Minnesota's Psychology Department, he plays a vital role in training the next generation of clinical psychologists while maintaining an active research program with over 6 million in current grant funding, including major awards from the National Institute on Aging. His leadership extends to numerous collaborative initiatives that bridge psychology, genetics, and neuroscience, fostering interdisciplinary approaches to understanding mental health across the lifespan. Currently, Professor Krueger continues to advance research on how adverse interpersonal experiences impact health outcomes in aging populations while exploring the complex interplay between personality, psychopathology, and physical health. His ongoing work promises to further refine our understanding of mental health conditions and contribute to more effective, empirically grounded assessment and treatment approaches.
