Agnes Villwock

Assistant Professor

Integrated Sciences Academy

College of Science

akvcgns@rit.edu

585-475-5215

Office Location

COL-1081

Agnes Villwock

Assistant Professor

Integrated Sciences Academy

College of Science

Bio

In my research, I aspire to contribute to our understanding of neuroplasticity and the development of human cognition as a function of individual sensory and linguistic experiences. I am especially interested in the neural consequences of deafness and (sign) language exposure, which I explore using both neuroscientific research methods (noninvasive neuroimaging and recording) and behavioral experiments.

Education

2016:
Dr. rer. nat. (PhD equivalent), University of Hamburg, Germany
Biological Psychology and Neuropsychology

Dissertation: Neural Plasticity in Auditory and Visual Cortices as a Result of Congenital Deafness: Visual, Tactile, and Crossmodal Processing
Advisor: Prof. Dr. Brigitte Röder

2011:
Magister Artium (M.A.), University of Hamburg
Sign Language (1st major), Economics (2nd major)

Appointments

since 01/2025:
Assistant Professor of Cognitive Science & Neuroscience (Tenure Track) Integrated Sciences Academy, College of Science
Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY

04/2020– 09/2024:
Assistant Professor of Sign Languages (Tenure Track)
Institute for Rehabilitation Sciences, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, GermanySuccessful midterm tenure track evaluation in January 2023

10/2018 – 09/2019:
Visiting Professor, Institute for German Sign Language
University of Hamburg

10/2016 – 08/2018:
Postdoctoral Associate & Visiting Researcher, Mayberry Laboratory for Multimodal Language Development
Department of Linguistics, University of California, San Diego

01/2012 – 10/2016:
Scientific Staff, Biological Psychology and Neuropsychology, University of Hamburg

akvcgns@rit.edu

585-475-5215

Personal Links

Personal Website

Currently Teaching

CGNS-310

Experimental Lab Methods in Neuroscience

3 Credits

Scientists use a wide range of laboratory methods to elucidate the function of the brain and nervous circuits in enabling behavior. This course will provide an overview of these methods, in order to allow students to understand a wide range of scientific studies and to be able to select an appropriate method for a specific research topic. For understanding human cognitive functioning such methods include neuroimaging, psychophysiology, single-cell recordings, computational modeling, and cognitive psychology and behavioral methods that use measures such as response time and decision accuracy to test theories concerning the nature of mental processes and representations. The methods employed in animal behavior research use animal models, such as rodents, drosophila, nonhuman primates, as well as stereotaxic surgeries and electrode implants. Microscopy, manipulating and visualizing neural activity, as well as genetic, cellular and molecular techniques are among the arsenal of methods used in neuroscience to achieve understanding of neural system functioning at various levels.

CGNS-601

Cognitive Neuroscience

3 Credits

Cognitive neuroscience is concerned with the study of the biological processes that underlie cognition with a specific focus on neural systems in the brain that are involved in mental processes. This course provides the foundation of cognitive neuroscience including neuroanatomy, neural signaling, motor and sensory pathways, experimental methods employed in cognitive neuroscience, and discusses the neural bases of complex cognitive functions such as attention, perception, learning, memory, emotional regulation, executive control, decision making and language. Critical analysis of primary research and research projects employed in the course foster an in-depth understanding of main areas of cognitive neuroscience and its recent advances.

COGS-880

Cognitive Science Dissertation Research

1 - 6 Credits

This course is to fulfill the work plan agreed by the student and the dissertation adviser. The guiding principle of the Dissertation Research course is to complete the doctoral dissertation research proposed by the doctoral candidate and approved by the candidate’s dissertation committee. The course consists of carrying out the thesis research, including collection and analysis of data, and completion and public defense of the dissertation document for partial fulfillment of the requirements of the PhD degree in Cognitive Science. This course can only be taken after successful completion of COGS-800 Cognitive Science Qualifying Examination.

COGS-888

Continuation of Dissertation

0 Credits

Doctoral students in the Ph.D. in Cognitive Science are expected to conduct research under the supervision and guidance of their faculty advisor. After completion of all degree requirements, with the exception of COGS-890 Cog Sci Dissertation and including completion of at least 60 semester credit hours, students may register for COGS-888 Cog Sci Continuation of Dissertation in order to maintain their status in the Ph.D. in Cognitive Science program.