Isabella Anderson-Wagner

Isabella Anderson-Wagner is an Assistant Professor at the University of Vienna, affiliated with the Faculty of Psychology and the Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science (CeMESS). Her work focuses on the intersection of brain function, cognition, and gut microbiome interactions, with an emphasis on neural plasticity, learning, and memory formation. She uses advanced neuroimaging techniques like MRI and spectroscopy to explore these processes.

Research Interests: Her research investigates how the gut microbiome influences neural plasticity and memory, particularly through studies involving humans and comparative analyses with animals like dogs. Key areas include stress effects on prosocial behavior, the role of microbiome in neurodegenerative risks (e.g., dementia), and the development of mnemonic training strategies like the method of loci.

Funding & Awards: She has received prestigious grants, including the Cortex Prize (2023), Young Investigator Grant (Brain & Behaviour Research Foundation, 2023), and Veni Grant (Dutch Research Council, 2020). Her work is funded by projects such as MemoryLane (2025–2030) and The Social Grid (2021–2024).

Labs & Teams: Her lab is part of the Vienna Cognitive Science Hub, focusing on interdisciplinary approaches to cognitive and microbial neuroscience. Collaborations span institutions globally, with studies on topics like microbiome-brain interactions and canine cognition.