Jennifer M. C. Vendemia

Jennifer M. C. Vendemia is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of South Carolina, McCausland College of Arts and Sciences. She holds a Ph.D. in Experimental Cognitive Neuroscience from Virginia Tech (1999), with postdoctoral training at the University of Georgia. Her research focuses on deceptive behavior, stress effects on cognition, and neuroimaging techniques like fMRI and EEG. Dr. Vendemia has advised numerous students and collaborates with government agencies including the CIA, NSA, and Department of Defense. She directs the Center for Advanced Technologies for the Detection of Deception (CATDD) and led an NSF-funded Summer Research Experience in Brain and Cognitive Science.

Education:

• Ph.D., Experimental Cognitive Neuroscience, Virginia Tech, 1999
• M.A., Experimental Psychology, Hollins College, 1993
• B.S., Psychology, Virginia Tech, 1992

Research Interests:
Dr. Vendemia’s work integrates neuroscience with applied contexts, including deception detection, stress physiology, and cognitive modeling. She investigates neural mechanisms underlying deceptive behavior, with applications to national security and legal contexts. Her studies often combine fMRI and EEG to analyze brain activity during deception scenarios. Current projects explore sensorimotor control in chronic pain patients and the impact of stress on cognitive performance in marginalized groups.

Grants & Awards:

• 2013: Associate Professor Career Development Award ($5,000)
• 2003-2012: NSF and DoD grants totaling over $5 million for deception detection research
• 2012-2014: NSF REU Site: Summer Research in Brain & Cognitive Sciences

Advising & Teaching:

• Directed over 20 student theses/dissertations
• Teaches courses in Cognitive Neuroscience, Psychophysiology, and Ethics in Research

Labs/Teams: Director of the Center for Advanced Technologies for the Detection of Deception (CATDD), and collaborator with the McCausland Center for Brain Imaging.