Thilo Womelsdorf

Thilo Womelsdorf is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Psychology, Computer Science, and Biomedical Engineering at Vanderbilt University, School of Engineering. He leads the Attention Circuits Control Lab, investigating neural mechanisms of attention and learning in nonhuman primates and humans using advanced neurophysiological and computational methods. His work integrates 3D virtual reality paradigms, multi-area electrophysiological recordings, and neuromodulation techniques to study brain-behavior relationships.

Education: PhD from German Primate Center (Göttingen University), postdoctoral training at Donders Institute (Netherlands) and Robarts Research Institute (Canada). Recipient of the prestigious E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellowship (2017) for bridging cellular and network-level neuroscience.

Research: Focuses on how neural circuits implement attentional control and adaptive learning. Key areas include reinforcement learning modeling, causal circuit analysis via electrical/molecular interventions, and translational applications for neuropharmacology. His lab employs cutting-edge tools like spike artifact removal algorithms and multi-neuromodulator measurements.

Grants & Collaborations: Active in developing neuro-oscillation biomarkers for neuropsychiatric treatments, and creating multi-task cognitive assessment platforms. Collaborates across disciplines to advance translational neuroscience.

Labs/Teams: Directs the Attention Circuits Control Lab, fostering interdisciplinary research between engineering, computer science, and neuroscience. Involved in developing neurotechnology tools like the Quaddles object set and USE experimental suite.