Jessica Younger Curriculum Vitae, p.4
Jessica Wise Younger
Department of Communication Sciences Disorders Email:
University of Texas at Austin Mobile: 386-589-1515
2504A Whitis Ave
Austin, TX 78712
E D U C A T I O N
2014 – Present PhD student at University of Texas at Austin
Communication Sciences and Disorders
Primary Doctoral Advisor: James R. Booth, PhD
Research Interest
· Neural basis of reading and reading disorders
Current Research Projects
· Longitudinal assessment of developmental changes in brain activity during reading
· Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation and skill on learning to read an artificial script
· Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on reading and mathematic skill
· Effect of socioeconomic status on neural basis of phonological awareness
· Skill based differences in word representation in the fusiform
2014 MA, Non-Clinical Communication Sciences, Northwestern University (Chicago, IL)
Master’s Thesis
· Developmental differences in brain activity associated with improved reading skill
2012 BS, Cognitive Studies, Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN)
G R A N T S & A W A R D S
External Grants and Awards
· NSF student award in STEM education, International Mind Brain and Education Society Annual Meeting, 2014
· NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Honorable Mention 2014
Internal Grants and Awards
· UT Austin Graduate School Continuing Fellowship 2017-2018
· UT Austin Graduate School Continuing Fellowship 2016-2017
· UT Austin Graduate School Summer Fellowship 2016
· UT Austin Career Development Scholarship $500 2015
· UT Austin Communication Sciences and Disorders Department Travel Grant, $600
· Incoming Cognitive Science Fellowship Northwestern University 2013-2014
· Vanderbilt Undergraduate Research Grant, Vanderbilt University 2010 $4000.
· Cognitive Science Award, Vanderbilt University 2012
· Highest Honors in Psychology Vanderbilt University 2012
P U B L I C A T I O N S
Younger, J.W., Tucker-Drob, E.T., Booth, J.R. (2017). Reading network connectivity changes related to reading skill improvement. NeuroImage.
Younger, J.W., Randazzo-Wagner, M., Booth, J.R. (2016). Weighing the cost and benefit of transcranial direct current stimulation on different reading subskills. Frontiers in Neuroscience.
Yoncheva Y., Wise J.R., and McCandliss B. (2015). Hemispheric specialization for visual words is shaped by attention to sublexical units during initial learning. Brain and Language. 145-146C, 23-33.
Yoncheva Y., Wise J.R., and McCandliss B. (2011). Attentional focus during learning impacts N170 lateralization to novel visual word forms.Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience. Supplement ISSN 1096-8857.
Wise J.R., Yoncheva Y., and McCandliss B. (2011). Effects of preference and strategy on learning to read an artificial orthography. Indiana Undergraduate Journal of Cognitive Science. 5, 38-46
P R E S E N T A T I O N S
Conference Presentations
Younger, J.W., Tucker-Drob, E.T., Booth, J.R. (2017, April). Reading network connectivity changes related to reading skill improvement. Poster presented at Society for Research in Child Development annual meeting.
Younger, J.W. and Booth, J.R. (2017, January). The effect of transcranial direct current stimulation and phonemic decoding skill on learning to read. Poster presented at Neuromodulation NYC annual meeting.
Younger, J.W., Randazzo-Wagner, M., Booth, J.R. (2016, September). Weighing the cost and benefit of transcranial direct current stimulation on different reading subskills. Poster presented at International Mind Brain and Education Society biannual meeting.
Younger, J.W., Randazzo-Wagner, M., Booth, J.R. (2015, June) Site and Domain Specificity of the Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Symbolic Processing. Poster presented at BrainSTIM and Organization for Human Brain Mapping Annual Meeting.
Wise, J.R., McNorgan, C., Booth, J.R. (2014, November) Longitudinal changes in reading network related to age and skill. Poster presented at International Mind Brain and Education Society Annual Meeting.
Wise, J.R., Frishkoff, G.A., Revill K.P., Hoque, M., Pendl, S.L., Binder, J.R. (2013, June) Neural Correlates of Expectancy and Semantic Integration: ERP Source Modeling and Validation from fMRI. Poster presented at Organization for Human Brain Mapping Annual Meeting.
Wise, J.R., Frishkoff, G.A., Revill K.P., Hoque, M., Pendl, S.L., Binder, J.R. (2013, April) Expectancy & Meaningfulness Effects in Sentence Comprehension: Use of fMRI for cross-validation of ERP neural source modeling. Poster presented at Cognitive Neuroscience Society Annual Meeting.
Department and University Presentations
Wise, J.R. (2015, September) Do the benefits outweigh the cost? Using tDCS as a treatment for poor reading ability. University of Texas at Austin CSD Department Data Blitz.
Wise, J.R. (2014, September) tDCS and reading skill improvement. University of Texas at Austin CSD Department Data Blitz.
Wise, J.R. (2014, June) Developmental differences in brain activity associated with improved reading skill. Northwestern University CSD Department Data Blitz.
Bello, N.P, Amoss, R.T., Wise, J.R., Frishkoff, G.A. (2013, March) The good, the bad, and the funny: An ERP study of laughter as a meaningful socioemotional cue. Poster presented at Georgia State Undergraduate Research Conference.
Wise, J.R., Hoque, M., Frishkoff, G.A. (2012, October) Use of fMRI for cross-validation of EEG neural source modeling. Poster presented at Georgia State University’s Psychology Undergraduate Research Conference.
Midanaky, O., Wise, J.R.,Frishkoff, G.A. (2012, October). Attention effects during automatic emotion priming. Poster presented at Georgia State University’s Psychology Undergraduate Research Conference. Overall winner.
Hoque, M., Wise, J.R., Frishkoff, G.A. (2012, October). EEG neural source localization using realistic head and cortical models. Poster presented at Georgia State University’s Psychology Undergraduate Research Conference.
Brooks, G.T., Bello, N., Wise, J.R., Frishkoff, G.A. (2012, October). Syntactic and semantic processes in comprehending causitive constructions in English. Poster presented at Georgia State University’s Psychology Undergraduate Research Conference. Winner of Center for Behavioral Neuroscience award.
Wise, J.R., Yoncheva, Y., and McCandliss, B. (2012, April). Effects of Frequency and Regularity on New Learning in Preference Readers. Poster and presentation at Vanderbilt University Psychology Day as part of Honors Program requirements.
Santillan, J., Gu, C., Yoncheva, Y., Wise, J.R., and McCandliss, B. (2011, August) Electrophysiological and psychophysical responses to speech sounds: Native language experience shapes perception. Poster presented as part of BP Endure Research project at Vanderbilt University.
Yoncheva, Y., Wise, J.R., & McCandliss, B. (2011, February). Attentional focus while learning impacts perceptual expertise for reading novel word forms: an ERP training study. Poster presented at Vanderbilt Kennedy Center Science Day. Winner of post-doctorate poster award.
Wise, J.R., Yoncheva, Y., and McCandliss, B. (2011, February) Effects of preference and strategy on learning to read an artificial script. Poster presented at Vanderbilt Kennedy Center Science Day and UCLA Psychology Undergraduate Research Conference.
Wise, J.R., Yoncheva, Y., and McCandliss, B. (2010, September). Effects of consolidation and strategy on learning to read an artificial script. Poster and presentation as part of Vanderbilt Undergraduate Summer Research Projects.
T E A C H I N G E X P E R I E N C E
Teaching Assistant
· Language and the Brain (Spring 2015)
· Introduction to Evaluation and Treatment of Adult Communication Disorders (Spring 2015; Spring 2016)
· Research in Communication Sciences and Disorders (Fall 2015)
M E N T O R I N G E X P E R I E N C E
Graduate Student Mentor, University of Texas at Austin
· Independent Study
o Michael Campos, 2015
o Devangi Dave, Spring and Summer 2015
o Amanda Lucio, 2015-2016
o Nupur Shambharkar, 2015-2016
o Katharine Frantes, Spring 2016
o Gaby Dean, Spring 2017
o Emmanuel Soriano, Spring 2017
· Intellectual Entrepreneurship Program
o Keun-woo Lee, 2015-2017
o Carolina U Uzquiano, 2016 - 2017
A D D I T I O N A L R E S E A R C H E X P E R I E N C E
Research Coordinator, Brain Electrophysiology of Language and Literacy Systems Lab (June 2012 – July 2013)
Georgia State University (Atlanta, GA)
PI: Dr. Gwen Frishkoff
Undergraduate Research Assistant, Educational Neuroscience Lab (Fall 2009 – Spring 2012)
Peabody College of Education, Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN)
PI: Dr. Bruce McCandliss
Undergraduate Honors Thesis: Effects of Frequency and Regularity on New Learning in Preference Readers
Undergraduate Research Assistant, Clinical Neuroscience Lab (Spring 2010)
Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN)
PI: Dr. Sohee Park
Transcriber, KidTalk Research Program (Spring 2009 – Fall 2009)
Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN)
PI: Dr. Ann Kaiser
P R O F E S S I O N A L A N D R E S E A R C H A F F I L I A T I O N S
Cognitive Neuroscience Society
Human Brain Mapping
International Mind Brain and Education Society, Student Board: Vice President