Vanessa Lux

I am a research fellow at AE Genetic Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum. My research focuses on the question how the physiological stress response influences early psychobiological development and how this is regulated by epigenetic mechanisms. I also have a passion for unsolved methodological and epistemological issues at the intersections of psychology and other life sciences. Further interests include developmental theory, embodiment theories and conceptual issues in empathy research and trauma research.

In the AGYA I established an exchange between German and Arab life scientists on concepts, methods & ethics. This is especially fruitful since we share philosophical foundations of modern life sciences from Ancient Greeks; in fact some of these have been transmitted to the West thanks to Arab philosophers and scientists. But we also differ in social values and cultural traditions which provides each with a unique perspective on the problems, such as: questions of psychobiological development and early childhood education. A challenge is how to translate knowledge from neuroscience and genetics into psychological and pedagogic theory, and recommendations for policy makers and practitioners.