Johanna Rimmele

Dr. Johanna Rimmele is a Researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics in Frankfurt, Germany. She holds a PhD in Psychology from the University of Leipzig (2012) and has conducted postdoctoral research at institutions including the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York University, and the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf. Her work focuses on auditory perception, temporal processing, and the neural basis of speech perception. She has received several awards, including the 8th Dissertation Competition in Psychology and the Sign UP! Careerbuilding grant.

Her research explores how temporal structure in speech influences neural processing, particularly through the lens of cortical oscillations. She investigates neuroplasticity in sensory deprivation (e.g., blindness) and the interplay between auditory perception and motor systems. Rimmele has authored over 20 peer-reviewed articles and co-edited a book on brain oscillations in human communication. She is affiliated with the CLaME research group and actively contributes to interdisciplinary studies on music, language, and neural mechanisms.

• Education:
• PhD in Psychology, University of Leipzig (2008–2012)
• Visiting Researcher, Albert Einstein College of Medicine (2006–2011)
• Diploma in Psychology (minor Philosophy), University of Leipzig (2002–2008)

Awards & Grants:

• 8th Dissertation Competition, German Society for Psychology (2013)
• Sign UP! Careerbuilding MPG Grant (2016/2017)
• ERASMUS MUNDUS Stipendium (2011–2012)

Key Research Themes:

Rimmele’s projects address speech-specific neural processing, the role of delta/theta oscillations in speech segmentation, and how rhythmic speech production influences perception. Her work on neuroplasticity in blind individuals highlights cross-modal reorganization of brain networks.