Josef Rauschecker

Josef Rauschecker, Ph.D., D.Sc., is a Professor at Georgetown University's Department of Neuroscience and Director of the Laboratory for Integrative Neuroscience and Cognition, as well as the Center of Neuroengineering. His research focuses on the functional organization and plasticity of the cerebral cortex, particularly auditory perception, speech disorders, and the neural basis of sensory substitution in conditions like blindness or deafness. He holds joint appointments in Physiology and Biophysics, Neurology, and Psychology.

• Education: Ph.D., Munich Institute of Technology (1980); D.Sc., Neurophysiology, Tübingen University (1985)

His work combines human fMRI and nonhuman primate studies to investigate auditory processing deficits, tinnitus, and degenerative diseases. Research on hearing aids and neural prostheses aims to address hearing loss mechanisms. He also explores developmental sensory deprivation effects and brain reorganization.

Editorial roles include Frontiers in Auditory Cognitive Neuroscience and Neurotherapeutics. Grant support comes from NIH institutes (NIDCD, NEI, NSF) and the Tinnitus Research Consortium.

Notable appointments include Director of Georgetown's Cognitive Science Program (2006–2009) and membership in the Animal Research Oversight Committee (2012–present). His lab studies cross-disciplinary brain plasticity with implications for aging and neurodegenerative diseases.