Jennifer Lehmann

Dr. Jennifer Lehmann serves as an Academic Councillor (equivalent to Assistant Professor) at the Institute of Sports Science within the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Regensburg, Germany. She has held this position since April 2015, following her role as Research Associate at the same institution from 2009-2015. Her academic career bridges sports science, cognitive psychology, and educational practice, with a distinctive focus on the interplay between motor skills and cognitive functions.

Education:

• 2009-2013: Doctorate (Dr. phil.) in Sports Science from University of Regensburg
• 2002-2007: Diploma in Sports Science from German Sport University Cologne

Dr. Lehmann's research program centers on the relationship between motor skills and cognition, with particular emphasis on spatial abilities (especially mental rotation) and executive functions within sports contexts. Her work spans developmental trajectories from early childhood through adulthood, examining how physical activity influences cognitive development and how cognitive abilities impact sports performance. She has conducted significant research on executive functions in football, exploring connections between cognitive resilience and athletic performance in youth elite players, as well as investigating mental rotation abilities across different age groups and populations.

Her publication record demonstrates a consistent focus on embodied cognition, showing how physical movement and sports participation shape cognitive processes. Recent work has increasingly examined applied aspects of these relationships in sports injury prevention, rehabilitation, and performance enhancement. Her research often employs experimental methodologies to investigate how specific motor skills correlate with cognitive abilities like working memory, attention, and spatial reasoning.

Dr. Lehmann serves in several university governance roles, including membership in the Senate, University Council, and Faculty Council since 2017, and as deputy speaker of the council of scientific and artistic staff. She teaches across multiple academic programs including Bachelor's, Master's, and teacher education courses, covering diverse topics from motor learning fundamentals to specialized exercise therapy applications for neurological, orthopedic, and psychological conditions across the lifespan.