Joan Orpella, PhD

Joan Orpella, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at Georgetown University Medical Center. His research leverages advanced neuroimaging techniques, including fMRI, MEG, as well as computational modeling, to investigate the neural mechanisms underlying speech perception and production. Dr. Orpella earned his Ph.D. in Cognitive Neuroscience from the University of Barcelona under the mentorship of Dr. R. de Diego-Balaguer, focusing on the neural bases of statistical learning. He then pursued postdoctoral training at New York University with Dr. D. Poeppel, where he expanded his research into speech production and perception. Prior to joining Georgetown, Dr. Orpella served as a Research Scientist in the Savvy Lab at NYU, where he initiated his work on stuttering.

In addition to his scientific career, Dr. Orpella is a former professional violinist. For 18 years, he performed and taught internationally, contributing to classical music both as a soloist and ensemble member. His discography and performance history are featured on platforms such as Spotify.