Professor Sara Margarida Matos Roma Fernandes is a distinguished Portuguese philosopher and researcher specializing in the intersection of philosophy and neuroscience, with a particular focus on neuroethics. Her academic journey and professional endeavors have significantly contributed to the understanding of neuroenhancement, personal identity, and the ethical implications of neuroscientific advancements.

Professor Fernandes completed her undergraduate studies in Philosophy at the University of Lisbon School of Arts and Humanities in 1998, graduating with a final grade of 16 out of 20. She obtained her Master's degree in Philosophy of Nature and the Environment from the same institution in 2006, with a thesis titled Paul Ricœur and the Problem of Personal Identity, graded “Very Good.” In 2022, she was awarded a Ph.D. in Philosophy (specializing in Ethics) from the University of Lisbon. Her doctoral dissertation, Neuroenhancement and Personal Identity: Neuroethical Dilemmas, received the highest possible academic honor: “Excellent with Distinction and Praise.”

Professor Fernandes's research primarily explores the neuroethical impacts of social and economic inequalities on child development. Her broader interests include the relationship between philosophy and neuroscience, particularly the ethical dimensions of neuroenhancement and its impact on personal identity and human nature. She is also deeply engaged in the fields of hermeneutics, philosophy of literature, and political philosophy, especially through the works of Virginia Woolf, Paul Ricœur, and John Rawls.

She is currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Integral Human Development Program at the Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP), supported by the Cados/Porticus Foundation. She is a researcher at the Interdisciplinary Health Research Center (CIIS) at UCP, as well as a collaborator at the Centre of Philosophy at the University of Lisbon and at the Rationality and Applied Ethics Laboratory (LabRa) at the University of Coimbra. Her work across these institutions reflects her commitment to interdisciplinary scholarship in bioethics and neurophilosophy.

Professor Fernandes has authored and co-authored numerous scholarly articles, book chapters, and essays published in national and international journals. Among her noted contributions is the article Neuroenhancement: A Challenge to Ethics and Personal Identity, co-written with Professor Alexandre Castro Caldas and published in Ethics: Theory and Practice, a volume of the Centre of Philosophy at the University of Lisbon. Her publications address critical ethical concerns surrounding cognitive enhancement technologies and their effects on concepts of autonomy, identity, and human agency.

She actively participates in national and international academic conferences, contributing to discussions on neuroethics, applied philosophy, and human development. Her lectures and presentations have covered topics such as the philosophical critique of biomedical practices and the ethical dilemmas posed by emerging neurotechnologies.

Professor Fernandes’s academic excellence has been recognized by multiple distinctions throughout her career. Her doctoral dissertation received the top academic honor available in Portugal, underscoring her scholarly rigor and original contributions to the field of neuroethics.

Professor Sara Fernandes is a rising voice in contemporary neuroethics and applied philosophy. Through her interdisciplinary work and her strong ethical engagement, she has offered valuable insights into how neuroscience intersects with questions of identity, justice, and human flourishing. Her work continues to influence both theoretical reflection and practical approaches to the responsible use of neurotechnological innovation.