Prof. Sandra Carvalho | Neurociência clínica | Best Researcher Award

University of Aveiro, Portugal

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Early Academic Pursuits

Sandra da Conceição Ribeiro de Carvalho, known professionally as Carvalho, S., has had a distinguished academic journey. She completed her undergraduate studies in Psychology at the University of Minho in 2005. She then pursued a master's specialization in Clinical Psychology, finishing the coursework in 2007. Carvalho earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Minho in 2011, focusing her dissertation on the "Neuropsychophysiological Correlates of Emotional Processing."

Professional Endeavors

Her professional career is marked by various academic and research positions. She has served as an Assistant Professor in multiple institutions, including the University of Minho, Universidad de San Martín de Porres in Peru, and the Universidade Portucalense in Porto, Portugal. Since 2021, she has been an Assistant Professor at the University of Aveiro in the Department of Education and Psychology. Additionally, she held significant roles such as Research Scholar at Northeastern University's Bouvé College of Health Sciences and completed postdoctoral research at Harvard Medical School.

Contributions and Research Focus

Het research primarily focuses on neuropsychology and neurophysiology, with a particular interest in brain stimulation techniques, emotional processing, and cognitive functions. She has extensively studied non-invasive brain stimulation methods, including transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS). Her work has been published in numerous high-impact journals, such as Neurocase, Brain Sciences, and Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.

Accolades and Recognition

Throughout her career, Her received several prestigious accolades. Notably, she was awarded a merit-based scholarship by the director of the Principles and Practice in Clinical Research program at Harvard Medical School. She has also secured funding from the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) for her postdoctoral research and other projects. Her contributions to the field have been recognized through her role as an associate editor for five international scientific journals.

Impact and Influence

Her influence extends beyond her research. She is a member of the Executive Committee and Scientific-Pedagogical Committee of the Department of Education and Psychology at the University of Aveiro. Additionally, she coordinates the department's mobility and internationalization efforts, showcasing her commitment to fostering global academic collaboration. Her clinical expertise includes neuropsychology consultations and supervising professional internships at the University of Minho.

Legacy and Future Contributions

Her legacy is built on her pioneering research in neuropsychology and brain stimulation, her dedication to academic excellence, and her influential role in international academic circles. Looking forward, she continues to contribute to the advancement of clinical and health psychology through her leadership in research and education. Her ongoing work at the University of Aveiro, along with her extensive publication record, ensures that her impact on the field will persist, benefiting both the academic community and the broader public.

Notable Publications 

Evidence-based guidelines and secondary meta-analysis for the use of transcranial direct current stimulation in neurological and psychiatric disorders

Regulatory considerations for the clinical and research use of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS): review and recommendations from an expert panel

The emotional movie database (EMDB): A self-report and psychophysiological study

Task-specific effects of tDCS-induced cortical excitability changes on cognitive and motor sequence set shifting performance

Affective picture modulation: Valence, arousal, attention allocation and motivational significance

Motor cortex excitability and BDNF levels in chronic musculoskeletal pain according to structural pathology

The effects of cross-hemispheric dorsolateral prefrontal cortex transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on task switching

Reviewing working memory training gains in healthy older adults: A meta-analytic review of transfer for cognitive outcomes

Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex modulates attention and pain in fibromyalgia: randomized clinical trial

Hemispheric dorsolateral prefrontal cortex lateralization in the regulation of empathy for pain