Biography Stephanie A. Fernandes

Minerva Fast Track Group Fernandes

Scientific Career

2026 - present Full Member
CECAD, Cologne Excellence Cluster on Aging and Aging-Associated Diseases 
2025 - present Minerva Fast Track Group Leader
Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing | Cologne, Germany
2023 - 2025 Postdoctoral Researcher
Cell Growth Control in Health and Age-related Disease group
Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing | Cologne, Germany
2017 - 2023 Doctoral Researcher
Cell Growth Control in Health and Age-related Disease group
Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing | Cologne, Germany
2015 - 2017 Master Researcher
Muscle Proteins group
Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Centre, University of Sao Paulo |
Sao Paulo, Brazil
2014 Undergraduate Research Associate
Muscle Proteins group
Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Centre, University of Sao Paulo |
Sao Paulo, Brazil
2013  Intern
RNA Biology and Neuromuscular Disease group
University of Oxford | Oxford, United Kingdom
2009 - 2012
 
Undergraduate Research Associate
Muscle Proteins group
Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Centre, University of Sao Paulo |
Sao Paulo, Brazil

Education

2017 - 2023 Doctoral Degree (PhD) in Biology
Grade: Summa cum laude, with distinction
University of Cologne/ Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing | Cologne, Germany
2015 - 2017 Master’s Degree (MSc) in Genetics 
University of Sao Paulo | Sao Paulo, Brazil
2009 - 2014 Bachelor’s Degree (BSc) in Biological Sciences 
University of Sao Paulo | Sao Paulo, Brazil
2013 Bachelor’s Degree (BSc) in Biological Sciences, Exchange Year
University of Birmingham | Birmingham, United Kingdom

Awards &
Fellowships

2025 Minerva Fast Track Fellowship
Group leader position for exceptional female scientists
Max Planck Society | Munich, Germany
2025 Graduate School for Biological Sciences (GSfBS) PhD prize
PhD award for the year of 2023
University of Cologne | Cologne, Germany
2017 - 2020 Cologne Graduate School of Ageing Research, International Max Planck
Research School

Fully funded position for the doctorate
Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing | Cologne, Germany
2016 World Muscle Society Fellowship
Funds to attend the 21st International Congress of The World Muscle Society
World Muscle Society | Granada, Spain
2015 - 2017 Master’s Fellowship
Monthly stipend funded by the Sao Paulo Research Foundation
University of Sao Paulo | Sao Paulo, Brazil
2014 Honor’s Mention
Honor’s Mention in the 5th Professor Oswaldo Frota Pessoa Scientific Initiation Award
Biosciences Institute, University of Sao Paulo | Sao Paulo, Brazil
2013 Science Without Borders Fellowship
Exchange program, funded by the Brazilian Council of Scientific and Technological Development
University of Birmingham | Birmingham, United Kingdom
2012 Best Poster Award
Best Poster in Genetics, Human Evolution, and Medical Genetics at the 58th Brazilian Congress of Genetics
Brazilian Genetics Society | Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil
2011 Honor’s Mention
Honor’s Mention in the 2nd Professor Oswaldo Frota Pessoa Scientific Initiation Award
Biosciences Institute, University of Sao Paulo | Sao Paulo, Brazil
2010 - 2012 Undergraduate Research Training Fellowship
Monthly stipend funded by the Brazilian Council of Scientific and Technological Development
University of Sao Paulo | Sao Paulo, Brazil
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