Sara Goering

Sara Goering is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Philosophy at the University of Washington, affiliated with the College of Arts & Sciences. She holds additional roles as Core Faculty in the Program on Ethics and the Disability Studies Program, and is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Bioethics and Humanities. Her research focuses on bioethics, neuroethics, feminist philosophy, and the ethical implications of neurotechnology. Goering co-leads the ethics thrust at the UW Center for Neurotechnology and directs the UW Center for Philosophy for Children. She has held leadership positions such as Graduate Program Coordinator and has contributed to interdisciplinary initiatives in ethics and disability studies.

Her education includes a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Colorado, Boulder (1998) and a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (1989). Her work bridges philosophy with practical applications, including collaborations with neuroscientists, engineers, and clinicians to address ethical challenges in emerging technologies.

Key research areas include neurotechnology ethics—particularly deep brain stimulation (DBS) and brain-computer interfaces (BCI)—disability justice, feminist approaches to science, and philosophy for children. Recent publications explore agency in neurotechnology users, ethical frameworks for emerging technologies, and justice in healthcare access. Goering has secured significant grants (e.g., NIH R01, NSF ER2) to advance neuroethics research and equitable science practices.

Awards include the Gerler Faculty Fellowship (2016-2018) supporting her work on philosophy for children. She advises numerous graduate students in philosophy, bioethics, and interdisciplinary fields. Goering’s service includes leadership roles in academic governance, diversity initiatives, and national ethics committees, reflecting her commitment to ethical, inclusive scholarship.