She is currently a Member of the European Parliament.

She was an advisor to the Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, Carlos Moedas, from November 2014 to December 2015.

Previously, she was a Member of the European Parliament between July 2009 and May 2014.

In this capacity, she was rapporteur for the Horizonte 2020 program - Programa -Research and Innovation Framework (2014-2020).

She was also principal advisor to the President of the European Commission, Durão Barroso in the areas of Science, Higher Education, Innovation, Research, Energy, Environment and Climate Change from 2006 to 2009.

She was Minister of Science and Higher Education of the XV Constitutional Government and Minister of Science , Innovation and Higher Education of the XVI Constitutional Government.

She is a Full Professor at the Instituto Superior Técnico (University of Lisbon).