2004年於私立元智大學中國語文學系義理思想組,因有感於當代主要思潮是以西方思想為主流,故轉向研究哲學,並於2007年取得國立中央大學哲學研究所碩士學位、2014年取得哲學博士學位。研究所期間主要關注當代生命倫理學重要議題,並試圖從儒家觀點來提出對話與回應。碩士論文《健康照護與基因干預:從丹尼爾斯到儒家》,主要從儒家的觀點來檢視基因科技干預下,健康照護系統的公義性如何被證成;博士論文《腦神經倫理之道德責任的歸屬:人格同一性判準的再建構》進一步關注如何回應由腦神經科學所衍生的倫理議題與挑戰,皆是跨領域、跨文化、跨範疇的研究。研究成果也於2011,年獲得國科會「100年度獎勵人文與社會科學領域博士候選人撰寫博士論文」之補助。同年獲得Charles Wei-hsun Fu Foundation ISCP Essay Contest in Asian Philosophy. Prize for Junior Scholar,並在取得博士學位後,於2016年獲得「105年度人文及社會科學博士論文改寫專書暨編纂主題論文集計畫」之補助。
周琬琳,2008,Confucian Family Consent vs. Western Individual Consent: An Ethical Analysis, 刊登於「Applied Ethics:Perspectives from Asia and Beyond」,Edited by Kohji Ishihara and Shunzo Majima,Sapporo,Japan,p. 49-54.
Chou, wanling, 2009,From Genetic Enhancement to Neuro-enhancement: An ethical Analysis,刊登於「Applied Ethics:Life,Environment and Socity」,Edited by Center for Applied Ethics and Philosophy,Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan, p.46-52 .
Chou, wanling,2011, The relationship between neuro-intervention of memory and moral responsibility,刊登於「Applied Ethics:Old Wine in New Bpttles?」,Edited by Center for Applied Ethics and Philosophy,Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan, p.53-61 .
Chou, wanling,2007,3月, A Confucian Appraisal of Justice in Genetic Therapy and Genetic Enhancement,發表於Asian Bioethics Conference (ABC2007),(地點:Bangkok, Thailand)
Chou, wanling,2007,11月22-25日,Confucian Family Consent vs. Western Individual Consent: An Ethical Analysis,發表於「Applied Ethics: Second International Conference in Sapporo」,(地點:日本Sapporo)
Chou, wanling,2008,11月21-23日, From Genetic Enhancement to Neuro-enhancement: An ethical Analysis,發表於「Applied Ethics: Third International Conference in Sapporo」,(地點:日本Sapporo)
周琬琳,2008,12月5-7日,〈從儒家生命倫理學論器官指定捐贈之合理性〉,發表於「The Second National Conference on Bioethics」,(地點:中國廣州)
周琬琳,2009,11月6-8日,〈腦神經干預的倫理問題:人格同一性與道德責任的重新思考〉,發表於「The Third National Conference on Bioethics」,(地點:中國山東濟南)
Chou, wanling,2009,11月13-15日, Parfit's Analysis of Personal Identity: The Challenge of Neuroscience,發表於「Applied Ethics: FourthInternational Conference in Sapporo」,(地點:日本Sapporo)
Chou, wanling,2010,7月28-31日,From Memory to Moral Responsibility:The ethical Challenge of Neuroscience,發表於「The 10th World Congress of Bioethics(IAB)」,(地點:新加坡)
Chou, wanling,2010,11月5-7日,The relationship between neuro-intervention of memory and moral responsibility,發表於「Fifth International Conference on Applied Ethics」,(地點:日本Sapporo)
Chou, wanling,2011,7月4-8日,From ethical relation of Confucianism to response the challenge of neuroscience,發表於17th Conference of International Society for Chinese Philosophy,(地點:法國巴黎)