Specialization, scope of scientific or sport area

Exercise physiology, biochemistry of exercise, biochemical sport performance monitoring, exercise-related stress; HPA axis activation, stress hormones, myokines, muscle-brain crosstalk, mood, cognition.

Science, sports and practical experience

Full Professor at the University of Seville. Head of the BIOFANEX Research Group (CTS-972; Andalusian Research Program) since 2012. Author and coauthor of a number of scientific papers in top-ranked Sports Science journals. Books’ author and editor at top international academic publishers. External expert evaluator for European Commission (Horizon Europe and Erasmus+ Sport calls). Lead of agreements and contracts with public and private institutions for cooperation in scientific and technical projects.

Scientific/sports career

Prof. Luis Carrasco holds an MSc in Sports Performance from the Spanish Olympic Committee and the Autonomous University of Madrid (2000), and received his PhD from the University of Granada (2002). He worked as an Assistant Professor at the Universities of Granada and Zaragoza (from 2000 to 2005) before being appointed as Full Professor at the US. Currently, he also serves as a Professor at the International University of Andalusia.

His research interests lie primarily in exercise-related stress, HPA axis responses (stress hormones), the effects of exercise on myokines and several neuronal growth factors, and their impact on mental health, cognitive abilities, and mood. Nevertheless, their scientific contributions also include studies focused on muscular adaptations (and also muscle damage) to training programs in both athletes and clinical populations.

Regarding sports career, Prof. Luis Carrasco, a former national-level swimmer, was the Head of the Medical Staff of the Spanish National Canoeing Olympic Team (UAC) during the XXIX Olympiad (2004-2008). Later, he was a Fitness Coach Coordinator for Sevilla FC first team (2012-2013). Currently, he collaborates with professional sports teams and federations, assessing athletes’ physical fitness and performance in the Sports Science Lab at the University of Seville.  

Specialization, scope of scientific or sport area

Biomechanics of the Foot and Lower Limb (Analyzing gait and running patterns to maximize performance and prevent injuries), Electromyography (EMG) (Evaluating muscle behavior response to different foot orthoses), Smart Orthopedic Innovation (Researching non-Newtonian materials and their real-time adaptation to pathological athlete needs), Clinical Podiatry (Reliability of diagnostic tests for functional hallux limitus and surgical/pharmacological treatments for plantar pathologies).

Science, sports and practical experience

Ruben Sanchez-Gomez is a Permanent Labor Professor at the Faculty of Nursing, Physiotherapy, and Podiatry at the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM). With over 20 years of clinical and academic experience, Dr. Sanchez-Gomez has served as a Sports Podiatrist at prestigious institutions such as Clínica CEMTRO and the Madrid Tennis Federation. He has authored 41 international JCR articles, with a significant concentration in high-impact journals (16 Q1 and 19 Q2 rankings). His scientific contributions include the development of patented orthopedic technologies, such as dynamic propulsive heel lifts and kinematic rockers. Dr. Sanchez-Gomez has led international research as a Principal Investigator at Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) and maintains active collaborations across Europe through the Erasmus+ program.

Scientific/sports career

Ruben Sanchez-Gomez holds a PhD from Rey Juan Carlos University (2012) and has been accredited by ANECA as a Full University Professor (Profesor Titular) since July 2024. He specializes in lower limb biomechanics, electromyographic (EMG) muscle activity, and the development of intelligent orthopedic innovations for recreational and elite athletes.  Key Bibliometric Indicators: Total JCR Publications: 41 / H-index: 9 / Total Citations: 187 / Patents: 2 (Utility Models for orthopedic insoles) / Research Merit: Recognized with 2 six-year research periods.

Specialization, scope of scientific or sport area

His area of specialization lies within sports performance and physical activity sciences, with particular emphasis on the analysis of functional asymmetries, anthropometric variables, and training adaptations in athletes. His research interests are focused on understanding and optimizing physical performance, assessing fitness-related variables, and applying evidence-based training methodologies in both educational and high-performance sport contexts.

Science, sports and practical experience

He combines a solid academic background with extensive professional experience across different educational and applied sport environments. As an Assistant Professor at the University of Zaragoza, he has been actively involved in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, particularly in degrees related to Physical Activity and Sport Sciences and teacher education.

Prior to his university career, he developed a broad teaching trajectory within the Spanish education system, working as a Primary Education teacher from 2009 to 2015, where he also assumed coordination and management responsibilities, and later as a Physical Education teacher in Secondary Education and Baccalaureate between 2015 and 2020.

In parallel, he has built a strong applied profile in the field of football performance. He worked for two seasons as a strength and conditioning coach in Spanish Third Division teams and, subsequently, for six years within the youth academy of Real Zaragoza S.A.D., covering different competitive levels from U14 to U19. This dual academic and applied experience has allowed him to integrate scientific knowledge with real-world performance demands.

Additionally, he has been involved in several research and innovation initiatives, including participation in regional, national, and European projects, as well as in activities related to scientific dissemination and academic development.

Scientific/sports career

He obtained his Degree in Primary Education with a specialization in Physical Education from the University of Zaragoza in 2007, followed by a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Activity and Sport Sciences from the University of Lleida in 2009. He later completed a Master’s Degree in High Performance Sport, awarded by the Spanish Olympic Committee in 2014. In 2017, he began his doctoral studies in Health Sciences, which he successfully completed in 2022 , focused on the analysis and improvement of sports performance from a functional perspective.

His professional career has evolved progressively from non-university teaching to higher education. After several years working in Primary and Secondary Education, he joined the University of Zaragoza in the 2019–2020 academic year as an Associate Lecturer. He subsequently held a position as Interim Lecturer during the 2023–2024 academic year and currently serves as Assistant Professor.

Throughout his academic career, he has delivered more than 900 hours of university teaching across a wide range of subjects, including Physical Education in early childhood and primary education, sports and aquatic activities, exercise prescription, safety and first aid in physical activity, and theory and history of sport. In addition, he has supervised undergraduate and postgraduate dissertations, contributing to the academic development of students in different programs.

From a research perspective, his work focuses on sports performance and anthropometric analysis. He has authored more than 30 scientific publications, including articles published in journals indexed in the Journal Citation Reports (JCR) and several book chapters. His research impact is reflected in an h-index of 6 and more than 150 citations in Scopus.

He has actively participated in 26 national and international conferences, including three as an invited speaker, and has contributed to the scientific community as a member of organizing and scientific committees in international congresses. Furthermore, he has been involved in multiple research and innovation projects, including European Erasmus+ Sport initiatives, regional research programs, and knowledge transfer activities.

Finally, his academic profile has been strengthened through research stays at several institutions, including the University of Almería, the University of Seville, and INEFC Lleida, which have contributed to consolidating his experience in high-level research environments.

Specialization, scope of scientific or sport area

Sports science, performance analysis in team sports, basketball and football performance, biomechanical analysis, testing and diagnostics in sport, strength and conditioning.

Science, sports and practical experience

Researcher and practitioner in the field of performance analysis and diagnostics in team sports, with a strong focus on basketball and football. Author of more than 80 scientific papers published in international peer-reviewed journals indexed in Web of Science and Scopus. Extensive experience in applied sport science, including physical performance testing, biomechanical and situational analysis, and long-term athlete monitoring. Active involvement in national and international research and Erasmus+ projects, as well as professional experience as a basketball coach, ski instructor, and performance analyst working with youth and elite athletes.

Scientific/sports career

Senior Teaching Assistant at the Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina). Researcher and visiting lecturer at Palacký University Olomouc (Czech Republic) and Lithuanian Sports University – LSU, Kaunas (Lithuania). Active participant and coordinator in multiple national and international sport science, education, and mobility projects, with a focus on evidence-based training, testing procedures, and applied performance diagnostics in team sports.

Specialization, scope of scientific or sport area

Sports science, human performance, sports performance, human balance, teaching physical education, motor behavior, motor performance, sport recovery, strength and conditioning, disability / adaptative sports, health promotion, rehabilitation through physical exercise and movement

Science, sports and practical experience

Dan Iulian ALEXE is an associate professor, PhD at the “Vasile Alecsandri” University of Bacau (Romania) and Dean of the Faculty of Movement, Sports and Health Sciences (from 2020). His professional activity is located at the intersection of scientific research, sports performance and practical experience accumulated in the academic and sports environment. With a consistent scientific activity, he is the author of 190 scientific papers in the field of sports science and related interdisciplinary areas. His involvement in the scientific and professional community is reflected by his membership in numerous prestigious national and international organizations. His experience in the field of performance sports precedes and complements his academic activity.

Scientific/sports career

His research is focused on physical education in the pre-university, university, and private environment, as well as on increasing human performance in sports, health promotion, sports science, rehabilitation through physical exercise and movement. To date, he has published 190 articles (86 are indexed in Web of Science) and 15 specialized books and university textbooks. He has h-index value 15 on Web of Science, his articles accumulating over 1100 citations, of which 600 citations are only of articles indexed by Clarivate. He coordinated, a national research grant and was a member of the implementation teams of 11 other national research and institutional development projects. A former performance athlete, multiple national champion and medalist in international competitions, he is actively involved in the organization and development of university sports and the sports education system, being also a member of the national referees’ committee of the Romanian Athletics Federation. He is also an athletics coach.