RESEARCHERS

Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Health Sciences at the University of Jaén (Spain) focuses on ‘Physical Activity and Mental Health in Older Adults.’ Since 2020, she has been an Assistant Professor at the Polytechnic University of Beja - School of Education and School of Health. Additionally, since 2021, she has supervised curricular internships in sports sciences. She has contributed to 10 scientific articles on topics such as elderly health and fall prevention programs and has presented over 20 communications at national and international conferences. Moreover, she has been involved in scientific committees for various congresses and seminars, contributing significantly to the academic and professional discourse in her field. Margarida is actively involved in several significant research projects. Since 2019, she has also been a researcher in the "UP AGAIN SENIOR" project (Contract Program for Sports Development N.º CP/0519/DDT/2023), promoting physical activity for seniors through the National Sports Program for All, running from 2023 to present. She also leads the "PLAYLED" project, incubated at the Fundação Eugénio de Almeida (Portugal), with an Social Digital Innovation initiative. In 2022, she joined as researcher in ‘EUPAG-DS, European Physical Activity Guidelines to Tackle Depressive Symptoms’ project (ref. 101049714 – ERASMUS SPORT-2021-SCP-ERASMUS-LS) at the Polytechnic University of Beja. She is also a research member of ‘Action Girls’ project (ref. Contract Program for Sports Development N.º CP/0566/DDT/2023), which promotes physical activity among female young people, running from 2023 to present. In 2022, Margarida also participated in Adidas 'Breaking Barriers’ project, which aims to promote gender equity and inclusion in sports. Her contributions have earned her recognition, including one cientific Honorable Mention and one Innovation Award.