About me...
Rita Santos-Rocha, born in Lisbon, Portugal in July 1971, began her professional career as a gymnastics and fitness instructor, working for more than 30 years in fitness & sports clubs, schools, and higher education, as Trainer, Exercise Physiologist, and lecturer. After graduating in Sport Sciences and MSc in Exercise & Health, with the Faculty of Human Kinetics (FMH) – Technical University of Lisbon (UTL), se became a PROFESSOR of the Sport Sciences School of Rio Maior (ESDRM) – Polytechnic Institute of Santarém. In 2006, she obtained a PhD in Human Movement, specialising in Health & Fitness (FMH) and since 2007, she has been a RESEARCHER of the Neuromechanics of Human Movement group of the Interdisciplinary Centre for the Study of Human Performance (CIPER) of FMH, where she is involved in several research projects. Rita was also a member of the Scientific Board of the Portuguese Gymnastics Federation (2006-2020) and worked with EUROPEACTIVE via Professional Standards Council (2009-2020). At present, Rita is Associate Professor at ESDRM, coordinator of the Master Degree in Physical Activity & Health, supervisor of projects and Ph.D. students in Exercise Sciences (Active Pregnancy / Active Ageing), Researcher at CIPER, and vice-president of the PORTUGUESE ASSOCIATION OF EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGISTS (APFE).
