EDUCATION: Degree in Physical Therapy (special distinction). Given my interest in teaching and research, I completed my doctoral thesis in physical therapy in 2014, receiving an international doctoral distinction and special doctoral distinction. I have also completed the CAP and other teacher training courses (479 hours) aimed at improving teaching.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE: I have been teaching since 2006-2007 (18 academic years) in the “Bachelor's Degree in Physical Therapy” and the “Official Master's Degree in Functional Recovery in Physical Therapy” at the University of Valencia (UV). I am the professor responsible for one undergraduate course and three graduate courses, and I have supervised three doctoral theses, 17 undergraduate final projects, and 13 master's final projects. I have participated in 13 teaching innovation projects (five as the professor in charge). I am the professor responsible for one undergraduate course and three graduate courses, and I have supervised three doctoral theses, 17 undergraduate final projects, and 13 master's final projects. I have participated in 13 teaching innovation projects (five as the professor in charge).

RESEARCH ACTIVITY: I began my research activity in 2010 in the FRESHAGE (healthy aging) research group, led by Dr. José Viña (Department of Physiology, UV), which allowed me to address lines of research related to aging. In 2016, I began researching physiotherapy with the UBIC group (clinical biomechanics research) in the Department of Physiotherapy, led by Dr. Pilar Serra.

I completed a three-month predoctoral stay in Germany with Dr. Tilman Grüne and another short postdoctoral stay in San Sebastián with Dr. Ander Mateu, both considered leaders in the field of physiology. This research work has resulted in my participation in 16 regionally or nationally funded research projects and the publication of more than 80 scientific articles and one book chapter. I have also presented 160 papers at conferences, many of which have been published, and six of which have received research awards. I received the award for best young researcher from the Spanish Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology in 2017. Finally, I have two recognized six-year periods of research, with an H-index of 26 (WoS).  

MANAGEMENT: I held the academic position of Degree Coordinator for the Bachelor's Degree in Physiotherapy at the Faculty of Physiotherapy (UV) from April 1, 2015, to June 15, 2020, and since that same date, I have held the position of Vice Dean of the same Faculty.

Mercè Balasch i Bernat holds a degree in Physiotherapy (2007), an Official Master's Degree in Physiotherapy in the Ageing Process: Social and Healthcare Strategies (2009), and a PhD in Physiotherapy (2014). She is currently an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Physiotherapy at the University of Valencia, affiliated with the Department of Physiotherapy. Her teaching and research activities focus on health promotion and prevention, with a special interest in chronic musculoskeletal pain. She teaches undergraduate and postgraduate courses and coordinates the Musculoskeletal Conditions track of the Master’s Degree in Functional Recovery in Physiotherapy. She is also known for her work in health outreach aimed at the general public, having delivered over 40 courses on healthy lifestyle habits and the prevention of highly prevalent, low-disability conditions. She is a member of the PTinMotion research group at the University of Valencia and the Spanish Society of Physiotherapy and Pain (SEFID). She has numerous scientific publications in the field of pain and physiotherapy and has participated in funded research projects in collaboration with national and international universities.