Universidad de Granada

Education and Professional Background:
Prof. Raquel Escobar Molina holds a PhD in Physical Education from the University of Granada and is the only woman in Spain holding the position of Associate Professor with a teaching and research focus specifically on judo. She graduated in 1997 with a degree in Physical Activity and Sports Sciences and joined the Faculty of Sports Sciences in 2003. In 2007, she defended her doctoral thesis, titled “The Influence of Two Concurrent Training Methodologies on the Performance of Judokas,” earning the distinction Cum Laude. In 2017, she became the first and only woman in Spain to achieve the rank of Associate Professor in the field of judo.

Research and Academic Contributions:
Prof. Escobar Molina has a strong academic and research profile, with active participation in multiple national and international projects, including:

“SPA 2.0 SPORTS PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS ASSOCIATION 2.0. RED DE REDES” (Spanish Higher Sports Council, 2021)
“DECOEMO: The Effect of Manipulating Contextual Variables of Physical Exercise on Mental Load and Cognitive, Emotional, and Sports Performance” (FEDER)
“Analysis and Modeling of Time Series Using Deep Learning Techniques for Injury Prevention” (FEDER).
Her research has also extended to topics such as the effects of vitamin E on physical exercise, the impact of environmental changes on muscular power, and the inclusion of women in sports professions. She has contributed to publications on body composition, eating disorders, and gender dynamics in sports education and training.

Prof. Escobar Molina currently holds two active research evaluation periods (sexenios) and has authored numerous articles, book chapters, and scientific presentations in the field of sports sciences.

Leadership and Recognition:
Between 2009 and 2016, she served as Vice Dean for International and Institutional Relations at the Faculty of Sports Sciences. In 2017, she was elected as the first woman to lead the Department of Physical Education and Sport at the University of Granada. Under her leadership, the department received the University of Granada Social Council Award in 2021 for excellence in knowledge transfer to companies and institutions.

She has been a member of the Andalusian Sports Council since 2018, representing Andalusian universities, and in 2021, she joined the board of the Spanish Association of Sports Sciences as a member.

Sports Background and Judo Expertise:
A lifelong judoka, Prof. Escobar Molina began practicing the sport at the age of eight, achieving national and international success as a member of the Spanish national team. Her passion for judo has shaped her academic and professional career, linking her athletic experience to research and teaching in the field.