From UCAM to the U.S.: Researchers Awarded Prestigious Fulbright Scholarships
Pilar Vílchez and Manuel Egea have been selected to conduct their postdoctoral research projects at the University of Nebraska-Omaha and the University of Virginia, respectively
More than 6,000 kilometers separate UCAM from the University of Virginia, but science knows no borders. Manuel Egea, a researcher from the Catholic University of Murcia, will continue his postdoctoral project at this prestigious institution, while Pilar Vílchez will carry out her research at the University of Nebraska-Omaha (UNO).
Both researchers are the sole representatives selected from the Region of Murcia to advance their work in the United States through the Fulbright-Fundación Séneca Scholarships. These grants are co-funded by the governments of Spain, the United States, and the Region of Murcia, targeting faculty and researchers linked to regional institutions.
The researchers met this morning with María Dolores García, President of UCAM, and Estrella Núñez, Vice-Rector for Research, who congratulated them on the exceptional quality of the projects that led to their selection for this highly competitive program.
Health Habits and Major Sports Leagues
Pilar Vílchez, a professor at UCAM and lead researcher of the ‘Education and Quality of Life’ group, focuses her project on how physical fitness and health habits influence the well-being of children and university students.
During her stay, she will establish an international scientific collaboration to validate and transfer research on physical and emotional well-being through cross-cultural comparative analyses between Spain, Europe, and the U.S. Vílchez noted that this residency is a key step toward her full professorship: "I applied for professor accreditation but lacked an international residency; I hope to complete the requirements upon my return."
Strategic Management: From LaLiga to the NBA and NFL
Manuel Egea will conduct his research at the Darden School of Business (University of Virginia) under the supervision of renowned professors R. Edward Freeman and Robert Phillips.
His work focuses on the strategic management of stakeholders in sports organizations. Having already analyzed the Spanish Football League (LaLiga) and other European leagues such as the Bundesliga (Germany), the Premier League (England), and Serie A (Italy), Egea will now compare these models with American giants like the NBA and the NFL. His research in the U.S. will follow the conclusion of the FIFA World Cup.