IRE-UAB welcomes researcher Ana Lúcia Santos to develop the European MSCA HERAIA project on gender diversity in sports

Ana Lúcia Santos's research at IRE-UAB examines the lived experiences of trans and intersex individuals to build more equitable sports policies.

The Sports Research Institute (IRE-UAB) welcomes researcher Ana Lúcia Santos this September to carry out the postdoctoral project "Mapping the dynamics of inclusion and exclusion of people with non-normative gender identities, expressions, and sex characteristics in sports and physical exercise" (HERAIA). The research is funded by the European Commission through a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) grant under the Horizon Europe framework and is conducted under the supervision of Professor Emilio Fernández Peña, research at IRE-UAB and Director of the Olympic Studies Centre at the UAB.

The primary aim of the HERAIA project is to critically examine the dynamics of inclusion and exclusion experienced by people with non-normative gender identities, expressions, and diverse sex characteristics in sports and physical exercise. By examining contemporary sports policies and the lived experiences of trans and intersex individuals, the study seeks to identify structural barriers, determine specific needs, and provide policy recommendations to build a more accessible, safe, and equitable sporting environment for everyone.

Holding a PhD in Feminist Studies from the Universidade de Coimbra and working as an associate researcher at the Centro de Estudos Sociais (CES), Santos's academic background lies at the intersection of queer theory, trans and intersex studies, and feminist biology, with proven experience in international initiatives such as TRACE and PULSAR. Her arrival at the UAB strengthens institutional research lines focusing on human rights, bodily governance, and effective inclusion within physical activity.