Francisco Francés García holds a PhD in Sociology (Special award) from the University of Alicante. He is currently a lecturer in the Department of Sociology II at the UA and a researcher at the Inter-University Institute for Social Development and Peace. His main lines of research are citizen and political participation, innovation in participatory methodologies, community planning, and social inequalities. He has participated as principal researcher or collaborator in more than fifty projects financed in competitive calls from public and private administrations or entities. In relation to his lines of research, he has published articles in leading journals in the field of sociology and political science, both nationally (Revista Internacional de Sociología, Revista Española de Investigaciones Sociológicas, Papers, Gaceta Sanitaria, and Prisma Social, among others) and internationally (European Sociological Review, European Political Science Review, Children & Society, and Business and Politics, among others). He has also published books and book chapters with renowned publishing houses (Palgrave Macmillan, World Health Organization, Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas, Sistema, Dykinson, Octaedro, and Fragua, among others). He belongs to various research groups, such as the European Observatory of Social Trends (OBETS) and the Social Research Group on Equity and Diversity (EQUIDIVERSIDAD).
Full-time Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work and Social Services (2020) (University of Alicante) since 2007. Previously, she taught as an Associate Professor (2004–2008) and as a Collaborating Professor (2008–2020) in the same department. She is a graduate in Social Work (1989) and holds a Bachelor of Social and Cultural Anthropology (2002) and a PhD in Social Sciences, Social Work, from the UNED International Doctoral School (2019) (unanimously awarded Cum Laude), as well as a degree in Social Work. Since the implementation of the Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, she has taught the courses "Models and Methods for Social Work II" and "Social Work with Individuals and Families." Her teaching experience has been evaluated overall as "very favorable" (Docentia Program, 2018–2019 academic year: 93.35 points; 2019–2020 academic year: 93 points). Regarding her research, she is a member of the Research Group on Comprehensive and Person-Centered Care (GI-AICP) (UA). Her research activity has primarily focused on the field of social work and professional practice from the perspective of users (publications, contributions to conferences, and participation in R&D projects and contracts). She is currently the IP of the project "Women Caregivers in Times of Pandemic," with a grant from the University of Alicante's Vice-Rectorate for Research's Own Program for the Promotion of R&D&I (Call 2020).
