I am a Research Assistant and a PhD Candidate at the Gender and ICT research group at Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, where I have worked since 2016 supporting various projects, including data collection and fieldwork, data management, report writing, implementing communication activities, and organising seminars and other science outreach events. My academic background includes a Bachelor’s degree in Audiovisual Communication from the Universitat de València (UV) and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Anthropology from the Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV). I also completed a Master’s degree in Strategic Communication at the URV, as well as postgraduate studies in Applied Social Research at the UAB and Civic Participation and Communication at the URV.
Previously, I worked as a research assistant on several projects at the Universitat Rovira i Virgili, focusing on communication and cultural studies. During my professional career, I have also worked as a project coordinator in the NGO environmental sector and as a consultant in corporate social responsibility and gender equality in the public sector. In these sectors, I have carried out evaluation studies and developed action plans.
Since 2025, I am a part-time PhD Candidate at the Society, Technology and Culture doctoral programme at Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, co-supervised by Rachel Palmén (UOC) and Enric Castelló (URV). My predoctoral research project focuses on ecofeminism and the communication practices, self-representations, and narratives of rural women’s movements within the agricultural, pastoral and extensive livestock sectors in Catalonia and Spain.
Contact
Email: mromanose@uoc.edu
ORCID: 0000-0001-9531-9046
Social: LinkedIn, Bluesky
Publications
Castelló, E. [Enric], & Romano, M. J. [María José] (2023). Shepherdesses: new representations of rural women in Spain. Feminist Media Studies, 23(4), 1659-1675. https://doi.org/10.1080/14680777.2021.1992646 Link to full text
Fàbregues, S. [Sergi], Sáinz, M. [Milagros], Romano, M. J. [María José], Escalante-Barrios, E. L. [Elsa Lucía], Younas, A. [Ahtisham], & López-Pérez, B-S. [Beatriz-Soledad] (2023). Use of mixed methods research in intervention studies to increase young people’s interest in STEM: A systematic methodological review. Frontiers in Psychology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.956300
Sáinz, M. [Milagros], Fàbregues, S. [Sergi], Romano, M. J. [María José], & López, B-S. [Beatriz-Soledad] (2022). Interventions to increase young people’s interest in STEM. A scoping review. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 954996. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.954996
Sáinz, M. [Milagros], Fàbregues, S. [Sergi], Rodó-de-Zárate, M. [Maria], Martínez-Cantos, J.L [José-Luis], Arroyo, L. [Lidia], & Romano, M.J. [María José]. (2020). Gendered Motivations to Pursue Male-Dominated STEM Careers Among Spanish Young People: A Qualitative Study. Journal of Career Development, 47(4), 408–423. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894845318801101
Sáinz, M. [Milagros], Martínez, J. L. [José Luis], Rodo, M. [Maria], Romano, M. J. [María José], Arroyo, L. [Lídia], & Fabregues, S. [Sergi]. (2019). Young Spanish People’s Gendered Representations of People Working in STEM. A Qualitative Study. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 996. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00996
Müller, J. [Jörg], Fàbregues, S. [Sergi], Guenther, E. A. [Eñosabeth Anna], & Romano, M. J. [María José]. (2019). Using Sensors in Organizational Research–Clarifying Rationales and Validation Challenges for Mixed Methods. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 1188. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01188
Sáinz, M. [Milagros], Castaño, C. [Cecilia], Meneses, J. [Julio], Fàbregues, S. [Sergi], Müller, J. [Jörg], Rodó, M. [María], Martínez, J.L. [José Luis], Romano, M. J. [María José], Arroyo, L. [Lídia], Garrido, N. [Natalia]. (2017). Se buscan ingenieras, físicas y tecnólogas. ¿Por qué no hay más mujeres STEM? Ariel.
Romano, M.J. [María José]. (2017). Memoria y justicia en las redes. Facebook en la acción colectiva por la memoria histórica en España. En L. Quílez & J.C. Rueda (Eds.) Posmemoria de la Guerra Civil y el franquismo. Narrativas audiovisuales y producciones culturales en el siglo XXI (pp. 215-231). Comares.
Castelló, E. [Enric], & Romano, M.J. [María José]. (2016). Wind on the fog. A Reflection on the Policy of Historical Memory at Televisió de Catalunya through the Documentary Perseguits i salvats. Catalan Journal of Communication and Cultural Studies, 8, 159-166. https://doi.org/10.1386/cjcs.8.1.159_1 Link to full text
Buch i Moya, M. [Miquel], Pigrau Solé, A. [Antoni], Gelonch i Monné, M. [Montserrat], Álvarez Oneca, C. [Cándido], Andreu i Florenza, T. [Txema], Romano Serrano, M. J. [María José], Roca i Parellada, J. F. [Joan Francesc], Ollé i Bidó, E. D. [Enric Daniel], & Rodríguez Beas, M. [Marina]. (2011). Ens locals i energía. Associació Catalana de Municipis.
Reus. Àrea de Medi Ambient (2007). Reus és colors, la campanya. Ajuntament de Reus.
Romano, M.J. [María José]. (2005). Llanos del Caudillo. Memoria e historia oral de un pueblo de la colonización agraria. Ciudad Real: Ayuntamiento de Llanos del Caudillo.
Romano, M.J. [María José]. (2004). Diseñar los sueños. Publicidad o cómo confundir ideales, identidades y objetos, Opcions. Información para el consumo responsable, 11, 27-29. Link to full text