Cristina Zerbinati is PhD candidate in Social Sciences at the University of Padua, where she also worked as a researcher within the PRIN-funded project “Administrative Capacity: Definitions, Measurement, Policy Interventions and Economic Impact.” She holds a Master Degree in Government Sciences and Public Policies with a curriculum in European Governance from the University of Padua, graduating with honours. Her research interests focus on EU policy implementation and public administration reforms concerning administrative capacity building and multi-level governance. She has actively participated in international and national academic events and workshops.  There, she has co-authored and presented her research contributions.
Alongside her academic career, she is directly involved in local public administration as a local councillor and is a member of the European network ‘Local Councillors of the European Union’. She has also attended the ForsAM advanced training course in municipal administration organised by the Italian National Association of Municipalities (ANCI) in Rome. In this dual role, she develops her research interests while promoting stronger connections between public administration and academia.