Cristina Zerbinati is a researcher in the Department of Political Science, Law and International Studies at the University of Padua, where she works on the PRIN project, ‘Administrative Capacity: Definitions, Measurement, Policy Interventions and Economic Impact’.She holds a Master’s degree in Governmental Science and Public Policies with a curriculum in European Governance from the University of Padua, graduating with honours. Her research interests focus on the implementation of EU policies, particularly the European Cohesion Policy and the Common Agricultural Policy, as well as public administration reforms with regard to administrative capacity building and multi-level governance. She has actively participated in international and national academic events, including the Regional Studies Association Annual Conference and various thematic workshops on European governance and public sector reforms. 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.