Ricevimento su appuntamento
Elisabetta.Zontini@unifi.it
I have a laurea degree in Political Sciences (indirizzo storico/internazionale) from the University of Bologna and an MA and a PhD (ESRC funded) in Contemporary European Studies from the University of Sussex, where I transferred after my Erasmus stay. I was Research Fellow at the Families and Social Capital ESRC Research Group at London South Bank University for four years and Visiting Research Fellow at the Gender Studies Centre of Oxford University, under the mentorship of Prof. Judith Okley (supported by a Promising Researcher Fellowship). I became lecturer in Sociology at the University of Nottingham in 2007 and Associate Professor there in 2012. After three decades in the UK (including a two-year period of research in Spain) I returned to Italy in 2024, joining DSPS of the University of Firenze as an Associate Professor. Since 2021 I have the habilitation as full professor (Professore Ordinario) in General Sociology (Sector 14/C1).
My research focuses on the gendered aspects of transnational migration. It started with my PhD on ‘Family formation in gendered migrations’ (Zontini 2002, 2004, 2010) at the University of Sussex. It continued with research on care, ethnicity and gender in the Families and Social Capital ESRC Research Group (Goulbourne et al. 2010, Zontini 2015) and with various research projects on the unequal impact of Brexit on migrant workers and their families (Zontini and Genova 2022, Genova and Zontini 2020, Zontini and Però2020, Zontini et al. 2022) at the University of Nottingham.
All my research has been informed by an intersectional perspective to explore power relations and inequalities at the interface of the public and private spheres, paying attention to the articulations between gender and ethnicity, class and generation. Methodologically, I draw on feminist epistemologies to produce situated knowledges (Haraway 1988) about gendered (and racialised) social life (Genova and Zontini 2023). Most of my projects have been ethnographic, often with comparative and multi-sited designs, and have involved a variety of methods (participant observation, interviews, focus groups and participatory methods).
My research has mostly focused on the following four themes:
I am part of several international research networks (British Sociological Association, European Sociological Association, International Sociological Association, IMISCOE - the European Network of Excellence on International Migration, Integration and Social Cohesion in Europe, and the COST Action Transnational Family Dynamics in Europe (TraFaDy).
I am on the Editorial Board of the BSA international journal Sociology and of the book series Global Migration and Social Change by Policy Press. I also regularly review for several international journals and funding bodies from different countries.
Dr Elisabetta Zontini
Associate Professor in Sociology University of Florence
H-index: 21; citations: 2599 (source: Google Scholar)
Research interests: migrant and transnational families; gender and the life course; the sociology of emotions; intra-European mobilities; citizenship; identities; intersectionality; new approaches in qualitative methods.
Education and Qualifications
- 1998-2002 ESRC funded DPhil: ‘Family formation in gendered migrations: Moroccan and Filipino women in Bologna and Barcelona’, Sussex European Institute, University of Sussex
- 1995-1996 MA in Contemporary European Studies, Sussex European Institute, University of Sussex
- 1991-1995 ‘Laurea’ degree in Political Sciences, University of Bologna (Italy), 110/110 (First class). The academic year 1993-94 was spent at the University of Sussex, ERASMUS exchange programme.
Positions held
2024- Associate Professor, Department of Political and Social Sciences, University of Florence (Italy).
2012-24 Associate Professor, School of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Nottingham (part-time Feb-Aug 2023, 60%)
2019 Visiting Fellow, Institute of Advanced Studies, University of Loughborough
2007-12 Lecturer, School of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Nottingham
2006 Visiting Fellow, International Gender Studies Centre, Queen Elizabeth House, Oxford University
2003-07 Research Fellow, Family and Social Capital ESRC Research Group, LSBU.
2002 Research Assistant for the Grup de Recerca sobre Migracions (GRM), Department of Geography, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (March-June 2002).
2001 Consultant Researcher for Fundaciò Centre d’Iniciatives i Recerques Europees a la Mediterránia (CIREM) for the European project ‘Immigration and employment in European labour markets: entry patterns and institutional interventions’, funded by the European Commission DG Employment and Social Affairs, Barcelona (May-July 2001).
1999 Focus Group Organiser for the Municipal Observatory for Immigration of Bologna City Council on Filipino immigrants’ access to housing (Nov. 1999).
1997-99 Research Assistant for the Harvard-Sussex Programme on Chemical and Biological Weapons Armament and Arms Limitation (HSP), SPRU, University of Sussex. (July 1997-July 1999).
Selected Recent Publications
Books:
-Zontini, E. (2010). Transnational Families, Migration and Gender. Moroccan and Filipino Women in Bologna and Barcelona, New York and Oxford: Berghahn Books.
-Goulbourne, H., Reynolds, T., Solomos, J. and Zontini, E. (2010). Transnational Families. Ethnicities, Identities and Social Capital, London: Routledge
Edited Journals:
-Reynolds T. and Zontini E. (eds.) (2016) special issue on ‘Transnational and diasporic youth identities’, Identities, 23 (4): 379-391
-Evergeti, V. and Zontini, E. (eds.) (2006) Special issue on ‘Social capital, migration and transnational families’, Ethnic and Racial Studies, 29 (6):1025-1039.
Journal Articles:
-Però, D. and Zontini, E. (2025). Labour struggles as lived citizenship. Precarious migrant workers as agents of change. Ethnic and Racial Studies (accepted, forthcoming).
-Genova, E. and Zontini, E., (2023). Researching the researcher: producing emotionally-sensed knowledge in migration research. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 1-24.
-Zontini, E. and Genova, E., (2022). Studying the emotional costs of integration at times of change: the case of EU migrants in Brexit Britain. Sociology,
-Genova, E. and Zontini, E., 2020. ‘Liminal lives: navigating in-betweenness in the case of Bulgarian and Italian migrants in Brexiting Britain’. Central Eastern European Migration Review, pp.47-64.
-Zontini, E. and Però, D., 2020. ‘EU children in Brexit Britain: Re‐negotiating belonging in nationalist times’. International Migration, 58(1), pp.90-104.
-Zontini, E. and Reynolds, T., 2018. ‘Mapping the role of ‘transnational family habitus’ in the lives of young people and children’. Global networks, 18(3), pp.418-436.
-Reynolds, T. and Zontini, E. (2016). ‘Transnational and Diasporic Youth Identities: exploring conceptual themes and future research agendas’ in Reynolds, T. and Zontini, E (eds) Special issue on ‘Transnational and diasporic youth identities’, Identities: Global Studies in Culture and Power, 23(4), 379-389.
-Zontini, E. (2015). ‘Growing old in a transnational social field: belonging, mobility and identity among Italian migrants’. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 38(2), 326-341.
-Reynolds, T. and Zontini, E. (2014). ' Bringing transnational families from the margins to the centre of family studies in Britain' in Families, Relationships and Society, Volume 3, Number 2, pp. 251-268(18).
-Madziva, R. and Zontini, E. (2012). ‘Transnational mothering and forced migration: understanding the experiences of Zimbabwean mothers in the UK’ The European Journal of Women’ Studies, 19(4), 428-443.
Recent grants
-‘Reproduction, Nationality and Belonging: Migrants, their Children and Contested Europeanisation’, funded by the International Research Collaborative Fund (IRCF), PI, University of Nottingham (2023).
-‘Understanding the Challenges of Family Migration in Contemporary EU Mobilities’, PI, ESRC IAA (2021-22).
-‘The settlement of migrant workers at times on nationalist revival: comparing the experiences of EU workers before and after Brexit’, PI, Seed Corn Fund, School of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Nottingham(2018-19).
-‘Identity and belonging of transnational European Children’, PI, Seed Corn Fund, School of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Nottingham (2015-16).
-‘Motilities and Transnational Identities of Migrant Youth: Using Community Spaces and Creative Agendas in shaping policy and practice debates’, Research and Enterprise Investment Programme, Greenwich University, named consultant, (2015-2016).
-‘Diasporic and Transnational Youth Identities: Conceptual Themes and Future Research Agendas’, ESRC Seminar Series, Co-I (2010-11).
-‘TCNs: The Integration of Third Country Nationals in Europe’, EU funded project with 4 partner countries, Co-I (2009-2011).
Other research networks
-Member of the EU Cost Action Transnational Family Dynamics in Europe (TraFaDy) https://transnational-families.eu/ (2023-2026)
International Esteem
-Member of the editorial board of Sociology, and of the Global Migration and Social Change Book Series, Policy Press.
-Member of the Standing Committee on Gender and Sexuality in Migration Research (GenSeM) of IMISCOE (the European Network of Excellence on International Migration, Integration and Social Cohesion in Europe).
-Advisory board member for the AHRC project ‘Migrant mothers caring for the future: creative interventions in making new citizens’ (2013-14) and ‘Participatory Arts Research: Focus on Participatory Theatre and Walking Maps’, ESRC and National Centre of Research Methods (2016-18).
- Invited guest speakerin approximately 30 scientific events over the last 18 years in 9 different countries
- Routledge Sociology Super Author for 2013.
- Referee for 16 international journals (full list available on request) and for Routledge; the IMISCOE book series edited by Springer; and Policy Press.
- Expert referee for: the Economic and Social Research Council (First Grant and standard projects); the FNR- Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique Belgium; Lingnan University of Hong Kong; the National Science Centre, Poland; Bielefeld University, Germany.
- Accredited (‘abilitazione’) as a Full Professor (‘Professore Prima Fascia’) in Sociology (Sector 14/C1 General Sociology) (valid from 25/05/2021 to 24/05/2030).
- Organiserof 11 national and international research events, including outreach ones.
PhD Supervision and Examining
I supervised 10 PhD students to successful completion:
I acted as External PhD Examiner for 9 students:
Administrative Roles Covered
University of Firenze:
- Memberof the ‘Dottorato in Mutamento Sociale’ (PhD programme in Social Change), Universities of Florence and Turin.
University of Nottingham (School of Sociology and Social Policy):
-Head of Doctoral Studies for the School of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Nottingham (September 2021-2024)
-REF Environment Coordinator (2019- 2021)
-REF Coordinator (2019 Feb-Aug)
-Member of Research Committee (2015-2024)
-Member of the School REF Team (2019-2021)
-Deputy Head of Undergraduate Examinations & Assessments (2018-19)
-Director of the cross-faculty ESRC recognised MA in Research Methods (2007-13)
-Pathway Lead for Social Policy for the Midlands Graduate School (MSG) (2021-23)
-Lead of the Identity, Citizenship, Equalities and Migration Centre (ICEMIC) (2015-18)
-Year Abroad and Exchanges Coordinator (2013 -14).
-Director of the cross-faculty MA in Research Methods (2007-2013).
-PG Research Methods Co-ordinator for the School of Sociology and Social Policy (2007-2013).
-Director of the MA Migration and Transnationalism (semester 2) (2009-2010).
-Member of Graduate Teaching Committee (2007-2012).
University of Nottingham (interdepartmental roles):
-Pathway Lead for Sociology, Criminology and Social Policy for the cross-institutional Midlands Graduate School, an accredited ESRC Doctoral Training Partnership which include the universities of Aston, Birmingham, De Montford, Leicester, Loughborough, Nottingham, Nottingham Trent and Warwick. This involved work for the MGS re-accreditation which was confirmed in 2023.
-Management Board member of the Nottingham Doctoral Training Centre (2023-).
-Training Board member of the Nottingham Doctoral Training Centre (2012-).
-Pathway Lead for Social Policy Lead for the Midlands Graduate School (MGS), (2021-23).
Teaching
- Teorie del Mutamento Sociale (9cfu), Laurea Magistrale in Sociologia e Sfide Globali (from 2024-25)
- Gender and Society (6cfu), Laurea Magistrale in Sociologia e Sfide Globali (from 2025-26)
- Sociologia Generale, Corso di lauera triennale in Scienze e Tecniche Psicologiche (from 2024-25)
University of Nottingham:
- Migration and Transnationalism (year 3 and MA elective module) (2007-). This involves designing, convening, teaching through lectures and seminars, and assessing.
- Foundations in Qualitative Methods (ESRC DTC MA core module) (2007-). This involves co-designing, co-convening, teaching through lectures and seminars and assessing.
- The Body, the Self and Others, (year 3, core module) (2023-24). This involves teaching through seminars and assessing.
- Families and Social Divisions (year 2 elective module) (2010-2020). This involved designing, convening, teaching through lectures and seminars, and assessing.
- Contemporary Sociological Theory (year 2 core module) (2008-2020) This involved teaching the sessions on feminist theory and Intersectionality through lectures and seminars,and assessing
- Globalisation, Citizenship and Identity (MA core module) (2019). This involved co-convening, co-teaching through lectures and seminars and assessing.
- Research Design and Practice tutorial (year 2 core tutorial group). (2014-17 and 2020). This involved teaching through seminars and assessing.
- Knowing the Social World (year 1 core tutorial group). (2012). This involved teaching through seminars and assessing.
- Critical Analysis, year 2 core tutorial group. (2008). This involved teaching through seminars and assessing.
- Dissertation group (year 3 group). (2008-). This module has now been replaced with individual supervisions. I normally supervise 10 UG dissertation students per year. (Tot over 150)
- Culture in Contemporary Society A and B (year 1 core module) (2008-2009).This involved co-designing, co-convening, teaching through lectures and seminars and assessing
LSBU:
- Social Theory and the Construction of Knowledge, Convenor, Masters in Social Research Methods (2006).
- Qualitative methods and analysis, Co-convenor, Masters in Social Research Methods, (2004-6).
- Issues in research design, Masters in Social Research Methods (2004-6).
Other:
- Gender and migration, Visiting lecturer at the Summer School Immigracion, genero i espacios urbanos: los retos de la diversidad (Immigration, gender and urban spaces: the challenges of diversity), Universitat de Barcelona, Spain, July 2003.
- Qualitative methods, Lectures and seminars given as part of undergraduate and postgraduate courses on Research Methods, University of Barcelona (2001-2002).
- Italian politics and society, Teaching fellow (part-time), Department of European Studies, University of Bath (January-July 2000).
Memberships:
- BSA, British Sociological Association
- ESA, European Sociological Association
- ISA, International Sociological Association
- IMISCOE, the European Network of Excellence on International Migration, Integration and Social Cohesion in Europe
Tematiche tesi
migrazioni e cittadinanza; famiglie trasnazionali; genere e corso della vita; mobilita' intra-Europee; Brexit; identita'; processi di razzializzazione; teorie intersezionali; metodologie creative a partecipate ed etnografiche.
Legenda
ppp
