Catarina Frois

Catarina Frois is an Associate Professor (with Habilitation) in the Department of Anthropology at ISCTE - University Institute of Lisbon. She serves as an Integrated Researcher at CRIA-Iscte (Networked Center for Research in Anthropology) within the Daily Life, Policies and Inequalities research group. Her academic qualifications include an Aggregation in Anthropology (2020), a PhD in Social Sciences with specialization in Anthropology (2008), postgraduate studies in Social Sciences (2003), and a Bachelor's degree in Anthropology (2001), all from prestigious Lisbon institutions.

Her research focuses on critical examination of security policies, incarceration systems, surveillance technologies, and human rights frameworks. She explores themes of marginality, violence, crime, migration, and gender justice through anthropological lenses. Her work frequently addresses Portuguese and EU policy contexts while examining the societal impacts of security mechanisms.

Professor Frois maintains an active supervision portfolio, currently guiding 2 postdoctoral researchers, 3 doctoral candidates, and 11 Master's students. She has successfully supervised 3 PhD completions and 13 Master's dissertations. Her teaching encompasses courses such as 'Human Rights and Culture', 'Crime, Justice and Human Security', 'Biographical Methods', and 'Marginality, Dependence and Risk Behaviors' across anthropology and international studies programs.

She holds significant leadership roles including Director of the Master's in Anthropology program and membership in the Ethics Committee. As Director of CRIA-Iscte (2021-2024), she oversaw anthropological research initiatives. Her expertise is regularly sought by media outlets like CNN Portugal for commentary on prison systems and security policy failures.