Dora Sampaio

Dora Sampaio is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning at Utrecht University's Faculty of Geosciences. She previously served as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Religious and Ethnic Diversity and held positions as an Associate Tutor and Guest Lecturer at the University of Sussex, along with a Research Fellowship at the Centre for Geographical Studies of the University of Lisbon.

Dr. Sampaio earned her PhD in Human Geography from the University of Sussex. Her academic journey reflects a consistent focus on migration studies, particularly examining the intersection of ageing and transnational mobilities.

Her research primarily investigates international migration, life course transitions, intergenerational relationships, socio-spatial inequalities, and urban displacement, with a geographical focus on Brazil and Portugal. She has developed innovative theoretical frameworks including 'work as affective care' and 'ageing strategically' to understand the complex dynamics of transnational families and older migrants. Her work often centers on the Azores archipelago as a microcosm of global migration patterns, examining diverse groups of older migrants including return, lifestyle, and ageing-in-place labor migrants.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong interdisciplinary approach bridging geography, sociology, anthropology, and gerontology. Her work consistently explores emotional dimensions of migration, the temporal aspects of transnational relationships, and the strategic decisions made by older migrants across the life course. A notable trend is her focus on understudied aspects of migration including the role of silence in transnational care, the experiences of undocumented family members, and the specific challenges faced by older adults in urban environments of low and middle-income countries.

Dr. Sampaio has made significant contributions through her scholarly publications including two major monographs: Aspiring in Later Life. Movements across Time, Space, and Generations (2023) and Migration, Diversity and Inequality in Later Life: Ageing at a Crossroads (2022), along with numerous high-impact journal articles in leading publications such as the Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, Journal of Rural Studies, and Global Networks.

Her research has been supported through various national and international projects focusing on migration studies. As an educator, she has contributed to integrating feminist perspectives into geography curricula and has examined the challenges of teaching gender studies in the context of rising postfeminist ideologies. Her work demonstrates a commitment to understanding the complex ways in which migration, ageing, and care intersect across different spatial and temporal scales.

Dr. Sampaio maintains active research collaborations across multiple institutions and countries, with particular emphasis on transnational family dynamics between Brazil and the United States, and migration patterns affecting the Portuguese islands of the Azores. Her work frequently employs ethnographic methods and in-depth life narrative interviews to capture the nuanced experiences of migrants across the life course.