Irene Bloemraad

Irene Bloemraad is a Professor at the University of British Columbia with a joint appointment in Political Science and Sociology. She holds the inaugural President's Excellence Chair in Global Migration and serves as co-director of the Centre for Migration Studies. Previously, she held the 1951 Chair in Sociology at the University of California, Berkeley where she founded the Berkeley Interdisciplinary Migration Initiative.

Education

• Ph.D. in Sociology, Harvard University, 2003
• Master of Arts in Sociology, McGill University, 1996
• Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, McGill University, 1995

Research Interests

Bloemraad's research focuses on the political and civic incorporation of immigrants into Western liberal democracies and the consequences of migrants' presence for politics and national belonging. Her work examines how immigrants gain voice in political systems, the acquisition of formal citizenship, and the experiential and conceptual contours of citizenship as membership.

She investigates the opportunities and limits of community-based organizations for advancing political voice and providing immigrant services. Her research also covers the transformation of national identities, including multiculturalism; immigrants' engagement in electoral and protest politics; and how non-immigrants' attitudes about migration shift depending on framing around human rights, citizenship, family unity, and national values.

Publication Trends

Bloemraad's recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on immigrant political incorporation, citizenship theory, and migration policy. Her work spans multiple methodologies and theoretical frameworks, from historical-comparative analysis to contemporary policy evaluation. A notable trend is her increasing focus on the ethical dimensions of migration research and the application of new methodologies like machine learning to study immigrant communities.

Awards and Recognition

• Short-listed for the 2022 Martin Bulmer Prize for Ethnic and Racial Studies' article of the year
• International Migration Review's "Featured Scholar of 2018"
• Honorable Mention, Best Conference Paper for "The Limits of Rights" (2018)
• "Best Article" award for "Is There a Trade-off..." (2013)
• American Cultures Innovation in Teaching Prize (2013)
• Social Sciences Distinguished Teaching Award (2012)
• Honorable mention for the Thomas & Znaniecki Best Book Award (2008)
• Sarlo Distinguished Graduate Student Mentoring Award (2008)

Advising and Professional Contributions

Bloemraad actively supervises graduate students in Political Science and Sociology working on migration research and related topics across various subfields including comparative politics, Canadian politics, political theory, US politics, international relations, political sociology, and social movements. She has held visiting appointments at Trinity College (Ireland) and the University of Amsterdam (Netherlands), demonstrating her international scholarly impact. Her founding of the Berkeley Interdisciplinary Migration Initiative shows her commitment to building institutional infrastructure for migration research.

Research Leadership

As co-director of UBC's Centre for Migration Studies, Bloemraad leads interdisciplinary research on global migration issues. Her work bridges sociology and political science, creating collaborative spaces for scholars across disciplines to address complex migration challenges. Her research initiatives often involve partnerships with community organizations and policymakers, ensuring practical relevance alongside academic rigor.