Since August 2026, Laura Salzano has been part of the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Fundamental and Human Rights’ “Asylum and Migration” research group as a Postdoctoral Researcher.

Laura’s academic background combines law and European studies. She holds a Master’s degree in Law, an LL.M. in EU Policies, and a Master’s degree in EU Studies. She later completed her PhD in EU Migration Law, examining Frontex and the concept of “shared responsibility”. Her doctoral research was awarded cum laude.

Alongside her academic work, Laura has gained extensive experience at the intersection of law, policy and fundamental rights. She has worked as a policy adviser and consultant to the European Parliament and advised the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) and the Council of Europe on migration-related fundamental rights issues. Her professional experience also includes work at the EU’s external maritime borders in Italy and Greece, where she was involved in strategic litigation concerning legal pathways to Spain and efforts to address violence at the EU’s borders. She has further collaborated with civil society organisations and search and rescue NGOs.

At the LBI-GMR, Laura will contribute her expertise to the project “Externalization and Rightlessness”, which examines how the outsourcing of migration control beyond state borders can contribute to the structural exclusion of refugees and migrants from legal protection.

On joining the LBI-GMR, Laura says: “I am looking forward to becoming part of the LBI-GMR community, growing professionally while being part of work that has a meaningful impact. I am excited to learn from the people around me, contribute my own ideas and experience, and take on new challenges.”