Clara holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of Sao Paulo, a Master in Politics and Development in Africa and in the Global South awarded by Sciences Po Bordeaux, a second Master in International Relations from the University of Coimbra, a Diploma in Political Science - International Studies from Sciences Po Bordeaux and a BA in International Relations from the University of Coimbra.

She specialises in global (social) policy and in comparative (social) policy analysis and has researched and taught the international and national aspects of (social) policies in several geographies, using different approaches and methodologies - mostly qualitative methodologies. Her research looks into the transformation of welfare regimes, paying particular attention to the interplay of national and international forces, the role of the actors and their ideas and interests. She is also interested in the emergence of new social risks and political, social, economic and environmental dynamics that challenge the current models of protection. Her work concerns mainly Latin America - with emphasis on Brazil and Chile - and Southern Africa - particularly Mozambique and South Africa - , but she has also examined Southern European countries - especially Portugal.