Olivia works across the medical humanities and gender studies, examining representations of illness, trauma, and disability in contemporary Portuguese literature, film, and photography. Her research considers these experiences in relation to gender, empire, and austerity, with a particular focus on women’s life-writing and autofiction.

Olivia is also interested in research-policy engagement and in strengthening connections between academics and policymakers, particularly around the role of languages research in understanding and addressing societal challenges.