Zandonai works at the intersection of history and anthropology with research interests on global systems, urban history and modernity, urbanization, colonialism, gambling history, cultural heritage, and the Portuguese presence in the Far East, with a focus on Macau. Her academic publications are wide-ranging, covering topics of global and material history, colonial nostalgia, belonging, contested heritages, and gambling, past and present.
Zandonai is also a Research Associate at the Laboratoire Architecture Anthropologie (France), an Early-Career Advisor on Public Space for City Space Architecture (Italy), and a member of the Executive Committee of CURB – Center for Architecture and Urbanism (Macau).