Prior to joining ADF International, Portaru worked extensively in academic research. She was a research assistant at Maastricht University in the Netherlands and at the European Training and Research Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Austria, where she assessed human rights policies.

Portaru has a Bachelor in Law and a Bachelor of Theology. She earned her LL.M. in Law and Globalization from Maastricht University, and completed her doctorate in Law at Karl Franzens University in Austria. Her thesis assesses how the European Court of Human Rights and the UN Human Rights Committee interpret freedom of religion or belief.

Portaru is admitted to the bar in Bucharest, Romania, and specializes in the topics of freedom of religion, freedom of conscience and freedom of expression. Portaru’s range of expertise includes academic settings, and national and EU institutions and bodies. She is the editor of the book, A ‘Precious Asset’? Analyzing Religious Freedom Protections in Europe (Kairos, 2020).