PhD in Human Geography by the University of Lisbon. He was a professor in the Department of Geography of the Faculty of Letters of Lisbon and is currently research coordinator of the Institute of Social Sciences of the University of Lisbon.

He specialized in economic and social geography, regional planning and urban and regional development. He coordinated several studies evaluating public policies for the Portuguese Government and the European Commission. He was president of the Portuguese Association for Regional Development, OECD consultant in rural development, Secretary of State for Spatial Planning and Cities and member of the Scientific Council of Social Sciences and Humanities (FCT). He represents the CRUP in the National Council for Environment and Sustainable Development and is the dean of ULisboa.

Projects

Coordination

Consultoria técnica no âmbito do processo conducente à alteração do Programa Nacional da Política de Ordenamento do Território 
Avaliação on going do Projeto ‘Portugal Participa’
Evaluating and Improving the access to mental health services of people affected by the economic crisis in Portugal
Estudo socio demográfico sobre a população do Alentejo
MuVe – Valores e atitudes face à mudança a favor de um desenvolvimento económico mais sustentável
Regiões Funcionais, Relações Urbano-Rurais e Política de Coesão Pós-2013

Collaboration

Regeneration and Optimisation of Cultural Heritage in Creative and Knowledge Cities (ROCK)
INTREPID – Interdisciplinarity in research programming and funding cycles 
ClimAdaPT.LOCAL
FLAGSHIP – Forward Looking Analysis of Grand Societal cHallenges and Innovative Policies