Graduated in sociology from the Faculty of Arts of the University of Porto (1992). Master's degree in social sciences from the Institute of Social Sciences of the University of Lisbon (1995) with the dissertation "Tristes Escolas - Um Estudo sobre Práticas Culturais Estudantis no Espaço Escolar Urbano" (Porto, Edições Afrontamento, 1997). PhD in Sociology of Culture and Education (1999) with the dissertation "A Cidade e a Cultura - Um Estudo sobre Práticas Culturais Urbanas" (Porto, Edições Afrontamento, 2000).  Effective member of the Observatory of Cultural Activities between 1996 and 1998. 

He was a member of the team coordinating the Report on National Cultural Policies (1985-95) presented in 1998 to the Council of Europe (Lisbon, As Políticas Culturais em Portugal, Observatório das Actividades Culturais, 1998). Programmer for Porto European Capital of Culture 2001, responsible for public involvement and a member of the initial team that drafted the application submitted to the Council of Europe. Represented the Left Bloc as a member of Parliament (2002-2006).  | Scientific Coordinator of the Institute of Sociology at FLUP between 2002 and February 2010. Director of Revista Sociologia between 2009 and February 2013. Invited to give lectures and courses at the following Universities: Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Universidade Estadual do Rio de Janeiro; Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro; Universidade Federal Fluminense; Universidade de São Paulo; Universidade do Estado do Amazonas; Universidade da Corunha; Universidade Autónoma de Barcelona; Université Paris VIII; Universidade de Zlín, among others.

He has published more than 50 books (alone or co-authored) in the fields of social inequalities (class and gender), the sociology of culture, the city, youth and education, as well as museology and territorial studies. Distinguished on 29 May 2014 with the "Chevalier des Palmes Académiques" award by the French government. President of the Portuguese Sociological Association between 2016 and 2021.  He chaired the Department of Sociology at FLUP between 2011 and February 2019. He has coordinated the Institute of Sociology at the University of Porto since 2020.