David Cairns is principal researcher at the Centre for Research and Studies in Sociology, ISCTE-University Institute of Lisbon, Portugal. Previously he worked and studied at Queen’s University Belfast, University of Ulster, National University of Ireland Galway and University of Lisbon. Research interests include youth, mobility, education and work, with participation in numerous projects including two European Commission funded studies. He has over 100 publications, including ten books and articles in journals including International Migration, British Journal of Sociology of Education, Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, Social and Cultural Geography, Journal of Youth Studies, Children’s Geographies, Mobilities and Young. He is currently working on a project focusing on scientific careers in Portugal.