He holds a bachelor's degree from Victoria University Of Wellington (1973), a master's degree from Victoria University Of Wellington (1975) and a doctorate from École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (1978) and postdoctoral degrees from the University of Canterbury (1983) and Cornell University (1990). ). He is currently a full professor at the Department of Sociology at the State University of Campinas, leader of the Laborátorio Interdisciplinar Informática e Sociedade (Unicamp), member of the 'Executive Committee' of the International Sociological Association (2010-2014).

He was president of the Brazilian Society of Sociology (SBS) from 2005 to 2009. Vice President (Latin America), Research Committee 34 – Sociology of Youth – International Sociological Association, 2006-2010.

Member of the editorial boards of several scientific journals, including: Policy and Practice in Health and Safety (London), Hermès (Paris), Current Sociology, Sociedade e Estado (UnB), and LIINC em Revista (Rio de Janeiro). He has experience in the area of ​​Sociology, with an emphasis on Other Specific Sociologies, working mainly on the following topics: sociology of work, occupational accidents, information society, information technology and interdisciplinarity. In recent times he began to reflect on relations between China and Brazil.