Nuno F. da Cruz is an Associate Research Professor at the research unit on Governance, Competitiveness, and Public Policies (GOVCOPP) of the University of Aveiro, where he is the Coordinator of the Public Policies, Institutions and Innovation (PI2) research group. Before joining GOVCOPP in 2024, Nuno spent 10 years at the London School of Economics and Political Science as an Assistant Professorial Research Fellow. He is now a Senior Associate at LSE Cities, an international centre that investigates the complexities of the contemporary city.

Dr da Cruz is an interdisciplinary academic working in the field of urban governance. His work is multidisciplinary in nature and global in reach, engaging with a wide range of policy challenges across different sectors. He is interested in the various forces that shape governance - how public policy decisions are made, and what factors regulate or impact on those multiscalar processes.

Nuno has vast experience in leading international research projects on urban and metropolitan governance, city planning, infrastructure, local government transparency and accountability, democratic and economic performance, and sustainable urban development. This work has been funded by UK councils and academies, such as the ESRC and the British Academy, as well as by international NGOs and philanthropies, such as Bloomberg Philanthropies and Fondation Botnar. He has published widely, including in leading academic journals such as Public Administration, Government Information Quarterly, Public Management Review, Journal of Urban Affairs, Cities, and Environment and Planning C. His latest research efforts have been focused on networked and multilevel governance.

Dr da Cruz has been working in cooperation with several multilateral and advocacy organisations such as UCLG, Eurocities, Metropolis, UN Habitat and Transparency International. Throughout his career, Nuno has also been able to gain substantial policy engagement experience. He has advised on various governmental initiatives and has been a consultant to entities such as the World Bank and the European Committee of the Regions.

He teaches and convenes training workshops related to both his research and advisory work internationally. He is Field Editor (Subnational Governance and Politics) of the Journal of Public Policy.