Elsa Lechner is a permanent researcher at the Center for Social Studies/University of Coimbra, where she integrates the research line Urban Cultures, Sociabilities and Participation. Since the early 2000 she participates in and belongs to International Networks on Life Histories in Education and Biographical Research, namely as a member of the Committee of the International Association for Biography Studies in Education Le Sujet dans la Cité, where she was Editor in Chief of the International Journal for biographical research LSC, and member of the scientific committee of Grafho research group and Biograph association. Her current research interests include life writing practices, intercultural dialogues, lifelong education among migrants and refugees, experiential knowledge, participatory methods, inclusive pedagogies, theater in education, life education. She has participated in twelve national and international research projects in the areas of Migrations, Biography Studies, Education and Intercultural Communication. Coordinated five research projects funded by FCT, Fulbright, Gulbenkian Foundation, among Portuguese emigrants in France, USA, Brazil, and immigrants from many different origins in Portugal; participated as a research member in national and international projects funded by FCT, OFAJ, ERASMUS+, Jean Monnet, Brazilian CAPES, FAPESB. Her main focus of research is on the life experiences and narratives of migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers to and from Portugal, and participatory methods/qualitative research, namely in the following contexts: Portuguese in the Parisian region, Portuguese in New Jersey and California, Descendants of Portuguese in Brazil, second and third generations of Portuguese in secondary and university Portuguese language and culture classes, immigrants in Portugal, refugees and asylum seekers in post-2015 Portugal. She has published 9 books (2 as single author, 3 as coordinator, 4 as co-editor), 29 book chapters (25 as single author), book reviews and 21 journal articles (18 as single author) in English, Portuguese, Spanish and French. She co-organized 3 special issues in the area of biographical research and migrations and 40 scientific/academic events (conferences, workshops and cycles of seminars/debates). She gave circa 89 oral presentations in conferences and workshops in Portugal, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, France, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Poland, Norway, Finland, UK, USA, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Taiwan, Belgium, Malta, Turkey, many of them as an invited speaker or as keynote speaker. Counts 20 thesis supervisions of national and international students. Since July 2021 she coordinates a monthly debate forum cycle online aimed at fostering interdisciplinary exchanges between professors, students, voluntary participants, open to the large public and participants, in partnership with three public universities in Portugal and Brazil (16 seminars in two years). Coordinated the CES research group Humanities, Migrations and Peace Studies (2010-2014) and integrated the scientific Board of CES (2010-2014). She is regularly contacted to teach about biographical studies, coordinate Biographical Workshops, and by scientific journals and Publishers for peer reviewing (e.g. Routledge Sociology, Journal of Intercultural Discourses, RABPB, Análise Social, Educação em Questão). She was interviewed by the Portuguese press and radio programs in Portugal and the diaspora communities about issues related to biographies and migrations. Has also artistic formal and informal training in theater, namely playback theater, theater of the oppressed, Meisner Technique, Stanislavski system. Acts also in outreach activities in schools to conduct workshops with young students about alterity, and diversity.