Jon Paul Faulkner graduated from Trinity College Dublin with degrees in applied social research and is currently undertaking a PhD in University College Dublin focused on restructuring of the rural economy, and farm and non-farm household vulnerability. Jon worked as a research officer for the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas in Teagasc's Rural Economy Development Programme. His research covers the application of quantitative approaches to Census of Population data to classify and understand socio-spatial processes.