Navigating across Disciplines in Migration and Mobility Research: A Practical and Reflective Account

This working paper draws on the experiences of three scholars involved in the research project “Evolving (Im)Mobility Regimes: Migrant Workers’ Entitlement and Precarization in Times of Crisis”, conducted within the framework of the ‘nccr-on the move’. The project integrates sociological and legal perspectives and combines both quantitative and qualitative methodologies.Drawing on current interdisciplinary literature and our collaborative experience, we explore the conceptual, methodological, and structural challenges of interdisciplinary research, including epistemological and methodological tensions, differing timelines, and publication challenges. Through practical and reflective accounts, we identify pitfalls and propose practices for future interdisciplinary research, emphasizing the importance of early epistemological dialogue, conceptual clarity, structural support, and mutual respect across disciplinary lines. More specifically, our findings point out that successful collaboration between sociologists and lawyers requires (1) open and honest conversations about concepts, methods, and career paths; (2) mutual understanding and openness to compromise; (3) adequate time and financial resources, and (4) careful planning, making interdisciplinarity a demanding yet worthwhile pursuit.