Julien Barrier

Julien Barrier is a Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the École Normale Supérieure de Lyon (ENS de Lyon). He specializes in the sociology of public action, academic labor markets, and science-industry relations. His research focuses on institutional transformations in higher education, policy analysis, and the dynamics of academic work. Barrier holds a PhD in Sociology from Sciences Po Paris (2010) and has held postdoctoral fellowships at prestigious institutions like the Center for Sociology of Organizations. His current roles include co-directing the Master of Social Sciences at ENS de Lyon and leading the 'Knowledge Policies' interdisciplinary project within UMR Triangle.

His work explores how managerial logics intersect with professional autonomy in academia, the evolution of research funding regimes, and the increasing application-oriented direction of public research. Key contributions include studies on university mergers, academic career fragmentation, and science-industry partnerships. Barrier’s research has been published in top journals like Revue française de sociologie and Gouvernement et action publique. He actively participates in policy discussions as a member of the Education Laboratory steering committee and the RESUP research network.

Recent projects include a visiting scholar position at Northwestern University (2023-2024) and leadership in ANR-funded studies on organizational changes in public administration. His current supervision includes Hannah Gautrais’ thesis on climate scientists’ roles in activism. Barrier’s work bridges theoretical sociology with empirical policy analysis, offering critical insights into contemporary academic and institutional challenges.