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Cette contribution vise à s’interroger sur les identités disciplinaires de chercheurs qui pratiquent la recherche interdisciplinaire. Nous tentons de mettre en évidence la nature paradoxale du travail interdisciplinaire au travers des regards que portent des chercheurs sur leur propre identité dans le contexte académique. Cette nature paradoxale correspond à une tension entre, d’une part, des identités disciplinaires relativement stables et institutionnellement reconnues et, d’autre part, des identités interdisciplinaires hybrides qui doivent encore obtenir une forme de reconnaissance. Nous proposons une typologie de différents profils types qui se déroule sur un continuum allant de la disciplinarité à l’indisciplinarité : l’identité disciplinaire ; les identités interdisciplinaires, déclinées en identité thématique, identité hybride, «  interdisciplinary native » et «  interdisciplinary migrant » ; et enfin l’identité indisciplinée. Notre questionnement s’appuie sur les résultats d’une recherche menée sur les pratiques de recherche interdisciplinaire.

Identity paradox and interdisciplinarity : an analysis of the disciplinary identities of researchersThis contribution proposes to investigate the disciplinary identities of researchers involved in interdisciplinary research in order to highlight its paradoxical nature which is revealed in their discourse about the way they perceive themselves and their own identity in the academic context. This paradoxical nature results in a tension between relatively stable and institutionally recognized disciplinary identities on the one hand and interdisciplinary hybrid identities that are still in need of recognition on the other. We address the complex relationship between the apparently stabilized disciplinary identity of researchers and their interdisciplinary research practices that lead them to redefine their identities in contact with other disciplines in a dynamic of multiple perceptions and representations. How do researchers demonstrate and represent their disciplinary –in some cases interdisciplinary or even undisciplinary– identity ? What are their relations with their institutional belonging and respective disciplines ? What are their academic and career paths that guide their practices ? By exploring these issues we propose a typology of different type-profiles of researchers who practice interdisciplinary research. The typology runs on a continuum from disciplinarity to undisciplinarity : disciplinary identity ; interdisciplinary identities expressed as thematic identity, hybrid identity, “interdisciplinary native” and “migrant interdisciplinary” ; and finally undisciplined identity. These reflections and typology are based on the results of a study on interdisciplinary research practices.