Julia Kantek is a Lecturer in the School of Social Sciences at Western Sydney University (WSU). 

Julia has developed research expertise at the intersection of youth sociology, migration studies, and diaspora engagement. Building on her PhD research in diaspora politics, Julia has explored how diaspora engagement strategies are experienced by those they target, with particular attention to how they inform transnational identity and belonging. This focus on mobility, belonging, and identity has now informed her more recent work on how transitions (influenced by migration, education, work, and digital technologies) intersect with mobility to shape identities, future-making practices, and wellbeing.

Currently, Julia is co-leading two research projects funded by the Young & Resilient Research Centre and Institute for Culture & Society at Western Sydney University. One investigates the role of Generative Artifical Intelligence (among other technologies) in shaping the resilience, wellbeing, and overall experiences of migrants, while the other, explores how young people from Western Sydney navigate decisions around where and how to pursue work. 

Aligned with these interests, Julia is Co-Director of the Mobilities Research Cluster in the School of Social Sciences at WSU. She also co-convenes the Sociology of Youth Thematic Group for The Australian Sociological Association. In addition, she is a member of the Young & Resilient Research Centre, the Borders & Migration Research Group (Institute of Culture & Society), and the Western Sydney University World Leisure Centre of Excellence.

Julia plays a significant role in teaching and academic leadership, including serving as the Academic Program Advisor for students in the Bachelor of Social Sciences program (July 2023- Jan 2026). Julia's dedication to teaching excellence and student support has been recognised through several awards, including the prestigious Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President Academic Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning (2022) & WSU School of Social Sciences Excellence in Indigenous Learning and Teaching award (2025). 

Prior to her current role in the School of Social Sciences, Julia was a lecturer in The Academy within the Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor Engagement & Advancement. In this role, Julia taught and re-designed subjects within the Bachelor of Creative Leadership program, collaborating with the Future Student Engagement team to facilitate the implementation of a pilot student pathway initiative with several high schools across Western Sydney.