Research Assistant (Department of Political Science)

Interested applicants are invited to apply directly at the NUS Career Portal. Please note your application will only be processed if you apply via NUS Career Portal.

NUS Career Portal link: https://careers.nus.edu.sg/job/Research-Assistant-%28Department-of-Political-Science%29/32876-en_GB/

We regret that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

Job Description

The Department of Political Science at National University of Singapore (NUS) invites application for ONE full-time Research Assistantto work on a Social Science and Humanities Research (SSHR) Fellowship project, After Victory: Governance Outcomes, Political Stability, and Institutional Reform in East and Southeast Asia, directed by the Principal Investigator (PI), Assistant Professor Elvin Ong. The position will be based in Singapore with an intended start date of 1 September 2026 for a period of one year in the first instance, renewable on satisfactory review for a further one year (up to two years in total).

Funded by a SSHR Fellowship from Singapore's Social Science Research Council, After Victory aims to examine the role of newly victorious opposition parties after they have defeated a long dominant autocratic incumbent. Specifically, it seeks to analyze comparatively and historically the divergent experiences and trajectories of first electoral turnovers across countries in East and Southeast Asia in terms of their governance outcomes, political stability, and institutional reforms.

The successful applicant will be offered a contract of 12 months from the date of hire. S/he will receive an attractive monthly remuneration depending on experience and qualifications. S/he will be considered a full-time staff member of the National University of Singapore, applicable for staff benefits such as medical coverage, a fixed amount in a flexible spending account for health-related expenses, vacation leave, corporate discounts, and staff concession rates for part-time government subsidized graduate programmes offered by NUS. The position will be based in Singapore, although some research travel may be permitted. Singapore citizens and permanent residents are eligible for Central Provident Fund benefits.

Scope and Responsibilities

1. Independently collect and manage primary and/or secondary sources.

2. Support in editing and proofreading documents and manuscripts.

3. Prepare presentation materials for meetings, conferences, etc.

4. Contribute to papers, book chapters, research reports, etc.

5. Ad hoc administrative and research tasks.

Qualifications

1. At least a second upper class degree in Political Science, Economics, Sociology, Asian Studies or equivalent. Fresh graduates are welcome to apply.

2. Experience in conducting archival research and elite interviews will be preferred.

3. Experience in conducting data visualization and statistical analyses using STATA or R will be highly advantageous.

4. Multilingual ability to read primary archival material (such as official government documents, books, or hand-written notes) in any one of the following languages is required: Traditional Mandarin Chinese, Tagalog, Bahasa Melayu, Korean, or Japanese.

Other Competencies

1. Excellent writing and strong communication skills in English, including an ability to present research in both academic and non-academic venues

2. Culturally sensitive to working with different kinds of people from all over the world

3. Meticulous and has good project management skills

4. Curiosity and passion to explore new concepts, methodologies and technologies

5. Capable of identifying and learning quickly the most suitable tools for the research

6. Good team player and ability to multitask effectively

More Information

Application Procedures

To apply for this position, please combine the following documents in 1 PDF and attach it under the CV column when submitting your application:

1. Detailed curriculum vitae

2. One-page cover letter, with a brief statement of relevant research experience and language abilities

3. Certificates & Transcripts (undergraduate and Masters, as relevant) and

4. Contact details of two referees (preferably academic) who can comment on the applicant's academic abilities and research experience. There is no need to attach any referee letters in advance. Referees will be contacted if you are shortlisted.

Interested applicants are invited to apply by 30 June 2026. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified. Shortlisted applicants may be called for interview, either in person or by zoom, as appropriate.

For further information and details on this Research Assistant opportunity, please contact Dr. Elvin Ong ([Confidential Information]).