Research Assistant (Political Science)

Interested applicants are invited to apply directly at the NUS Career Portal

Your application will be processed only if you apply via NUS Career Portal

We regret that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

Job Description

One-Plus-Two Years Research Assistant Opportunity
Department of Political Science
National University of Singapore

The Department of Political Science at National University of Singapore (NUS) invites application for ONE full-time Research Assistant to 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 2024 for a period of one year in the first instance, renewable on satisfactory review for a further one or two years (up to two or three 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.

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. Details of two referees (preferably academic) who can comment on the applicant’s academic abilities and research experience.

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 ([email protected]).

Interested applicants are invited to apply by 31 August 2024. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified. Shortlisted applicants may be called for interview, either in person or by zoom, as appropriate.

Qualifications

1. At least a second upper class degree in Political Science, Economics, Sociology, Asian Studies or equivalent. Those with no experience 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. Empirical data collection, translation, and analysis from Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, South Korea, or Japan is part of the research project. Hence, multilingual ability to read, translate, and write in any of the following languages will also be highly advantageous: Bahasa Melayu, Tagalog, Traditional Mandarin Chinese, Korea, 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