Research Assistant, International Relations

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%2C-International-Relations/34432-en_GB/

We regret that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

Job Description

The East Asian Institute (EAI) at the National University of Singapore is seeking a highly qualified Research Assistant with expertise in China’s foreign policy and international relations to support policy-relevant research within the Institute’s IR cluster and a multidisciplinary team.

About EAI: Established in 1997, the East Asian Institute (EAI) promotes academic and policy-oriented research on East Asian development. Our work spans contemporary China (including Hong Kong and Taiwan), China’s foreign policy and international relations, and China’s economic, technological, and strategic relations with Japan, Korea, ASEAN, and the world. We collaborate with regional and international institutions, convene conferences, and provide insights that inform public policy.

Role and Responsibilities

• Conduct mixed-methods research on enduring and emerging topics in China’s international relations, including but not limited to Chinese foreign and security policy, US-China relations, China’s regional policy toward Southeast Asia and the wider Asia Pacific, and China’s relations with other major regions of the world
• Monitor, translate, and analyse Chinese-language primary sources (official statements, media commentary, think-tank output); contribute to literature reviews and case studies; manage and clean datasets, design surveys, and prepare charts and dashboards as needed
• Draft policy briefs and research papers; contribute to co-authored reports and presentations for academic and policymaker audiences
• Play a key coordinating role in managing research projects as well as the organization of conferences and seminars

Attributes

• Team player who can work independently and proactively
• Detail-oriented with strong project management, collaboration and stakeholder communication skills
• Intellectual curiosity and commitment to research integrity and policy relevance

What We Offer:

• Centre of Excellence: Join a prestigious institute recognized for impactful analysis and research.
• Dynamic Environment: Work in a collaborative and intellectually stimulating setting.
• Multidisciplinary Approach: Engage with experts across political science, economics, public policy and sociology.
• Unique Geopolitical Position: Leverage Singapore’s role as a bridge between East and West to amplify research impact on regional security, diplomacy, and the evolving international order in East Asia.

Qualifications

• Strong Master’s degree in international relations, political science, China/East Asian studies, public policy, or a related field
• Strong substantive knowledge of China’s foreign policy and international relations, including familiarity with major theoretical and policy debates in the field.
• The role requires the ability to analyse Chinese-language primary and secondary source materials, such as official statements, media commentary and scholarly publications, for research purposes. The ability to conduct research and interviews using Chinese-language sources would be an advantage.
• Excellent English writing and communication skills, with the ability to translate complex research into clear, concise policy briefs and reports
• Research skills in qualitative methods (e.g., document and discourse analysis, case studies); quantitative and data skills (e.g., R or Python, data visualization) are a plus
• Prior experience working in university research centres or think tanks is a plus

Application Process:

Interested candidates should submit the following:

• CV
• Cover letter
• Two samples of published work (academic or policy-oriented)