Policy Research Assistant - Inequality & Social Mobility

National University of Singapore; Singapore; On-site; SGD 27,900 - 46,872; Full time

Job summary

IPS at the National University of Singapore seeks a Research Assistant to support its Society & Governance research agenda on inequality and social mobility. You will assist with project administration, recruit participants, and perform literature reviews and data analysis for policy-oriented outputs.

The role involves fieldwork, interviews, surveys and collaboration with departments across IPS to publish reports, briefs and conference papers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant social science discipline from a reputable university.
• Be intellectually curious and possess strong research skills with interest in social issues and policy.
• Demonstrate experience synthesising large bodies of data from primary and secondary research.
• Strong command of English; write clearly, with attention to grammar, detail and accuracy.
• Be resourceful, meet deadlines and work well with others.
• Optional: experience in qualitative or quantitative research.

Responsibilities

• Assist with administration and management of research projects, including participant recruitment.
• Conduct literature reviews and data analysis for qualitative and quantitative research; support dissemination in reports and papers.
• Conduct research fieldwork: interviews, focus groups, observations, field notes and surveys.
• Analyze data and support publication and dissemination of results in reports and conference papers.
• Handle administrative duties related to projects, coordinating with stakeholders and other departments.
• Organise and report seminars and conferences.

Skills

Research skills

English writing

Data synthesis

Team collaboration

Time management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in social science

Job description

Job Title: Research Assistant (Institute of Policy Studies) (33650)

University-Level Unit: Institute of Policy Studies

Faculty/Department-Level Unit: Institute of Policy Studies

Employee Category: Research Staff

Location_ONB: Bukit Timah Campus

Posting Start Date: 07/07/2026

Job Description

The Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) is an autonomous research institute within National University of Singapore. IPS is looking to hire a Research Assistant for the Society & Governance Department.

The Research Assistant will be working in a research team that contributes to IPS’ research programme on inequality and social mobility, including the evaluation of policies, programmes or interventions.

The Job Scope Includes

• Assisting with the administration and management of research projects, including recruiting and managing participants
• Conducting secondary research (e.g., literature review), data analysis for qualitative and quantitative research, and supporting the publication and dissemination of results and findings in reports, policy briefs, and conference and academic journal papers
• Conducting research fieldwork, including in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, participant observations, writing field notes, and surveys
• Conducting data analysis and supporting the publication and dissemination of results and findings in reports, conference presentations and academic journals
• Undertaking other administrative duties relating to research projects, such as corresponding with stakeholders and working with other departments (e.g., finance and event management)
• Organising and reporting of seminars and conferences
  
  

Qualifications

• Have at least a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant social science discipline from a reputable university
• Be intellectually curious and possess strong research skills, preferably with some background and a keen interest in social issues and social policy
• Demonstrate experience and competency in working with and synthesising large bodies of data (gathered through primary and secondary research)
• Have a strong command of the English language and be able to write in a clear and engaging manner, with a passion for grammar, detail and accuracy
• Be resourceful in getting things done and be able to meet deadlines and work well with others
  
  

The following are optional criteria that will give your application an advantage:

• Has experience in conducting research, whether qualitative (e.g., meta reviews, interviews and focus groups discussions), or quantitative (e.g., surveys, experiments)
  
  

What You Can Expect From The Job

Researchers at IPS work on a variety of projects initiated by the Institute, the government and the non-profit sector, using both qualitative and quantitative methods. The Research Assistant will be able to engage in research projects and have opportunities to co-author articles and research papers with other members of the research team. They will also benefit from exposure to intellectual exchange and networking with various stakeholders linked to the Institute’s work. This job will provide excellent training for an individual who is seeking to develop a career in the fields of public policy or social science research, whether in academia, the public service, or the private sector.

To Apply

Please upload the following documents via NUS Career Page.

• One-page cover letter (with a brief statement of relevant research experience)
• Curriculum vitae
• Two writing samples (min. 500 words)
  
  

Your cover letter should include details such as your highest qualifications, last drawn salary, expected salary and reasons for leaving your last/current position. Please also state when you expect to be able to begin work, if this position is offered to you.

(We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.)

Req ID: 33650