Research Assistant, International Relations

National University of Singapore; Singapore; On-site; SGD 42,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

The National University of Singapore, through its East Asian Institute, seeks a Research Assistant to support policy-relevant research on China's foreign policy within a multidisciplinary team at Bukit Timah Campus, Singapore.

The role requires strong knowledge of China's international relations, Mandarin-reading ability, and excellent English writing skills to draft policy briefs and reports for academic and policymaker audiences.

Qualifications

• Strong Master's degree in international relations, political science, China/East Asian studies, public policy, or related field.
• Deep knowledge of China's foreign policy and international relations.
• Ability to read Chinese-language primary/secondary sources; Mandarin interview ability is a plus.
• Excellent English writing and communication skills for policy briefs and reports.
• Experience with qualitative methods; basic quantitative/data skills are a plus.
• Prior experience in university research centers or think tanks is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Conduct mixed-methods research on topics in China's international relations and security policy.
• Monitor, translate, and analyze Chinese-language sources; assist with literature reviews and datasets.
• Draft policy briefs and co-authored reports for academic and policymaker audiences.
• Coordinate research projects and assist in organizing conferences and seminars.

Skills

Team collaboration

Detail oriented

Project management

Stakeholder communication

Intellectual curiosity

Policy relevance

Education

Master's degree in international relations or related field

Tools

R or Python

Data visualization

Job description

Company description

The National University of Singapore is the national research university of Singapore. Founded in 1905 as the Straits Settlements and the Federated Malay States Government Medical School, NUS is the oldest higher education institution in Singapore

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
• Proficiency in reading Chinese-language primary and secondary sources (e.g., official statements, media commentary, scholarly writing) is required; the ability to conduct research or interviews in Mandarin is a strong 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

More Information

Location: Bukit Timah Campus

Organization: East Asian Institute

Department : East Asian Institute

Employee Referral Eligible: No

Job requisition ID : 34432