Research Assistant/Research Associate (Geography/Sociology/Urban Planning)

National University of Singapore; Singapore; On-site; SGD 48,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

National University of Singapore (NUS) invites applications for the position of Research Assistant/Associate in Geography. The role involves contributing to empirical research, coordinating projects, managing data, and generating GIS maps and visualisations for social science research on housing aspirations in public housing.

The candidate will work with a multidisciplinary team, with focus on linking spatial data with qualitative and survey insights, and will engage in training across GIS,

Qualifications

• Second Class Honours (Upper Division) or equivalent honours degree, or a Master’s degree in the Social Sciences.
• Experience with mixed methods research is advantageous.
• Proficiency in English writing and communication.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to empirical research activities, including interviews, surveys, and ethnographic fieldwork.
• Support the Principal Investigator with project coordination and large grant management.
• Assist with data management and liaise with project team members or external parties.

Skills

Qualitative research methods

Interviews & ethnography

English writing & communication

Education

Master’s degree in Social Sciences

Second Class Honours (Upper Division) or equivalent

Tools

ArcGIS

QGIS

Qualitative analysis software

Job description

Research Assistant/Research Associate (Geography/Sociology/Urban Planning)

University-Level Unit: Arts & Social Sciences Faculty/Department-Level Unit: Geography Employee Category: Research Staff Location: Kent Ridge Campus Posted On: 17/08/2026

Job Description

The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) at the National University of Singapore (NUS), invites applications for the position ofResearch Assistant/Associate. The successful applicant is expected to commence duties at NUS as soon as possible.

This position is connected to a research project titled, “Social Networks and Housing Aspirations in Ageing Public Housing”. The research focuses on homeowners’ decision making towards housing relocation, with a particular emphasis on spatial behaviour, neighbourhood ties and social networks. The research team will adopt a mixed methods approach, combining:

• Qualitative methods (ethnographic fieldwork and in-depth interviews)
• GPS tracking
• GIS visualisations for analyses
• Surveys

This role is well suited to candidates interested in gaining social science research experience, offering hands‑on experience in integrating spatial data with qualitative and survey‑based insights.

The project team consists of Principal Investigator (PI) Professor Elaine Ho (Department of Geography), Co‑PI Associate Professor Vincent Chua (Department of Sociology and Anthropology) and Collaborator A/P Feng Chen‑Chieh (Department of Geography).

Scope and responsibilities

The Research Assistant/ Associate will:

• Contribute to empirical research activities, including interviews, surveys, and ethnographic fieldwork
• Support the Principal Investigator with project coordination and large grant management
• Assist with data management and liaise with the project team members or external parties on such matters
• Work with GPS data, such as producing GIS maps and visualisations
• Support data analysis across qualitative and spatial components (integrating with survey data where relevant)

Qualifications

Applicants are expected to hold at least a Second Class Honours (Upper Division) or an equivalent honours degree, or a Master’s degree in the Social Sciences.

Competencies

• Conversational proficiency in one or more of the following languages central to the research project will be an advantage: Mandarin and/or Chinese dialects used in Singapore (e.g. Hokkien, Cantonese, Teochew or Hainanese); Malay or Tamil.
• Willingness to learn about and work with researchers using mixed methods; prior experience of working with mixed methods will be an advantage
• Excellent writing and strong communication skills in English, including an ability to present research in both academic and non‑academic venues
• Skills in qualitative research methods (e.g. interviews and ethnography) alongside knowledge of Geographic Information Science applications (e.g. ArcGIS, QGIS) will be an advantage
• Skills in using qualitative analysis software will be an advantage
• Prior experience in large grant management will be an advantage
• Curiosity and passion to explore new concepts, methods and technologies, and capable of identifying and quickly learning the most suitable tools for the research on the go
• A good team player and the ability to multitask effectively
• Excellent organization and interpersonal skills
• Core Microsoft Office skills are expected

Other Information

Informal enquiries may be made to Professor Elaine Ho ( [e-mail] ). Please include a cover letter tailored to the job description, full CV and the names of three referees in your application.

This is a one‑year contract which can be extended according to performance.

Shortlisted applicants may be called for interview, either in person or by Zoom, as appropriate.

Application deadline: Until a suitable candidate is identified.

More Information

Location: Kent Ridge Campus

Organization: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Department : Department of Geography

Employee Referral Eligible: No

Job requisition ID : 31806

Req ID: 31806