Research Fellow / Research Assistant - JL(1147)

SINGAPORE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY; Singapore; On-site; SGD 67,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), in collaboration with the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), is conducting a mixed-methods behavioural insights study on second-hand tobacco smoke exposure in public housing estates in Singapore. You will work with the PI and Co-PIs to manage fieldwork, surveys, and policy-oriented reporting.

Researchers with a PhD in a relevant field (Fellow) or a Bachelor's/Master's (Assistant) and strong qualitative or quantitative skills are

Qualifications

• PhD in economics, psychology, sociology, public health or policy for Research Fellow; RA requires a relevant Bachelor's or Master's degree.
• Experience with qualitative methods (FGDs, interviews, ethnography) and/or quantitative survey research.
• Proficiency with qualitative and/or statistical software; strong writing for policy audiences.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and oversee fieldwork, including recruitment, scheduling, FGDs, walk-with interviews and engagement sessions, and transcription management.
• Support research ethics (IRB) applications and compliance; conduct literature reviews and analyses of existing administrative and complaints data.
• Code and analyse qualitative data; support questionnaire design, sampling, and statistical analysis of survey data.
• Draft progress documentation, reports, and presentations for stakeholders.
• Coordinate across the PIs and liaise with the grantor.

Skills

Qualitative research

Mixed-methods

Fieldwork logistics

Data analysis

Qualitative software

Statistical software

Technical writing

Policy communications

Mandarin/Malay/Tamil

Education

PhD in economics/psychology/sociology/public health/policy

Bachelor's or Master's in a relevant discipline

Tools

Qualitative analysis software

Statistical software

Job description

Research Fellow / Research Assistant

Mixed-Methods Behavioural Insights Study: Second-hand Tobacco Smoke Exposure in Public Residential Estates

The Project

SIT, in collaboration with the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), is conducting a mixed-methods behavioural insights study of second-hand tobacco smoke (SHS) exposure in public residential estates. The study aims to (i) document smokers' routines, spatial patterns, and behavioural archetypes; (ii) measure population-level attitudes, perceptions, and values regarding SHS exposure from neighbours; (iii) co-develop socially acceptable interventions with residents and community stakeholders; and (iv) pilot and evaluate selected interventions. The team is led by Associate Professor Walter Theseira (Principal Investigator, SUSS), with Co-Principal Investigators Emeritus Professor Ho Kong Chong (NUS) and Associate Professor Jean Liu (SIT).

Methods and Tasks

1. qualitative research, including ten exploratory focus group discussions (FGDs) with smokers and non-smokers and 50 ethnographic "walk-with" interviews with smokers in HDB neighbourhoods
2. large-scale door-to-door surveys - a general population survey (n ≈ 3,000) and a targeted survey of residents affected by SHS (n ≈ 1,000) - fielded by a survey firm under the research team's direction
3. co-solutioning engagement sessions and co-design workshops with residents, grassroots leaders, and community stakeholders
4. small-scale piloting and evaluation of interventions in selected neighbourhoods

Work packages (2) and (4) are subject to the grantor's budget and approval.

The Research Fellow/Research Assistant will work closely with the PI and Co-PIs to:

• Coordinate and oversee fieldwork, including participant recruitment, scheduling, conduct of FGDs, walk-with interviews and engagement sessions, and management of transcription
• Support research ethics (IRB) applications and compliance; conduct literature reviews and analyses of existing administrative and complaints data
• Code and analyse qualitative data; support questionnaire design, sampling, and statistical analysis of survey data
• Draft progress documentation, reports, and presentations for stakeholders
• Coordinate across the PIs and liaise with the grantor

Requirements

• Research Fellow: PhD in economics, psychology, sociology, public health or policy, or a related behavioural or social science. Research Assistant: Bachelor's or Master's degree in a relevant discipline.
• Training or experience in qualitative research (focus groups, interviews, ethnography) and/or quantitative survey research; mixed-methods experience is an advantage
• Proficiency with qualitative analysis software and/or statistical software.
• Strong writing skills, with the ability to produce polished reports and presentations for policy audiences.
• Well-organised and able to manage fieldwork logistics independently; comfortable conducting fieldwork in residential estates, including some evenings and weekends.
• Prior experience on policy-relevant research, and proficiency in Mandarin, Malay, or Tamil to support fieldwork (is preferred).