The Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) at the National University of Singapore is seeking to hire a Research Assistant (Two-years contract) for the Society & Governance Department, with a strong emphasis on qualitative analysis and interpretive social research.
The successful candidate will join a research team working on issues such as household formation, housing, social change, and familial relationships. The role focuses on making sense of how people think about and experience their lives, particularly through close engagement with interview transcripts, focus group discussions, and fieldnotes generated across multiple research projects.
This position is well suited for someone who enjoys working deeply with qualitative material, is attentive to nuance and variation in human experience, and is comfortable interpreting complex and sometimes contradictory accounts.
The job scope includes:
- Reading, organising, and analysing large volumes of interview and focus group transcripts to identify patterns, themes, tensions, and unexpected findings
- Conducting thematic and interpretive analysis of large volumes of qualitative material, identifying patterns while remaining attentive to nuance, context, and contradiction
- Contributing to coding frameworks and qualitative data management processes
- Assisting in synthesis of findings into coherent analytical narratives for reports, policy briefs, and academic outputs
- Assisting with conference and seminar organisation
- Assisting with other research projects from project conceptualisation (e.g., conducting literature reviews and writing proposals), to the preparation of data collection tools (e.g., survey questionnaires, interview and focus group discussion guides), to the collection of data (e.g. interviewing)
- Assisting with the administration and management of research projects, such as seeking approvals (e.g., for university research ethics board reviews), liaising with respondents, procurement, and budget tracking
- Engaging and managing stakeholders across workstreams, summarizing project results and preparing progress reports for the Principal Investigator (PI) and Co-PI
Qualifications
- Have at least a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant social science discipline
- Have a strong interest in qualitative social research and sustained engagement with textual and narrative data
- Demonstrate an ability to read carefully, think analytically, and work with complex, messy, or ambiguous qualitative material, including accounts that are contradictory, incomplete, or resistant to simple explanation
- Have strong interpersonal skills, intellectual curiosity, and a genuine interest in understanding how people whose lives differ from your own make sense of their experiences
- Possess strong writing ability, with capacity to translate qualitative findings into clear, structured analytical outputs
- Have high levels of attention to detail and ability to manage large volumes of qualitative data
- Demonstrate strong commitment to meeting deadlines and has a track record of producing work that reflects a maturity of thought
- Be resourceful, and have a willingness to take initiative and express your views
The following are optional criteria that will give your application an advantage:
- Prior work experience with qualitative methods such as semi-structured interviews, focus groups, ethnography, or grounded theory approaches
- Experience working with qualitative data analysis software (e.g., NVivo, ATLAS.ti, or similar tools)
- Prior experience in research roles (e.g. an internship in research or a Research Assistantship)
- Prior experience with quantitative research methods including research design and statistical analyses, e.g., proficiency in SPSS/STATA/R
What you can expect from the job:
Researchers at IPS work on a variety of projects initiated and headed by IPS research fellows, often working in partnership with government agencies and/or the non-profit sector using both qualitative and quantitative methods. This role will involve working on a flagship project that will likely have a significant impact. This role offers substantial exposure to large-scale qualitative datasets and the opportunity to develop advanced interpretive and analytical skills. Applicants should enjoy close reading, careful interpretation, and the process of building analytical insights from qualitative data.
The Research Assistant will contribute to research outputs including reports, policy briefs, and academic publications, and will gain experience in high-level qualitative synthesis and analysis within a collaborative research environment. In addition, the Research Assistant will benefit from exposure to intellectual exchange and networking with various stakeholders linked to the Institute’s work. There are also training and development opportunities to build their skills.
This position is well suited for candidate with some working experiences, and is seeking to develop a career in academia, public policy, or applied social research.
To apply:
Please upload your cover letter and curriculum vitae via NUS Career Page.
Your application should include details such as your highest qualifications, last drawn salary, expected salary, reasons for leaving your last/current position, and earliest possible start date if this position is offered to you. Please also attach a writing sample (e.g., dissertation chapter, research paper, policy brief, analytical essay, or qualitative research report) demonstrating your ability to analyse and synthesise complex material.
We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.