The Opportunity
How do we move from a 'me-first' to a 'we-first' society? How can deliberation and public participation strengthen social capital in Singapore?
The We-First Society Workstream at IPS Policy Lab is building Singapore's research and practice capacity in deliberation and public participation. We design, experiment, and study new approaches to citizen engagement – consensus conferences, citizens' assemblies, participatory budgeting – with the aim of strengthening social capital: bonding, bridging, and linking.
We are looking for a researcher who wants to contribute to advancing this work in Singapore.
About IPS Policy Lab
The Institute of Policy Studies is Singapore's leading policy research think-tank at NUS. IPS has a 35-year track record of independent, rigorous research that informs national policy.
Within IPS, the Policy Lab is our innovation hub where we find meaningful solutions to constructively question the status quo. We work at the frontier of applied social research, partnering with government agencies, community organisations, private sector entities, and citizens to co-create and test new policy approaches.
What You Will Do
Conduct rigorous research
- Conduct literature reviews on social capital, deliberation, and public participation and apply it to Singapore’s context
- Design research instruments: questionnaires, interview protocols, experimental designs
- Collect and analyse qualitative and quantitative data
- Support the design and evaluation of research experiments
- Manage research administration: ethics approvals, budgets, participant recruitment
Design and Deliver
- Lead or support the design of research experiments – from sampling and recruitment to facilitation design and mixed method synthesis
- Facilitate or co-facilitate citizen deliberations, working with diverse participants and stakeholders
Publish and Publicise
- Co-author (or lead-author) academic papers, policy reports, and media commentaries
- Present findings at conferences and practitioner convenings
- Organise seminars, webinars, and training programmes to build the field
What You Bring
Required:
- Master's degree in a social science or related discipline, with at least 2 years’ relevant work experience, and good knowledge, skills and expertise in relevant field.
- Strong research capabilities, including the ability to design studies, develop instruments/protocols, collect and manage data, and synthesise results into clear, well-structured outputs.
- Proven ability to communicate findings effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences.
- Proficiency in qualitative software (e.g. NVivo, Atlas.ti) or statistical tools (e.g. R, Stata, SPSS)
- Excellent written and spoken English
- Genuine interest in social capital, deliberative theory, or public participation
- Demonstrated ability to work across sectors and with diverse stakeholders (e.g., government, academia, civil society, community partners), and to navigate different perspectives constructively.
- Cares deeply for Singapore, strong commitment to contributing to Singapore and its communities; motivated by public impact and improving collective outcomes.
Valued (not required):
- Experience convening, designing or facilitating deliberative processes
Why consider this role
- A growing field. Singapore has practised public participation for years. What's emerging is the deliberate focus on social capital, using deliberation and public participation to strengthen bonding, bridging, and linking capital across communities. You join a team pioneering this approach.
- Nurturing environment. Senior researchers mentor you closely, sharpening your research design, your writing, and your ability to navigate complex stakeholder relationships. We invest in your growth and celebrate your wins.
- Publication opportunities. IPS actively supports researchers to publish. You will co-author policy reports, contribute to op-eds, and collaborate on academic papers.
- Intellectual home. IPS has a 35-year reputation for independent, credible research. You join a community of researchers committed to rigorous, policy-relevant work, with the independence to ask constructive questions.
To Apply:
One-page cover letter (with a brief statement of relevant research experience)
Curriculum vitae
Two writing samples (min. 500 words)
[If available] Experience with applied research projects
Please include your expected salary and earliest available start date.
We review applications on a rolling basis. Strong candidates will be contacted for an interview.