Sim Kai Lin is a Research Associate at IPS Social Lab in the Institute of Policy Studies. With several years of relevant research experience, Kai Lin’s  past research has focused on understanding the lived experiences of friendship and kinship within the context of Singapore, where respondents are able to draw on existing contrasting and conflicting narratives to create, perpetuate, negotiate, maintain and contest social ties among friends. 

Kai Lin studies and applies ethnographic research methods, such as participant observation and in-depth interviews in her fieldwork. In addition, she has also undertaken courses in data analytics and healthcare with Singapore Management University, where she has applied her knowledge of statistics and healthcare to analyse key performance indicators in a community healthcare hospital, and thereby propose intervention strategies to improve patients’ clinical outcome. 

Her current qualitative projects at IPS focuses on family violence, disabilities, and issues related to race and religion.

Kai Lin has a Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Sociology from National University of Singapore, and is certified by Singapore Management University as a healthcare analytical professional. 

Publications

• Masters’ Thesis: Fans, Friends and Family: An Ethnographic Study of Youths in Singapore's Cosplay Community (2017)

Publications Op-eds/Commentaries

• Tan, E.S. & Sim, K. L. (2023, May 17). Why does everyone think they are middle class?. The Straits Times.

Awards

• Dean’s List, Semester 2 AY2011/2012, National University of Singapore