Research Fellow (1-year Contract) - SMU Urban Institute

About SMU Urban Institute

Established in early 2024, the SMU Urban Institute is a research center committed to interdisciplinary studies with a focus on Asian cities. Based at Singapore Management University in the heart of Singapore, it pursues impactful research that addresses urban challenges in the region.

Role Overview

We are looking for a Research Fellow to collaborate with the Lead Principal Investigator on a four-year project titled "Inclusive AI Governance in Southeast Asian Cities." This role involves extensive fieldwork across multiple cities including Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Bangkok, Manila, Ho Chi Minh City, and Bangkok. The project aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of inclusive AI governance, exploring both upstream and downstream dynamics.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct qualitative research: maintain contact databases, perform snowball sampling, carry out interviews, and analyze qualitative data through transcription and coding.
• Handle quantitative research tasks: coordinate with panel providers, design surveys, manage the project’s quantitative components, clean and analyze data.
• Lead and participate in primary fieldwork activities across Southeast Asian cities.
• Manage project coordination activities: engage with project PIs, support Lead PI with administrative duties such as IRB approvals, organize stakeholder workshops both locally and internationally, and handle communications with stakeholders.
• Contribute to academic publishing by drafting papers for prestigious journals and preparing final project deliverables.
• Supervise research staff, including research assistants, student assistants, and fieldwork assistants.
• Perform additional tasks to ensure project success as required.

Qualifications and Skills

• PhD in Urban Studies, Human/Urban Geography, Urban Sociology, Anthropology, Southeast Asian Studies, or a related discipline.
• Strong qualitative research skills demonstrated by previous work.
• Proven excellence in written communication, supported by published materials.
• Interest and understanding of topics including smart cities, platform urbanism, urban development, urban infrastructure, and Southeast Asian urban contexts.