Research Assistant (Institute of Policy Studies)

The Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) is a policy research think-tank in the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore. IPS is looking to hire a Research Assistant for the Society & Culture Department. 

The Research Assistant will be working in a research team that contributes to IPS’ research programme on inequality and social mobility, including the evaluation of policies, programmes or interventions.

Researchers at IPS work on a variety of projects initiated by the Institute, the government and the non-profit sector, using both qualitative and quantitative methods. The Research Assistant will be able to engage in research projects and have opportunities to co-author articles and research papers with other members of the research team. They will also benefit from exposure to intellectual exchange and networking with various stakeholders linked to the Institute’s work. This job will provide excellent training for a fresh graduate or an early career researcher who is seeking to develop a career in the fields of public policy or social science research, whether in academia, the public service, or the private sector. 

The job scope includes:

• Assisting with the administration and management of research projects, including recruiting and managing participants 
• Conducting secondary research (e.g., literature review), data analysis for qualitative and quantitative research, and supporting the publication and dissemination of results and findings in reports, policy briefs, and conference and academic journal papers
• Conducting research fieldwork, including in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, participant observations, writing field notes, and surveys
• Conducting data analysis and supporting the publication and dissemination of results and findings in reports, conference presentations and academic journals
• Undertaking other administrative duties relating to research projects, such as corresponding with stakeholders and working with other departments (e.g., finance and event management)
• Organising and reporting of seminars and conferences

Requirement

• Have at least a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant social science discipline from a reputable university
• Be intellectually curious and possess strong research skills, preferably with some background and a keen interest in social issues and social policy
• Demonstrate experience and competency in working with and synthesising large bodies of data (gathered through primary and secondary research) 
• Strong written English skills required for report writing and professional correspondence
• Be resourceful in getting things done and be able to meet deadlines and work well with others

The following are optional criteria that will give your application an advantage:

• Have experience in conducting research, whether qualitative (e.g., meta reviews, interviews and focus groups discussions), or quantitative (e.g., surveys, experiments)