Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University – School of Humanities and Social Sciences
School: School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Department: International Studies
Position: Open rank from Assistant Professor to Professor
Discipline: International Relations; Political Economy; International Political Economy; Global Public Policies
Location: Suzhou Campus, China
Contract Type: 3-year contract, renewable. 3rd contract is open-ended.
Advertisement End Date: 30th of November 2026
ABOUT XJTLU
In 2006, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) was founded by a partnership between the University of Liverpool, UK, and Xi'an Jiaotong University, China. Offering a unique international education experience, XJTLU brings together excellent research practice and expertise from both institutions and gives students the skills and knowledge they need to secure careers in a global marketplace. XJTLU now has over 25,000 enrolled students studying in both Suzhou and Liverpool in the UK. There are currently about 2,500 staff, including more than 1,300 academic staff from over 60 countries. XJTLU offers our undergraduates and postgraduates over 120 programmes with a diverse spectrum of courses.
With a focus on innovative education and research, XJTLU draws on the strengths of its parent universities and plays a pivotal role in facilitating access to China for UK and other institutional partners. At the same time, XJTLU is exploring future education by blending educational theory, best practice, and culture from the West and the East.
For detailed information about the university, please visit our website.
ABOUT the School of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Department of International Studies
The School of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) is a dynamic and internationally oriented academic community committed to excellence in research, education, and engagement. Bringing together humanities and social science perspectives, the School seeks both to advance disciplinary knowledge and to respond to major social, cultural, and technological transformations shaping China and the wider world. HSS is home to around 100 scholars from more than 15 countries and comprises four academic departments.
The Department of International Studies at XJTLU was established in 2018. Sitting in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences and collaborating with other schools of XJTLU, it aims to be a leading provider of international studies education and research. Our growing department is staffed by research active scholars from all over world, including Australia, Cameroon, China, Italy, Germany, Canada, South Korea, USA, Russia, and the United Kingdom. The Department of International Studies actively bridges the social sciences with emerging technologies. All programmes integrate tech-driven competencies into their curricula, equipping students to address real-world analytical challenges in fields such as international relations, global business, and transnational affairs.
The integration of advanced technologies into International Studies signals the evolution of traditional methodologies. Machine learning, text analysis, and network analysis, for instance, enable scholars to analyse vast datasets—including diplomatic communications, global trade networks, political texts, and social media discourse—to predict conflicts, map economic trends, assess policy impacts, and identify emerging international crises through historical and real-time data. Similarly, big data analytics can synthesize disparate data sources—social media activity, satellite imagery, and financial transactions—to uncover latent geopolitical dynamics. Furthermore, AI-driven simulations offer a transformative tool for modelling complex international scenarios, allowing policymakers and scholars to anticipate the consequences of strategic decisions, trade agreements, or environmental regulations. Geospatial technologies, meanwhile, provide critical frameworks for visualizing and analysing conflicts, humanitarian crises, and environmental degradation. Against this background, the Department of International Studies has been increasingly combining emerging technologies in the field of International Relations and International Political Economy.
Moreover, the department has forged strategic partnerships and collaborations with Suzhou—a hub for global investment and innovation. These partnerships provide critical support to develop international case studies grounded in real-world contexts and share high-tech learning resources tailored to social science applications. This synergy ensures students gain the skills needed for high-demand careers in an increasingly digital and interconnected global landscape.
More details about the Department of International Studies at HSS can be found here.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES
The successful candidate will be based in the Department of International Studies (INS) and will contribute to research, teaching, and academic service commensurate with their experience and academic rank.
The successful candidate will be expected to:
- Play a key role in the development and delivery of the Department's core modules on AI, big data, and emerging technologies, thereby bringing computational, data-driven, and AI-related approaches into dialogue with International Relations and International Political Economy questions and perspectives.
- Contribute to teaching within the Department of International Studies, including existing or new modules in International Political Economy, global governance, international security, foreign policy, and quantitative/computational methods relevant to their disciplinary expertise.
- Develop collaborative research and educational initiatives across the Department and, where appropriate, with other academic units at XJTLU.
- Contribute to curriculum innovation and pedagogical development, including the responsible and critical integration of AI, big data, and digital technologies into international studies education, with particular attention to international security, diplomacy, global governance, and international political economy.
- Design and deliver teaching that enables students from diverse disciplinary backgrounds—including those without advanced computational or programming skills—to use, interpret, and critically evaluate AI and data-analytic tools in international and policy-relevant contexts.
- Conduct and publish high-quality research in the relevant areas.
- Engage with external academic, industry, cultural, policy, or community partners, where appropriate, to develop research collaboration, educational opportunities, and real-world applications relevant to AI, data, and society, especially in areas such as geopolitical risk monitoring, economic coercion, technology competition, digital public diplomacy, and global governance.
- Supervise undergraduate, postgraduate, and, where appropriate, doctoral students in areas related to International Relations, International Political Economy, global governance, and computational social science.
- Undertake appropriate academic leadership, administration, and service responsibilities within the Department and University, commensurate with the level of appointment.
ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE
The successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate:
- A PhD in Political Science, International Relations, International Political Economy, Global Public Policy, or a closely related field, with a research profile engaging with AI, data, computational, and/or quantitative approaches.
- Expertise in applying computational and data-driven methods to humanities and social science research questions, particularly in International Relations and International Political Economy, such as causal inference, statistical modelling, game theory, machine learning, natural language processing, geospatial analysis, computational text analysis, or large-scale data analysis.
- Proficiency in relevant programming languages and computational tools, such as Python, R, STATA, and/or GIS, and the ability to teach computational and data-analytical methods to students from diverse disciplinary backgrounds, including those without advanced computational or programming skills.
- A strong understanding of the social, cultural, political, organisational, and/or ethical dimensions of AI and data, and the ability to connect computational approaches with International Relations, International Political Economy, global governance, and international security perspectives.
- Evidence of, or clear potential for, high-quality research and publication at the intersection of AI, data, and/or computational approaches and International Relations, International Political Economy, global governance, or international security, commensurate with the level of appointment.
- Demonstrated ability or clear potential to teach effectively at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, including in International Political Economy, International Relations and security, and quantitative methods.
- Ability to develop and deliver high-quality teaching and curricula relevant to the Department's development in AI, big data, and emerging technologies, including new programmes, modules, and educational initiatives, with specific capacity to contribute to the module "AI, Big Data, and Emerging Technologies for International Security and Global Governance".
- Ability to work across disciplinary boundaries and collaborate effectively with colleagues from humanities, social science, and technical backgrounds.
- Ability to contribute to the teaching and academic life of the Department of International Studies, with an appropriate fit with its programmes, including BA International Relations, MA Global Public Policy and International Relations, MA International Business and Global Affairs, and related degree programmes.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills in English; fluency in Chinese is an advantage.
CAREER DEVELOPMENT
- Clear career development path with annual review.
- Professional development training is provided.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
SALARY: Competitive salary in the market
BENEFITS
- Allowance: XJTLU provides various month/annual/one-off allowances as
- Housing allowance
- Travel allowance
- Children's education allowance
- Relocation allowance
- Etc.
- Commercial insurance: international insurance plans customized for XJTLU staff and family members. (details refer to the University Policy)
- Paid holidays:
- Statutory Holidays (13 days)
- Full Paid Holidays (34 days per academic year including university close days and annual leave)
- Family Matters Leave
- Paid Sick Leave
- Marriage Leave
- Paternity Leave
- Parental Leave
- Etc.
- Working visa and residence permit in China: XJTLU sponsors working visa and residence permit in China for the staff.
HOW TO APPLY
Please submit your application on our university website by clicking Apply button above.
Applications must be submitted in a single pdf file that includes 3 parts in the order of:
- A cover letter that explains how you fulfil the criteria specified in this job description
- A current CV, including country of citizenship, and highest degree level
- Contact Details for Three References
Informal enquiries about the position and the department may be addressed to the Head of Department Dr. Francesco Macheda at francesco.macheda@xjtlu.edu.cn
For specific enquiries relating to the position, please email Jia.Xu@xjtlu.edu.cn
Please quote the position and Position ID [4472] in your enquiry.