"Research Assistant/Research Associate (Geography/Sociology/Urban Planning)"

Job Description

The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) at the National University of Singapore (NUS), invites applications for the position of Research Assistant/Associate. The successful applicant is expected to commence duties at NUS in May 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter.

This position is connected to a research project titled, “Social Networks and Housing Aspirations in Ageing Public Housing”. The research focuses on homeowners’ decision making towards housing relocation, with a particular emphasis on spatial behaviour, neighbourhood ties and social networks. The research team will adopt a mixed methods approach, combining:

• Qualitative methods (ethnographic fieldwork and in-depth interviews)
• GPS tracking
• GIS visualisations for analyses
• Surveys

This role is well suited to candidates interested in gaining social science research experience, offering hands-on experience in integrating spatial data with qualitative and survey-based insights.

The project team consists of Principal Investigator (PI) Professor Elaine Ho (Department of Geography), Co-PI Associate Professor Vincent Chua (Department of Sociology and Anthropology) and Collaborator A/P Feng Chen-Chieh (Department of Geography).

Scope and responsibilities

The Research Assistant/ Associate will:

• Contribute to empirical research activities, including interviews, surveys, and ethnographic fieldwork
• Support the Principal Investigator with project coordination and large grant management
• Assist with data management and liaise with the project team members or external parties on such matters
• Work with GPS data, such as producing GIS maps and visualisations
• Support data analysis across qualitative and spatial components (integrating with survey data where relevant)

Qualifications

Applicants are expected to hold at least a Second Class Honours (Upper Division) or an equivalent honours degree, or a Master’s degree in the Social Sciences.

Competencies

• Conversational proficiency in one or more of the following languages central to the research project will be an advantage: Mandarin and/or Chinese dialects used in Singapore (e.g. Hokkien, Cantonese, Teochew or Hainanese); Malay or Tamil.
• Willingness to learn about and work with researchers using mixed methods; prior experience of working with mixed methods will be an advantage
• Excellent writing and strong communication skills in English, including an ability to present research in both academic and non-academic venues
• Skills in qualitative research methods (e.g. interviews and ethnography) alongside knowledge of Geographic Information Science applications (e.g. ArcGIS, QGIS) will be an advantage
• Skills in using qualitative analysis software will be an advantage
• Prior experience in large grant management will be an advantage
• Curiosity and passion to explore new concepts, methods and technologies, and capable of identifying and quickly learning the most suitable tools for the research on the go
• A good team player and the ability to multitask effectively
• Excellent organization and interpersonal skills
• Core Microsoft Office skills are expected

Other Information

Informal enquiries may be made to Professor Elaine Ho (elaine.ho@nus.edu.sg). Please include a cover letter tailored to the job description, full CV and the names of three referees in your application.

This is a one-year contract which can be extended according to performance.

Shortlisted applicants may be called for interview, either in person or by Zoom, as appropriate.

Application deadline: 1 March 2026 (or until a suitable candidate is identified)

More Information

Location: Kent Ridge Campus

Organization: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Posting Start Date: 24/02/2026