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Full-Time Faculty, Research Track Positions at the Associate or Full Professor Levels in Urban Analytics/Innovation or Urban Studies
The Urban Institute (UI) at Singapore Management University (SMU) invites applications for up to three full-time, non-tenurable Research Track faculty positions at the Associate or Full Professor level in Urban Analytics/Innovation or Urban Studies. These are fixed-term appointments for three years in the first instance, with the possibility of renewal.
Research Track faculty at SMU are expected to pursue high-quality, impactful research, contribute to interdisciplinary scholarship, and participate in the broader academic and intellectual lives of the UI and SMU. The teaching load is one course per year, and successful applicants will have clear KPIs in terms of publishing and grant-winning.
The UI is a university-level research institute dedicated to delivering impact through interdisciplinary research on Asian cities. Its vision is to advance an approach to studying and understanding the city that is human-centred, innovation-driven, and Asia-focused. Guided by four research pillars – Growth, Governance, Systems, Experiences – the UI understands the city in holistic terms, and seeks to develop the understanding and insight needed to make Asia’s cities more liveable, inclusive and resilient places.
We are interested in candidates who are able to push the boundaries of urban research in areas such as, but not limited to, urban sustainability, urban systems and infrastructures (including smart cities and AI enabled urban systems), urban liveability and inequality, and/or novel approaches to urban theory development. We also welcome applicants trained in Data Science/Analytics, Computer Science, Geographical Information Systems, Informatics, Geomatics, Urban or Development Economics, Public Policy, Urban Planning, Urban Engineering (all with an urban application), or in cognate disciplinary or interdisciplinary fields with an urban focus.
Candidates that can demonstrate bold interdisciplinarity in research are particularly encouraged to apply, as are those with demonstrable experience conducting research in and on cities in Asia. Prior experience working within Singapore’s higher education landscape is a bonus.
Applicants Should Be Able To:
- Conceptualise and execute high quality research projects, and develop grant applications on urban-related issues in Asia, broadly defined
- Design and deliver an undergraduate or postgraduate course on urban-related topics
- Participate actively in the research and educational communities at SMU, and contribute to at least one of the university’s three areas of strategic priority: Growth in Asia, Digital Transformation, and Sustainable Living
- Contribute to the dynamic intellectual life at UI as well as to interdisciplinary dialogue and exchange with colleagues from other Schools (such as Computing and Information Systems, Economics, Law, Business, and the Humanities and Social Sciences)
Qualifications
Ph.D. in either a computational discipline (e.g., Data Science/Analytics/Informatics, Computer Science, Geographical Information Systems, Geomatics, Urban or Developmental Economics, Urban Planning, Engineering with an urban focus, or Building Science), or an interdisciplinary (e.g., Urban Science, Urban Studies, Development Studies, or Architecture) field
A strong international research and publication record, including publications in leading peer-reviewed journals.
Excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills
Research Associate (1-year contract)
We are currently seeking individuals with specific skillsets to support the various ongoing projects at the Institute:
- Co-author manuscripts for submission to peer-reviewed journals, using previously collected datasets.
- Design and conduct new qualitative and mixed-method studies, including interviews, focus groups, and social media analysis.
- Collect, clean, organise, and analyse data using qualitative software and multi-method frameworks.
- Carry out cross-country comparative analysis with a focus on Southeast Asian contexts.
- Translate research findings for non-academic audiences and engage with external stakeholders.
- Collaborate with colleagues and researchers from other disciplines as part of an interdisciplinary team.
- Compile research reports and contribute to grant reporting and documentation as required.
- Undertake any other research-related duties as assigned by the Principal Investigator.
Qualifications
- Master's degree in a relevant social science, arts, or humanities discipline.
- Minimum 2 years of research experience in an interdisciplinary environment spanning social sciences, arts, and/or humanities.
- Demonstrated academic writing ability, evidenced by publications, working papers, or equivalent outputs.
- Prior experience working in mixed teams that include scientists, engineers or computing researchers.
Full-Time Faculty, Research Track Positions at the Associate or Full Professor Levels in Urban Informatics / Urban Studies
This Research Track faculty role at SMU’s Urban Institute focuses on advancing high-impact, interdisciplinary research on Asian cities. The incumbent will develop and execute ambitious research programmes aligned with UI’s pillars—Growth, Governance, Systems, and Experiences—while meeting clear KPIs in publishing and grant acquisition.
With a teaching load of one course per year, the role combines research leadership with selective teaching and active participation in SMU’s academic community. The successful candidate will contribute to undergraduate or postgraduate education, engage in interdisciplinary collaboration across Schools, and support at least one of SMU’s strategic priorities: Growth in Asia, Digital Transformation, or Sustainable Living.
Candidates with strong urban research expertise, bold interdisciplinarity, and experience working on cities in Asia are especially encouraged to apply.
For more information, please see the LinkedIn post.
Application is now closed.
Research Assistant (12-month contract)
This role supports the project "Infrastructures of Care and Everyday Elderly Mobilities in Singapore," which focuses on ageing and everyday urban experiences in Singapore. The incumbent will assist the P.I. in delivering the project through fieldwork, data management, and administrative coordination.
Key responsibilities include building and maintaining participant databases, conducting (snowball) sampling, carrying out interviews with elderly residents and caregivers, and transcribing qualitative data. The role also involves supporting project administration and undertaking ad hoc tasks essential to project delivery.
Candidates should hold an undergraduate or postgraduate degree, have some experience with qualitative research in Singapore, and demonstrate strong organisational skills and attention to detail. Interest in ageing, elderly care, mobility, and urban infrastructure is highly valued, with additional language skills considered an asset.
For more information, please see the LinkedIn post.
Application is now closed.
Research Fellow (1-year contract)
This role supports high-impact urban research and grant development within an interdisciplinary team led by the PI. The Fellow will contribute empirical, policy-relevant research grounded in urban and regional economics, supporting data-driven insights and applied urban solutions.
The incumbent will coordinate and draft grant proposals, develop and maintain integrated data-sharing platforms, and manage large-scale administrative, demographic, spatial, and transportation datasets. They will conduct literature reviews, build structured knowledge bases to support theory and research design, and lead data collection, analysis, and maintenance. The role also includes producing research publications and policy briefs that inform urban policy and practice.
For more information, please see the LinkedIn post.
Application is now closed.
Research Engineer (1-year contract)
This role supports interdisciplinary urban research conducted by the SMU Urban Institute, a university-level research institute established in early 2024. Leveraging SMU’s strategic location in Singapore’s city centre, the Institute focuses on advancing impactful research on Asian cities. The incumbent will work under the supervision of the Principal Investigator (P.I.) to support ongoing research projects at the Institute.
Key responsibilities include refitting and operating a large-scale taxi and ride-hailing simulation model using updated street topology data, processing and managing large datasets from sources such as LTA and Gojek for simulation calibration, and designing automated calibration workflows to ensure the model aligns closely with real-world transport patterns.
Candidates should possess relevant technical and analytical skillsets, with experience in large-scale data processing, simulation modelling, or urban transport research. Familiarity with Singapore’s transport datasets and an interest in urban mobility, smart cities, and applied urban analytics are highly valued.
For more information, please see the LinkedIn post.
Application is now closed.
Research Assistant (2-year contract)
This role will work closely with the Director to advance the Institute’s research, branding, and outreach agenda. The Research Assistant will support the development of high-quality research outputs by compiling and managing databases of reports and supporting materials, identifying and engaging key stakeholders and interviewees, and assisting with the design, conduct, transcription, and synthesis of interviews into published reports. The role will also contribute to literature reviews, sampling network development, and research analysis, with bibliometric analysis skills considered an asset. In addition, the incumbent will provide coordination and operational support for Institute activities, including organising lectures, workshops, and seminars; facilitating meetings with Pillar Leads and Urban Fellows; preparing minutes; and undertaking other ad hoc administrative and research support tasks as required.
Application is now closed.