Research Fellow – Inclusive AI Governance (1-year)

About the role

The SMU Urban Institute is seeking a Research Fellow to support a four‑year project on Inclusive AI Governance across Southeast Asian cities. This one‑year, fixed‑term position will involve interdisciplinary fieldwork, data collection, and analysis in multiple urban contexts.

Key responsibilities

• Conduct qualitative research: build contact databases, perform snowball sampling, interview stakeholders, transcribe, code and analyse interview data.
• Lead quantitative components: liaise with panel providers, design surveys, manage data cleaning and statistical analysis.
• Execute primary fieldwork in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Bangkok, Manila, Ho Chi Minh City and other locations.
• Coordinate project activities: support the Lead PI with IRB approvals, organise stakeholder workshops, manage internal and external communications, and produce annual reports.
• Draft academic papers for top‑tier journals and develop final project deliverables.
• Supervise research assistants, student assistants and fieldwork assistants.
• Undertake any additional tasks that contribute to project success.

Required profile

• PhD in Urban Studies, Human/Urban Geography, Urban Sociology, Anthropology, Southeast Asian Studies or a related discipline.
• Strong qualitative research expertise and experience with interview‑based studies.
• Proven quantitative research abilities, including survey design and data analysis.
• Excellent written communication demonstrated through peer‑reviewed publications.
• Demonstrated interest in smart cities, platform urbanism, urban development and infrastructure in Southeast Asia.

Required skills

• Qualitative research methods
• Quantitative research methods
• Survey design and implementation
• Data cleaning and statistical analysis
• Project management and stakeholder coordination
• IRB approval processes