Research Fellow, Centre of African Studies (CAS)

About the role

The NTU-SBF Centre for African Studies (CAS) at Nanyang Business School is looking for a Research Fellow who will contribute actively to the Centre's mission of advancing high-quality, policy-relevant and globally visible research on Africa, while supporting its academic development, intellectual leadership and engagement activities. The Fellow reports to the Director (CAS).

Key responsibilities

• Carry out independent and collaborative academic research on African economies, business, finance, development and institutional transformation, aiming for international peer-reviewed outlets and encouraging external research funding and collaborations.
• Present research findings at internal seminars, international conferences and academic workshops, and take part in interdisciplinary research linking Africa with Asia and other emerging regions.
• Help shape the Centre's academic agenda by curating and organising seminars, workshops and symposia, and coordinate them in line with the Centre's strategic priorities.
• Guide and supervise undergraduate and postgraduate students doing Africa-related research, and contribute to doctoral training activities.
• Submit grant proposals, win research projects and support the Centre Director in research strategy, partnerships and stakeholder engagement.
• Mentor junior researchers, support visiting scholars and enhance the Centre's international profile.

Required profile

• PhD; a thesis on Africa or Asia-Africa comparison is a bonus.
• Relevant research experience on African business, economies and societies.
• Some teaching experience (even as a teaching assistant).
• At least three published articles or working papers showing relevant expertise.
• Deep understanding of Africa and how businesses work.

Required skills

• Knowledge of Development Economics, International Trade, Public Policy, Sustainability, African Business Climate, Econometrics, Data Analysis, Survey and Comparative Analysis, and Regression Analysis is advantageous.
• Strong data analysis, including econometric analysis, applied microeconomic methods and/or theoretical or structural modelling.
• Ability to manage, clean and document datasets with reproducible practices.
• Competence in using AI tools for research, data processing, literature review, coding and workflow.
• Excellent PowerPoint and presentation skills, and the ability to explain complex analysis simply to non-specialists.
• Strong written and oral communication, including academic writing and research proposals.