About this role
<div><div style="padding:10.0px 0.0px;border:1.0px solid transparent"><div style="font-size:20.0px;word-wrap:break-word"><H2 style="font-size:1.0em;margin:0.0px"><b>About the Job</b></H2> </div><div><p style="text-align:justify"> </p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Research Fellow</span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">The Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) seeks candidates for a renewable contract appointment as a Research Fellow.</span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Project Summary</span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">The Research Fellow will play a key role in designing, leading, and conducting a Programme Evaluation study of ComLink+ Progress Packages, a large-scale Government funded social programme that aims to help lower-income families in Singapore achieve stability, self-reliance, and social mobility. The Programme provides Family Coaches to help families co-develop personalised action plans, and conditional financial transfers when families take steps to improve children’s education, employment, clear debts, and save for home ownership.</span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">The study will use administrative data and a longitudinal panel survey to:</span></p> <ul style="text-align:justify" type="disc"> <li style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Assess the effectiveness of the Programme in supporting families to improve short-term outcomes relating to education, employment, and household finances;</span></li> <li style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Assess the potential impact of the Programme in supporting families to set goals and build capabilities towards long-term outcomes of stability, self-reliance, and social mobility;</span></li> <li style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Assess other impacts of the Programme on families' financial and consumption behaviours, social and family relations, and mental well-being.</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">The study will start immediately and is projected to end in June 2028, with a possible one-year extension.</span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">The Research Fellow will work with a small team of economists consisting of the Principal Investigator, supported by consultants. A research associate/assistant will support the team. The Research Fellow will interact with an NUS research team working with qualitative methods, and partners including the Government agency and third party survey vendors.</span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">The position is funded for up to 5 years. A candidate should preferably commit in principle to the entire duration of the project, or at least for the first two years. We will consider candidates who request a shorter duration position, and candidates who request fractional appointments (e.g. half-time), on a case by case basis.</span></p></div></div><div style="padding:10.0px 0.0px;border:1.0px solid transparent"><div style="font-size:20.0px;word-wrap:break-word"><H2 style="font-size:1.0em;margin:0.0px"><b>What You Will Be Doing</b></H2> </div><div><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Working with the Principal Investigator and consultant economists, the Research Fellow will:</span></p> <ul style="text-align:justify" type="disc"> <li style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Finalise the overall quantitative Programme Evaluation study research design.</span></li> <li style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Develop the quantitative survey instruments, including an interviewer-administered annual survey, and a self-administered high frequency data collection platform.</span></li> <li style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Develop, code, and implement the empirical research strategy to identify Programme causal effects using administrative data.</span></li> <li style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Analyse quantitative data and draft study reports for internal and external stakeholders.</span></li> <li style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Liaise and monitor the survey fieldwork vendor / fieldwork research team.</span></li> <li style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Assist in management of overall study administration, including IRB, budget management, and reporting to internal and external stakeholders.</span></li> <li style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Supervise and delegate tasks to the research associate/assistant and other team members to help achieve these objectives.</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Compensation and Benefits</span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">The salary is based on the qualifications and experience of the candidate, and is benchmarked to equivalent research fellow / entry-level faculty positions in Singapore.</span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Flexible work arrangements are offered. The position is based at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, Singapore. The Research Fellow is required to work from the office / data access site in Singapore during office hours when necessary due to data access restrictions, but may otherwise work flexibly.</span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">The Research Fellow will have co authorship rights on any resulting publications in accordance with their contributions, as standard practice.</span></p></div></div><div style="padding:10.0px 0.0px;border:1.0px solid transparent"><div style="font-size:20.0px;word-wrap:break-word"><H2 style="font-size:1.0em;margin:0.0px"><b>Job Requirements</b></H2> </div><div><ul> <li style="text-align:justify"> <p><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Qualifications / Experience Required:</span></p> <ul type="disc"> <li style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">A Ph.D. in Economics, Public Policy, or a related quantitative social science discipline, or must be on track to be awarded the Ph.D. without further full-time study, within one year of the start of the appointment. Candidates without a Ph.D. but with demonstrated equivalent research abilities may apply, and will be considered for an appropriate position based on their research expertise.</span></li> <li style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Demonstrated knowledge and application of contemporary applied microeconomics research methods, including randomized controlled trials, and quasi-experimental causal identification methods. Publications and/or working papers showing these skills will be an advantage.</span></li> <li style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Demonstrated ability to code and analyse large-scale data with at least one common econometrics/statistics software system, such as STATA, or R.</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Applications should be made to:</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">The Principal Investigator, A/P Walter Theseira (email: [email protected]), at the SUSS School of Business, Singapore University of Social Sciences, 463 Clementi Road, Singapore. Please include:</span></p> <ul type="disc"> <li style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Brief cover note in your email highlighting any relevant experience, research projects, or research interests.</span></li> <li style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Academic CV</span></li> <li style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">One paper (published or unpublished) that is most relevant to the project or demonstrates appropriate quantitative research skills.</span></li> <li style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Link to your job market site, personal academic website, google scholar / ORCID profile, etc, as appropriate.</span></li> <li style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt">Letters of reference are not required now, but will be requested of shortlisted applicants. Generic letters of reference for academic positions are suitable.</span></li> </ul> </li> </ul></div></div></div>