Job Description

The Centre for International Law (CIL) at the National University of Singapore is a university-level research centre, with the mission of producing cutting edge research on international law. It is also at the forefront of capacity-building initiatives in the Asia-Pacific region through workshops, conferences, training sessions, and academic programmes that engage a diverse audience of government and private sector professionals as well as academics. 

CIL is inviting applications for a Research Fellow position in its ASEAN Law and Policy programme. The Research Fellow will work under the supervision of the Head of the ASEAN Law and Policy Programme, Professor Joseph Weiler. The Research fellow will also work closely with other researchers of the ASEAN Law and Policy Programme.

Applications are open to candidates with and a demonstrable research interest in any aspect of ASEAN Law, and/or the development of ASEAN institutions and the rule-based order. We have a particular interest in candidates with a background in International Economic Law and an interest in the ASEAN Economic Community. Applicants are required to submit a research proposal on a specific area of inquiry related to ASEAN.

The position will commence in November 2026. The initial appointment will be for one year, with the possibility of extension to a second year contingent upon satisfactory progress during the first year.

Responsibilities and Requirements

• To propose and lead a research project on a specific area of ASEAN Cooperation.
• Significant scholarly output (journal articles, book chapters, policy papers and blogs etc).
• To present their research and give papers at academic conferences at NUS and elsewhere.
• To organise capacity building programmes, namely the annual Global Trade Law Academy online and the annual CIL ASEAN Academic Workshop.
• To edit the ASEAN Ideas in Progress Working Paper series.
• To contribute, where appropriate, to CIL’s broader research projects, events and initiatives.
• Subject to the standard NUS terms of annual leave, the Fellow will be expected to be in residence in Singapore throughout the term of their appointment. In addition to annual leave, the Fellow may apply for leave to undertake research and fieldwork overseas, subject to the approval of the CIL Director.

Qualifications

The selection committee will consider the following criteria in making appointments:

1. Applicants must possess a doctoral degree in international law, or a relevant ASEAN-related discipline.
2. Applicants should have a minimum of two-year work experience after receiving their PhD.
3. The primary selection criterion will be the strength of the applicant’s background in ASEAN law and/or integration, and the applicant's potential for excellence in research.

Application Procedures

Application should be submitted online with the following documents via the NUS career portal. Preference will be given to applications received by 30 June 2026:

• Personal Statement (500-600 words) outlining the reasons for seeking the Fellowship, the applicant's career goals, and any other pertinent information relevant to the application.
• Full Curriculum Vitae containing complete and detailed information on academic institutions, honours, awards, publications and professional experience (current and previous, including employment dates and job descriptions).
• A copy of the doctoral dissertation as well as doctoral certification.
• A detailed Research Proposal (maximum 3000 words) outlining, inter alia, the research question(s), the proposed methodology of answering such, the anticipated contribution to the field, and expected deliverables (e.g. book, articles). The title of the proposal should clearly indicate the nature of the research project and the proposal should include an executive summary of no more than 600 words. 
• One or two samples of published work.
• At least three letters of reference from academic referees, including one from the PhD supervisor . Reference letters should be sent confidentially directly to Ms Huong Tam (huong.tam@nus.edu.sg) by the application deadline and should address the applicant's potential to conduct high-quality research.

Only shortlisted candidates will be notified.