Asia Research Institute

The Asia Research Institute (ARI) at the National University of Singapore (NUS) invites applications for a Visiting Professorship in the interdisciplinary field of India-China Studies. We seek an internationally recognized scholar with a distinguished record of research, publication, and institutional leadership whose work engages the rich and complex historical and contemporary interactions between India and China.

India-China Studies is an emergent and dynamic field that explores the deep historical and contemporary interconnections between two of Asia’s most influential civilizations. It encompasses the study of intellectual, religious, diplomatic, commercial, and cultural exchanges across centuries, with particular attention to how ideas, people, texts, and technologies moved across overland and maritime routes connecting South and East Asia.

Going beyond conventional nation-state frameworks, the field invites interdisciplinary approaches that draw from history, religious studies, anthropology, literature, political science, and international relations. India-China Studies reorients global understandings of connectivity by foregrounding Asia’s internal circulatory systems and shared epistemologies, offering an alternative to Eurocentric narratives of global interaction. As the two countries continue to shape contemporary geopolitics and regional architectures, this field also provides a vital space for analyzing their entangled pasts and imagining new possibilities for transregional engagement.

Job Description

The successful candidate will play a leading role in shaping the field of India-China Studies at ARI and across the two NUS campuses. 

This will involve contributing to ARI’s Inter-Asia Engagements Cluster and working across the Institute’s thematic strengths, including migration, religion, urbanism, and transregional exchange, while also building collaborations with other relevant scholars at NUS, including within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, and at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.

The Visiting Professor will also:

• Develop a robust research programme advancing India-China historical and contemporary studies.
• Facilitate networking and public engagement activities promoting India-China Studies.
• Direct the development of an online Encyclopedia of India-China Studies.
• Edit or co-edit a book series on India-China Studies.
• Participate in ARI’s intellectual life and wider NUS interdisciplinary initiatives.

Job Requirements

1. Applicants must hold a PhD in a relevant field
2. Applicants should demonstrate exceptional accomplishments and leadership across the following areas:

a)    Publication Record

• • • • A sustained record of monograph publication with leading academic presses, with explicit reference to topics in India-China studies, will be preferred.
      • Editorial experience with major collaborative volumes and academic journals in India-China, Buddhist, or transregional Asian studies.
      • Internationally recognized journal article output in top-ranked interdisciplinary venues that reflect a track record in India-China studies.

b)    Institutional and Programme Building

• • • • Demonstrated success in founding and directing academic centres, programs, or other institutional units related to trans-Asian studies.
      • Proven capacity to initiate long-term transnational research collaborations, with a preference for projects involving institutions in both India and China.
      • Experience as principal investigator or co-director on multi-year projects engaging cross-regional themes in Asian studies.

c)    Language and Fieldwork Proficiency

• • • • Possessing the capacity to work with relevant research languages that are associated with India-China Studies.

Terms of Appointment

• Start-up research funding, subsidized housing, medical benefits, and relocation support are available. Remuneration will be commensurate with the candidate’s experience and academic stature.

Application Process

To apply for this position, please submit the following documents in one (combined) PDF and attach it under the CV column in the system:

• A cover letter detailing research credentials, institutional contributions, and teaching experience.
• A curriculum vitae.
• A statement of future research plans and activities relevant to advancing India-China Studies at ARI.
• Names and contact details of three referees.

The closing date for applications is 1st July 2025.  Only shortlisted applicants will be notified. Shortlisted applicants may be called for interview, either in person or by zoom, as appropriate. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

More Information

Location: Kent Ridge Campus

Organization: Asia Research Institute

Department : Research

Job requisition ID : 29113

Contact list for further enquiries

For informal inquiries, please contact the Chair of the Search Committee, Prof Kenneth Dean at chsdek@nus.edu.sg.