The Postdoctoral/Research Fellowship at the Asia Research Institute (NurseTracs) at the National University of Singapore offers a research opportunity for PhD-qualified social science and humanities scholars working on migration, healthcare workers, nursing, mobility and global labour migration. The one-year appointment offers an all-inclusive monthly salary of S$6,000–S$6,500, with travel assistance for successful overseas applicants.
Application status: The source provided lists 30 April 2026 as the application deadline. As the current date is August 2026, this deadline has passed. The information below is therefore best treated as a detailed reference to the advertised 2026 fellowship rather than confirmation that applications are still open.
Background & Research Fellowship Description
The Asia Research Institute (ARI) at the National University of Singapore (NUS) advertised one Postdoctoral/Research Fellow position to join the NurseTracs – Tracing Nurse Trajectories: Multinational Migration Amid Global Competition research project.
The research examines how international competition for healthcare workers influences the migration pathways of nurses, with particular attention to Filipino migrant nurses.
The project investigates how governments, recruitment agencies and employers influence where migrant nurses move, how their trajectories change over time and how policies, recruitment strategies and workplace incentives affect migration decisions.
The research is interdisciplinary, bringing together expertise from sociology, geography, nursing and implementation science.
The successful fellow would be hosted within ARI’s Migration and Mobilities Cluster and work with Prof Brenda Yeoh and the wider NurseTracs research team.
The project is funded by the Singapore Ministry of Education Academic Research Fund Tier 2.
Research Focus
International migration is often examined as movement between an origin country and a destination country. NurseTracs takes a broader approach by examining the multiple destinations and pathways that migrants may experience during their careers.
The project focuses on the “middle space” of migration, where governments, commercial recruitment agencies and employers compete to attract and direct migrant workers.
For migrant nurses, this can result in complex international trajectories involving multiple countries over time.
The project seeks to understand:
- How nurse migration trajectories have changed over time.
- How governments influence international nurse mobility.
- How recruitment agencies shape migration pathways.
- How employers compete for healthcare workers.
- How nurses respond to changing policies and incentives.
- How recruitment strategies influence migration between different destinations.
The research uses a mixed-method design, incorporating surveys, in-depth interviews and a digital story completion method.
Key Responsibilities
The appointed Postdoctoral/Research Fellow would contribute directly to the NurseTracs research project.
Conduct Qualitative Interviews
The fellow would conduct qualitative interviews, primarily with:
- State officials
- Migration brokers
- Hospital administrators
- Nursing school owners
The role also involves managing fieldwork, particularly in Singapore.
Analyse Research Data
The successful applicant would perform rigorous qualitative data analysis using NVivo.
Experience with NVivo is specifically identified as a requirement, making demonstrated qualitative research and data-analysis capability important for applicants.
Present Research Findings
The fellow would present research at both international and domestic conferences.
This provides an opportunity to develop academic presentation experience while contributing to discussions surrounding migration, healthcare labour and international mobility.
Academic Publications
The position includes joint authorship of publications intended for high-impact peer-reviewed journals.
The opportunity would therefore be particularly relevant to researchers seeking to strengthen their academic publication record.
Additional Research Activities
Beyond the core project, the appointed researcher may have opportunities to participate in:
- Project meetings
- Workshops
- Webinars
- Grant funding applications
- Other Migration and Mobilities Cluster projects
- ARI research activities
Research staff are also expected to participate actively in seminars, conferences and ARI social events.
Qualifications and Requirements
Education
Applicants are expected to hold a PhD degree or be awaiting conferment.
The preferred academic fields are within the Social Sciences and Humanities, particularly:
- Social Geography
- Sociology
- Anthropology
- Migration Studies
Candidates from closely related research backgrounds may find the interdisciplinary nature of the project relevant, although the supplied vacancy specifically identifies the fields above as preferred.
Research Experience
Applicants should demonstrate a research interest connected to the themes of the NurseTracs project.
Relevant research interests could include topics connected to migration, migrant workers, healthcare labour, nursing mobility, international recruitment or related areas, provided they align with the advertised project.
NVivo
Knowledge and expertise in NVivo is specifically required.
Candidates should therefore be prepared to demonstrate their experience using qualitative research software and conducting rigorous analysis of interview or other qualitative data.
Publication Potential
Applicants should demonstrate potential to develop a record of publications in high-impact peer-reviewed journals.
A strong academic writing background is therefore important for this research fellowship.
Communication Skills
The position requires a high level of competence in:
- Written communication
- Spoken communication
- Academic writing
Strong interpersonal skills are also required because the fellow will work with an interdisciplinary research team and interact with research participants and stakeholders.
Singapore Nursing Knowledge
Knowledge of Singaporean nursing contexts is listed as an advantage.
However, the source presents this as an advantage rather than a mandatory requirement.
Salary and Benefits
The advertised appointment is for one year.
The position offers an all-inclusive fixed monthly salary of:
S$6,000–S$6,500 per month
The exact salary depends on the candidate’s experience.
The advertised all-inclusive amount includes stipends for housing and living expenses.
Successful applicants from overseas would also receive travel assistance.
Singapore citizens and permanent residents are eligible for central provident fund benefits.
Salary and benefits-in-kind are subject to taxation under applicable Singapore tax laws.
The project also provides support for research fieldwork and conference attendance, subject to approval.
Work Location and Start Date
The successful applicant was expected to commence duties at the National University of Singapore in August 2026 and no later than October 2026.
The research fellow would primarily conduct interviews and manage fieldwork in Singapore.
The position is therefore particularly suited to researchers who are prepared to undertake qualitative fieldwork and collaborate with an interdisciplinary research team.
Application Requirements
The advertised application required candidates to combine the following documents into one PDF and attach it under the CV section of the application:
- Curriculum vitae
- Cover letter of no more than 800 words
- Academic transcripts
- One writing sample of no more than 8,000 words
The cover letter was expected to explain the applicant’s previous research experience and demonstrate their aptitude in relation to the NurseTracs research project.
Candidates should ensure that their application demonstrates a clear connection between their previous research, methodological skills and the objectives of the project.
Selection Process
Only shortlisted applicants would be contacted.
The advertised process indicated that shortlisted candidates could be invited to an interview either in person or via Zoom.
The interviews were scheduled to take place in May 2026.
Application Deadline
The source provided lists the application deadline as:
30 April 2026
Because this date has already passed, applicants should not assume that the position remains open.
The original external application link supplied with the vacancy was through the National University of Singapore careers system.
NUS Careers – External Candidates
For future or replacement opportunities, candidates should check the official NUS careers platform and the Asia Research Institute for current vacancies.
Why This Fellowship Is Significant
The NurseTracs project addresses an important intersection between international migration and global healthcare workforce shortages.
Migrant nurses are an increasingly important part of healthcare systems in many countries, while governments and employers compete internationally for healthcare professionals.
By examining how different actors influence nurse migration trajectories, the project aims to provide evidence that can inform discussions around migration policy, healthcare workforce planning and global inequalities in human resources for health.
For an early-career academic, participation in such a project could provide experience in qualitative fieldwork, interdisciplinary research, international conferences and academic publishing.
Final Thoughts
The Postdoctoral/Research Fellowship at the Asia Research Institute (NurseTracs) was a highly specialized research opportunity for PhD-level scholars interested in migration, healthcare labour, nursing mobility and social science research.
The advertised position offered a one-year appointment with an all-inclusive monthly salary of S$6,000–S$6,500, travel assistance for eligible overseas applicants and support for approved research fieldwork and conference participation.
The role also provided opportunities to contribute to international research presentations, workshops, grant applications and publications in high-impact peer-reviewed journals.
However, the advertised 30 April 2026 deadline has passed. Prospective applicants interested in similar opportunities should monitor the official NUS and Asia Research Institute channels for new or replacement research positions.
Strong SEO Keywords
Postdoctoral Research Fellowship NUS 2026, Asia Research Institute Fellowship, NurseTracs Research Fellowship, NUS Postdoctoral Fellowship, National University of Singapore Research Fellowship, Postdoctoral Fellowship Singapore, Research Fellow Singapore, NUS research jobs, Asia Research Institute jobs, migration research fellowship, migration studies fellowship, healthcare migration research, nursing migration research, migrant nurses research, social science postdoctoral fellowship, sociology postdoctoral fellowship, anthropology postdoctoral fellowship, social geography fellowship, migration studies postdoc, qualitative research fellowship, NVivo research fellowship, PhD research jobs Singapore, postdoctoral opportunities Singapore, academic research fellowship Asia, international postdoctoral fellowship 2026, research fellow salary Singapore, NUS academic jobs, healthcare workforce research, global migration research, international migration fellowship
