Postdoc positions at Asian Civilisations Museum Singapore 784 views

The Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM) invites application for fellowships in the following area:

1. Material Culture Studies
2. Material Studies
3. Singapore Community Heritage
4. Trade
5. Museological Studies
6. Cities/Urban Studies
7. Intangible Cultural Heritage
8. Peranakan / Mixed heritage Research

The research scholarship supports in-depth original study and writing on specialized aspects of Asian culture.

How to apply:

1. Electronic applications should be submitted to nhb_acm_rpu@nhb.gov.sg.
2. Attachments should not exceed 5MB.
3. The application package should include:
   1. Download Completed application form;
   2. Research title and proposal;
   3. A clear scan of the certificate of doctoral degree and, if document is not in English, an official translation from the issuing university;
   4. Recommendations from two referees in support of the application and research proposal. Referee should state how long and in what capacity he/she has known the applicant and evaluate the scholarly merit of the proposed research project, as well as the applicant’s research potential.
   5. Referees may also send the letters directly to nhb_acm_rpu@nhb.gov.sg with subject line “ACMF2019_<name of applicant>”.
   6. One writing sample or copy of a chapter of the dissertation in English.
4. Applicants will receive email acknowledgements of the receipt of their applications by 15 December 2018. They will be informed of the results by the end of January 2019.
5. Applications close on 15 December 2018. 

Required Eligibility: 

1. Candidates should have a doctoral (PhD) degree, or if in the final stages of their dissertation, should have a PhD by the time they begin their fellowship if it is awarded to them.
2. Candidates should have completed the bulk of their field work on their proposed projects, and be able to write and present papers in English.
3. The research proposal should be clearly outline the area of study and should not be more than 2,000 words.
4. It should and justify how the proposal is relevant to the field, the Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM), and the researcher’s own work.
5. If the proposal is part of a larger project or a collaborative work with another scholar or institution, this should be explained in the application.
6. We value multi-disciplinary work, cross-cultural studies, and research on ongoing projects at ACM. Research related to the collections at the ACM is preferred.

Stipend:

1. Researchers who are based in Singapore will receive a monthly stipend of S$3,500. The monthly stipend for overseas researchers is S$5,000. Overseas researchers are also offered a one-time grant of S$3,000 as a relocation allowance.
2. Research fellows will be taxed for all stipends received during the fellowship, including the relocation stipend. Please refer to the FAQ section for more details.

Award period and length of fellowship: Fellowships may be for four months (semester) or nine months (academic year).

The start and finish of the award period is flexible, though successful applicants are expected to conclude their fellowships within the year of the award.

Selection process and criteria

Candidates will be evaluated for their originality, creativity, and how the proposed projects bear upon the annual themes, as well as their connection with the ACM’s collection.

In general, applicants may not hold another grant during the period of the ACM research fellowship.

Frequently Asked Questions 

What are the resources in Singapore available for my research?

The ACM offers the use of its library and collection as the primary resources to the scholar.

How may I learn more about the ACM’s collection?

The ACM published parts of its collection in The Asian Civilisations Museum: A-Z Guide in 2003 (reprinted 2006). A similar guide to the Peranakan Museum was published in 2008 (reprinted 2013).

Various exhibition catalogues highlight specific areas of the collection as well. The website https://roots.sg/learn/collections presents objects from the collection of the ACM, although this is not comprehensive.

Will airfare be covered?

Overseas scholars will receive a one-time relocation allowance of S$3,000, which includes airfare allowance. The relocation allowance will be issued to the research fellow within the first week after the start of the fellowship.

May I ship my belongings to the ACM?

The ACM does not accept personal belongings and cannot be liable for them.

Does ACM provide hostel accommodation?

The ACM does not provide hostel accommodation. Research fellows are responsible for arranging their own accommodation.

Is accommodation provided on top of the stipend?

Accommodation is not provided. The stipend amount goes towards all discretionary expenses in Singapore, including accommodation, meals, local transport, medical insurance, etc. Stipends will be paid within seven days after the end of each completed month.

Will I be taxed on the stipend?

Yes, research fellows are held liable to pay local taxes according to tax regulations in Singapore. Please refer to the IRAS website for more information:

https://www.iras.gov.sg/irashome/Other-Taxes/Withholding-tax/

When should I travel to Singapore in the event that I am awarded the fellowship? 

Once the candidate is informed of his/her successful application, the National Heritage Board will arrange for the employment pass. As the award is subject to the successful application of the employment pass,

it is not advisable for the research fellow to travel to Singapore until the employment pass is granted. Research fellows will be informed when the employment pass has been approved, and at that time they can start making their travel arrangements.

Do I need a special visa to enter Singapore?

Visitors from most countries do not need a special visa to enter Singapore, except for the countries listed on the website of the Singapore Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (http://www.ica.gov.sg/visitor/visitor_entryvisa). The Singapore tourist visa is usually issued for 30 days.