Southeast Asia Research Group (SEAREG) Summer 2027 Postdoctoral Fellowship
The Southeast Asia Research Group (SEAREG) is launching a Postdoctoral Fellowship program that will begin in the summer of 2027 with one Fellow holding a 12-month position at one of four partner institutions located in Southeast Asia.
The program aims to provide scholars of Southeast Asia with opportunities for training, networking, and field research to improve competitiveness for the academic and non-academic job markets. The appointment will allow the Fellow to strengthen their research agenda while also contributing to the academic life of the host institution. The Fellow will receive mentoring from a member of the SEAREG Executive Council, and will have their work showcased at SEAREG’s annual Southeast Asian workshop in the summer of 2027.The Postdoctoral Fellowship offers a competitive salary and a small fund to support research expenses. It will also support travel ahead to SEAREG’s Southeast Asian workshop at the start of the Fellowship.SEAREG Postdoctoral Fellowships are supported by generous financial support from the Henry Luce Foundation.
Partner Institutions
The first SEAREG Postdoctoral Fellow will be hosted at one of four partner institutions located in the region. These include the following universities:
Chulalongkorn University (Bangkok, Thailand)
A SEAREG Postdoc Fellow based at Chula would be expected to present a public lecture focused on their research and make progress on papers for submission to academic journals. Teaching requirement would be finalized in consultation with Chulalongkorn. The research focus of the Chula faculty is available on the university website.Mahidol University (Nakhon Pathom, Thailand)
A SEAREG Postdoc Fellow at Mahidol will be expected to teach a course alongside pursuing their research. Details for a public lecture or similar engagement will be developed in consultation with the host faculty. To learn more about the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities' research areas, please visit the Mahidol website or LinkedIn page.Universiti Sains Malaysia (George Town, Penang, Malaysia)
A SEAREG Postdoc Fellow based at USM would be expected to present their research at a faculty seminar, deliver guest lectures in classes on a topic of their choosing (pending discussion with members of Department of Political Science), and potentially co-author an article with faculty members if there's a mutual research interest. A Postdoc Fellow may also become an affiliate with the Research and Education for Peace USM (REPUSM) upon approval from the faculty.VinUniversity (Hanoi, Vietnam)
A SEAREG Postdoc Fellow based at VinU would have the opportunity to be integrated into research teams at the Smart Green Transformation Center. Other arrangements are possible depending on the Postdoc Fellow’s interests, but the emphasis would be on research activities.
Applicants will need to make initial contact with their potential host institutions. Interested parties can reach out to SEAREG program manager Jack Daly (jack.daly@duke.edu) for assistance connecting with individuals at the partner schools.
As described above, partner institutions have different expectations. Applicants should engage in initial conversations about their responsibilities and expectations during the application process. Postdoctoral Fellowship applications must include a letter of support from a mentor based at their intended university.
How to Apply
All application materials must be submitted by Sunday, November 1 at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (U.S.).
Future Years
SEAREG expects to expand its Postdoctoral Fellowship program in 2028 and 2029, offering three positions each year in Southeast Asia for a total of seven by June 2030. The contours of future years will be similar—a 12-month Fellowship in the region, with presentations at SEAREG’s annual workshop in the region.
