Yong Pung How Junior Fellowship

Call for applications for Yong Pung How Junior Fellowship


Objectives

The Singapore Management University (SMU) Yong Pung How School of Law is pleased to invite applications for the Yong Pung How Junior Fellowship (the "Fellowship").  Established with the generous support of the family of the late Dr Yong Pung How, former Chief Justice of Singapore, the Fellowship seeks to nurture young Singaporeans for faculty positions at the Yong Pung How School of Law.     

The primary objective of the Fellowship is to support outstanding Singaporean law graduates in conducting high-quality research in law and related fields.  By fostering research excellence and cultivating academic potential, the Fellowship seeks to develop a pool of talented individuals capable of excelling as scholars while deepening Singapore's expertise across diverse areas of legal research. 

Job Descriptions

Recipents of the Yong Pung How Junior fellowship will work at SMU Yong Pung How School of Law, conducting research and teaching and contributing to service duties.  The position is a full-time appointment for a maximum term of up to two years.  The recipient shall use the title "Yong Pung How Junior Fellow" during the period of award.        

Each Yong Pung How Junior Fellow will be required to:

  • actively conduct scholarly research in law and related fields;
  • undertake one section of teaching a year;
  • contribute to a threshold level of service duties; and
  • actively participate in the research activities at Yong Pung How School of Law such as presenting and/or commenting at seminars. 

Each Yong Pung How Junior Fellow will be assigned a mentor, who will regularly engage the Fellow to provide guidance and support in both teaching and research. 

Upon completing the Fellowship, a Yong Pung How Junior Fellow who has demonstrated strong potential for high quality publications and meets other relevant criteria may be invited to apply for a junior faculty position, and may be requested to complete postgraduate study before applying for such a position.    
  

Eligibility

Singapore Citizens who are law graduates and who show demonstrated potential to excel as scholars are eligible to apply for the Fellowship.  Exceptionally, a non-Singaporean may be considered but he or she must be an SMU law graduate who has demonstrated commitment to work in and contribute to Singapore. 

The potential for scholarship excellence can be evidenced by publications (including articles, chapters, blogs), innovative research (e.g., the development of theories and methods, empirical research), awards and honours, contribution to the legal and related community through editorial roles and commenting or presenting at event, among others. 

The applicant must have an outstanding undergraduate LLB degree, and strong interest and potential in high quality research.  A postgraduate degree in law is not essential. 

All research topics in law are welcome. We encourage a variety of research methodologies, including an interdisciplinary, empirical and/or comparative approaches. 

Compensation

In respect of each selected fellow, a highly competitive remuneration is offered.

Application Procedure

Interested applicants should submit the following to lawcv@smu.edu.sg :

  • A cover letter that indicates how the applicant (i) plans to benefit from this fellowship, and (ii) contribute to SMU Yong Pung How School of Law, including teaching;
  • Curriculum Vitae;
  • Copy of academic transcripts;
  • Research proposal, including motivations to pursue the research, and the plan;
  • A list of three referees with full contact details;
  • Publications (if any) but this is not esential.

Applications will be kept with the strictest confidence.

Closing date: 30 April 2025

Other questions can be directed to Professor WANG Heng, Associate Dean (Faculty Matters & Research), at hengwang@smu.edu.sg