Visiting Scholars Programme

Call for applications for visiting roles at Singapore Management University, Yong Pung How School of Law

As a premier university in Asia, SMU is internationally recognised for its world-class research and distinguished teaching. Its mission is to generate leading-edge research with global impact and to produce broad-based, creative and entrepreneurial leaders for the knowledge-based economy.   

The Yong Pung How School of Law is among SMU’s eight schools and offers LL.B., J.D., LL.M. and Ph.D. degrees. Located in Singapore’s Central Business District, SMU Yong Pung How School of Law has forged strong cooperation with leading law schools, top law firms and businesses including technology companies. Its academic research includes cutting-edge issues of transnational commercial law (including international economic law, private law, corporate law and governance, financial regulation, the law of insolvency and restructuring etc); technology and innovation (including AI, digital economy, emerging technologies and governance, computational law and data governance); dispute resolution (including private and international law and ADR); law and sustainability (such as ESG, green finance and environmental law, technology and sustainability).  SMU faculty members have diverse experiences in multiple jurisdictions and have published widely in leading international journals.

We are inviting applications for the following visiting positions.  Scholars with research interests in all areas of law are welcome to apply. Subject areas of particular interest to the Yong Pung How School of Law include our research specialities as listed above, as well as the impact of technology on the legal profession, employment law/regulation in a digital economy and the future of work, and legal innovation and entrepreneurship. We are particularly interested in scholars who would like to explore research collaboration with our faculty. Interdisciplinary research including that concerning hard science is highly encouraged.

Lee Kong Chian Visiting Professor

The Singapore Management University (SMU) Yong Pung How School of Law invites distinguished scholars to apply for the Lee Kong Chian Visiting Professor (LKC Visiting Professor) position which entails a visit to the Yong Pung How School of Law for a minimum period of three weeks and up to two months. This visiting professorship provides a unique opportunity for international scholars to develop academic networks and explore legal issues related to Singapore, ASEAN and Asia.  We are inviting applications for visits beween August 2026 and April 2027.  

Expected Contributions
The LKC Visiting Professor will contribute to undergraduate or postgraduate teaching, conduct research in his/her fields and contribute to the research endeavours of Yong Pung How School of Law. 

Subject to discussion with the school, the LKC Visiting Professor will teach one undergraduate or post-graduate course ordinarily comprising 6 3-hour seminars; present at the faculty research seminar/workshop; give a seminar at the SMU Law Academy; interact with Yong Pung How School of Law colleagues; mentor early-career scholars; as well as develop one substantive publication during the visit. 

Some applicants may be invited to serve as visiting faculty who will be invited to conduct research and undertake teaching outside of formal coursework.    

Qualifications
The LKC Visiting Professor should be a full professor at a reputable university with an outstanding publications record. Leadership positions in research institutions/centres or international academic associations or a strong research grant record will be an advantage.

Compensation
The LKC Visiting Professor will be provided with an honorarium (subject to taxes) for the undertaking of the obligations described above and to cover travel, in full or in part, travel and accommodation costs.  The amount will be determined based on the candidate's qualifications, obligations and length of visit.  

Allen & Gledhill Visiting Scholar Programme

We invite applications from full-time research faculty (all ranks) from leading universities with a strong publication record for positions under the Allen & Geldhill Visiting Scholar Programme.  The visit should be for a minimum period of two weeks.  The successful applicant will be expected to give a public seminar on a topic of interest to a mixed audience of practitioners, policy makers and academics, a faculty research seminar / research methodology workshop, mentoring of early career faculty at our law school, and conduct research during the visit.  We are inviting applications for visits between August 2026 and December 2027. 

We gratefully acknowledge the generous support provided by Allen & Gledhill LLP, one of the largest leading law firms in Singapore, for this visiting programme.  For more information about Allen & Gledhill LLP, please see: https://www.allenandgledhill.com 

Compensation
The Allen & Gledhill Visiting Scholar will be provided with an honorarium (subject to taxes) for the undertaking of the obligations described above and to cover, in full or in part, travel and accommodation costs.    

SMU Visiting Scholar Programme 

Generally we invite full-time research faculty (all ranks) from leading universities to apply for the SMU Visiting Scholar Programme.  In exceptional cases, excellent PhD students, postdoctoral researchers and the like with outstanding research output will also be considered.  The successful applicant will be expected to deliver a faculty research seminar and/or give an Associate's talk in one of our courses, engage with our faculty, and conduct research during his/her period of visit.  Successful applicants will be provided with an honorarium (subject to taxes) to support the visit. Please note that the honorarium may not cover all travel and accommodation expenses; applicants should secure additional funding from their home institution or other sources as required. 

We are inviting applications for visits between August 2026 and December 2027.  Visits will usually be for 1-2 weeks during the following periods (January-April, mid-August-mid-December). 

Application Procedure for all visiting roles 
Interested applicants should submit: 1) a detailed CV including list of publications; 2) soft copies of 3 recent representative publications; 3) a 2-3-page description of research and teaching interests (including possible visit period, and pre-existing engagement with SMU if any); and 4) a list of 3 referees with full contact information to lawcv@smu.edu.sg.

Application Deadline: 23 February 2026 

Applicants are reviewed (and may be interviewed) on a rolling basis so early applications are strongly encouraged.  Please indicate in the cover letter the visiting position you are applying for and your proposed period of visit. Please also include in the cover letter the following table with a summary of your interests filled in:

Successful applicants will be notified by 31 March 2026.   

Other questions can be directed to Dr Adeline CHONG, Associate Dean (Faculty Matters), at adelinechong@smu.edu.sg

SMU is committed to building a culturally diverse educational environment; women and underrepresented minorities are strongly encouraged to apply.