For Applicants - Postdoctoral Researchers from ASEAN Countries

1. If I am selected, can I take my family with me?

SG Academies SEA Fellows will need to apply for either Employment Pass or S Pass via the host institution. Please check the MOM website for the latest information regarding passes for family members. There will not be additional financial benefits or housing allowance for SASEA Fellows or their dependents apart from what is stated in the letter of award.

2. Does the Fellowship Scheme cover travel costs?

The SASEA fellow may apply for a travel grant up to S$ 4000 within 24 months to cover the cost of travel to and from their home country at the start and end of their Fellowship. Fellows are strongly encouraged to apply for other travel grants to present at overseas conferences. Fieldwork related travel costs may be covered at the discretion of the host professor and PI from his/her research grants.

3. Will I be liable for paying income tax in Singapore?

Yes, you will be liable to pay income tax in Singapore on your fellowship benefits depending on the duration of your stay. Your tax residency and the amount of income tax to be paid will be determined by IRAS. Once your tax residency has been determined as tax resident, you will be charged at resident tax rates.
Please refer to the IRAS website for further details: https://www.iras.gov.sg/IRASHome/Individuals/Foreigners/Learning-the-basics/Basic-Guide-for-New-Individual-Taxpayers--Foreigners-/
For more information on Tax obligations for Non-Resident Professionals: https://www.iras.gov.sg/IRASHome/Individuals/Foreigners/Working-out-your-taxes/Tax-Rates-for-Resident-and-Non-Residents/

4. After I am selected, when can I expect to start my Fellowship at the host institution?

Your start date will depend primarily on:
- The availability of your host professor / PI and
- Successfully obtaining an Employment Pass (EP) or relevant pass to enter Singapore. Please note that EP application results can take up to 3 months.

5. Do I have to leave my current job to participate in this Fellowship?

This is a full-time postdoctoral fellowship for 2 years, so you should apply for Leave of Absence if your current job allows. This fellowship is intended to prepare you for a full-time position in any SEA countries.
Some local host institutions do not allow double appointments / employment, so you may wish to confirm with the host institution on the relevant guidelines before applying.

6. Are Fellows required to stay in Singapore for the entire duration of the program?

Yes. However, travel for fieldwork / data collection in connection with the fellowship will be allowed.

7. Are SASEA Fellows considered staff in the host institution?

Yes, the SASEA fellow will be a research staff in the host organisation.

8. Are there any housing arrangements for SASEA fellows?

The SASEA fellow should check if the host institution provides on-campus housing rental. Otherwise, he/she will need to arrange for off-campus housing. No housing rental allowance will be provided.

9. I am a South-East Asian researcher currently working / staying in Singapore. Can I apply?

No. Researchers currently residing and/or working in Singapore are not eligible.
However, should you already have a confirmed job offer in a public-sector research entity in your home country with an appropriate start date (e.g. 2 to 3 years from now), you will be eligible to apply.
Kindly submit a scanned copy / e-copy of the Letter of Offer together with your Fellowship application as documentary proof.

10. What is the Host Professor / PI’s in-principle approval with his/her official email ID?

Either (i) an approval letter / letter of support with Host PI's official email, or (ii) a screenshot of the PI’s approval with the email address, with the PI stating that he/she approves of your research proposal and agrees to host you at his/her lab for the Fellowship.

11. My field of research is not on 1) Infectious Diseases, 2) Population Health/Public Health, and 3) Green & Blue Economy, Climate Change, Sustainability. Can I apply?

Yes, candidates from all fields of research are welcome to apply. However, preference will be given to candidates working on the above-mentioned fields.

12. Which countries are eligible?

ASEAN countries include Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Timor Leste.
Singapore citizens are not eligible.

13. Can past applicants who were not successful apply again?

Absolutely! We encourage past applicants who were not successful to apply again. Previous outcomes will not impact the chances of being offered the fellowship in the new application round.

For Host Professors / Principal Investigators (PIs) in Singapore

1. Who is eligible to be a host professor / PI?

All current serving faculty members and/or PIs within the host institutions are eligible. The host PI is expected to remain in the host institution for the 2-year tenure of the postdoctoral fellow.

2. Does the fellowship come with additional research funding for the host professor / PI?

The SASEA fellow receives a monthly stipend of S$4,000 to S$6500 per month depending on experience and performance. He/she may also apply for a travel grant up to S$4000 to cover the cost of travel to and from their home country at the start and end of their Fellowship. No additional funding is provided.

3. What are the roles and responsibilities of the host professor / PI?

The host professor/PI, with the support of his/her department/institute will:
- Grant in-principle approval to the applicant over email.
- Apply for an Employment Pass (EP) or S Pass (or any other suitable work passes) via his/her department/institute using standard operating procedure. The grant will cover insurance and other human resource related expenses.
If the host institution provides housing, guide the fellow to apply for housing via his/her department/institute using standard operating procedure of the host institution.
Provision of office space as needed.
Contact Information:
- For NUS: scisohkh@nus.edu.sg (Mr Soh Kok Hoe)
- For NTU: D-TRACS@ntu.edu.sg (Contact Talent Recruitment & Career Support Office)
- For SUTD: andy_chan@sutd.edu.sg (Mr Andy Chan, Director of Research)
- For A*STAR: Contact any of the following staff from the A*STAR Research Office
  - Don_Chan@hq.a-star.edu.sg (Don Chan)
  - Lin_Suting@hq.a-star.edu.sg (Lin Suting)
  - Ong_Hong_Ren@hq.a-star.edu.sg (Ong Hong Ren)
  - Muhammad_Ali_Mohamed_Amin@hq.a-star.edu.sg (Muhammad Ali Mohamed Amin)
- Other host institutions not listed above should contact their respective HR department with regards to work pass applications and other HR related matters.

4. Can the Fellows get involved in the ongoing research project of the host professor / PI?

Yes, provided this association is mutually beneficial to both parties and the topic of the ongoing research project is incorporated in the applicant’s research proposal submitted at the time of application.

5. Does the Fellowship Scheme cover travel costs?

Fellows may apply for travel grants up to S$4000 to cover the cost of travel to and from their home country at the start and end of their Fellowship. Fieldwork related travel costs may be covered at the discretion of the host professor and PI from his/her research grants.

6. Are Fellows required to stay in Singapore for the entire duration of the program?

Yes. However, travel for fieldwork/data collection in connection with the fellowship will be allowed.

7. What is the process for application/approval?

Prospective applicants will approach host professor/PI to discuss his/her research interests over email. If there is mutual interest, an in-principle approval over email must be given by the host professor/PI to the applicant.
After receiving the approval, the applicants may formally apply for the fellowship. Once the application is acknowledged by the host institution, a joint committee between SNAS, AMS and SAEng will be constituted to review the applications in accordance with the review criteria.

8. Are SASEA Fellows considered staff in the host institution?