Postdoctoral Scholar – Chinese Firms Going Global (2026–27) Full-time

Postdoctoral Scholar

The China Institute (TCI), University of Alberta, invites applications for a one-year Postdoctoral Scholar (12 months) focused on Chinese firms going global—including outward foreign direct investment (OFDI), global value chains, cross-border innovation, industrial policy abroad, regulatory compliance, and the evolving political economy of Chinese multinational expansion.

This position has an initial appointment of 12 months. The posting is expected to be primarily in-person at North Campus, Edmonton, with some flexibility possible depending on project needs.

Responsibilities

Research theme: Chinese firms going global

We welcome projects that examine how and why Chinese firms internationalize, and what that means for global business, governance, and policy. Topics may include (but are not limited to):

• Strategies and constraints shaping OFDI, M&A, and greenfield investment
• Global value-chain upgrading, supply-chain resilience, and industrial ecosystems
• Technology, data governance, standards, and cross-border innovation networks
• Party-state influence, corporate governance, finance, and political risk
• Trade controls, sanctions, export controls, and regulatory compliance
• ESG, labour, environmental governance, and corporate responsibility abroad
• Regional comparisons (ASEAN, EU, Africa, Latin America, Canada/US) and sectoral studies (EVs, mining, telecom, digital platforms, clean tech)

Methodological approaches may include qualitative fieldwork, interviews, archival work, mixed methods, firm-level datasets, text analysis, network analysis, or comparative political economy.

Expectations

The Postdoctoral Scholar will:

• Conduct an independent research project aligned with the theme and produce outputs suitable for peer-reviewed publication
• Present work-in-progress in an internal workshop and deliver at least one public-facing talk
• Contribute actively to The China Institute research activities (e.g., policy briefs, media background briefs, background memos, workshops, convenings)
• Participate in the intellectual life of the Institute and collaborate with affiliated faculty and partners as appropriate

Qualifications

Required:

• PhD (or completion by start date) in a relevant discipline (business, economics, political science, sociology, geography, law, public policy, area studies, etc.)
• Research record and clear potential for publication
• Ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary environment
• Strong writing skills in English
• Strong communication skills

Preferred:

• Demonstrated expertise related to Chinese firms' internationalization
• Mandarin Chinese proficiency appropriate to the proposed research (e.g., interviews, documents, media sources)
• Experience with policy-relevant writing and knowledge mobilization

Application Instructions

Click “Apply Now” to submit the following in a single PDF document:

• Cover letter (1–2 pages): fit with theme, brief statement of research agenda, and why TCI/UAlberta
• CV
• Research proposal (max 5 pages, double-spaced) including: question, contribution, methods/data, feasibility in 12 months, and planned outputs
• Writing sample (article manuscript, dissertation chapter, or published work)
• And arrange: Two or three letters of reference ciuajobs@ualberta.ca

Applications will be reviewed upon receipt, and the position will be filled as soon as a suitable candidate is hired.