Academic Interests
International political economy
Comparative politics
Political economy of East Asia
Politics of global finance
Politics of Islamic finance
Economic governance and development
Academic Qualifications
Ph.D. in International Relations
Australian National University
M.Phil. International Relations
University of Oxford
B.Sc. Economics (First Class Honours)
London School of Economics and Political Science
Diploma in Economics (Distinction)
University of London (External)
Academic Awards & Scholarships
Institute for Humane Studies’ Humane Studies Fellowship (2008/9)
Korea Foundation Fellowship for Field Research (2008) (Declined)
Institute for Humane Studies’ Humane Studies Fellowship (2007/8)
Endeavour Australia-Asia Postgraduate Student Award (2005)
Citibank / Oxford / British Foreign Commonwealth Office Chevening Scholarship (1999-2001)
Standard Chartered Bank / University of London (External) Scholarship (1997-1999)
University of London Award for Academic Achievement (1997)
Academic Work Experience
Assistant Professor (2019 – 2021)
S.Rajaratnam School of International Studies
Nanyang Technological University
Lecturer in International Relations (2012 – 2015)
School of Social and Political Sciences
The University of Melbourne
Lecturer in International Politics & Economics of East Asia & the Pacific (Semester 1, 2012)
Master of International Relations Programme
Macquarie University
Lecturer in Development & Change (Semester 1, 2012)
School of Politics and International Relations
College of Arts & Social Sciences
Australian National University
Lecturer in International Political Economy (Semester 1, 2011)
Graduate Studies in International Affairs Programme
Australian National University
Tutor in Development & Change (Semester 2, 2010)
School of Politics and International Relations
College of Arts & Social Sciences
Australian National University
Lecturer in International Political Economy (Semester 1, 2010)
Graduate Studies in International Affairs Programme
Australian National University
Lecturer in International Political Economy (Semester 2, 2009)
Master of International Relations Programme
Macquarie University
Tutor in International Relations Theory & International Political Economy (Semester 1, 2009)
Graduate Studies in International Affairs Programme
Australian National University
AusAid Tutor (Semester 2, 2008)
Graduate Studies in International Affairs Programme
Australian National University
Tutor in International Relations Theory & International Political Economy (Semester 1, 2008)
Graduate Studies in International Affairs Programme
Australian National University
General Tutor (Semester 1, 2007)
Graduate Studies in International Affairs Programme
Australian National University
Research Grants
Qatar Foundation Grant (2014-16; GBP150,000; with Dr Yuka Kobayashi)
Melbourne School of Government Incubator Research Grant (2014; AUD23,200; with Dr Kerstin Steiner and Dr Lena Rethel)
Melbourne School of Government Research Cluster Grant (2014-16; AUD213,917; with Prof Andrew Mitchell, Prof Andrew Walter, Prof Ian Ramsay, Prof Kevin Davis, Andrew Godwin)
University of Melbourne Early Career Researcher Grant (2014; AUD24,143.82; with Dr Sow Keat Tok)
Teaching
International Political Economy
The Politics of Finance
Trade Policy, Politics and Governance
The Politics & Economics of East Asia
Development & Change
Jikon Lai 