CALL FOR STUDENT RESEARCH ASSISTANTS | Department of International Studies

CALL FOR STUDENT RESEARCH ASSISTANTS

Department of International Studies, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Industry Research Project on China ESG Policy Impact on Business Decisions

📅 Project Period: July–November 2026

The Department of International Studies at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) invites applications from motivated PhD’s, Master’s and Bachelor’s students to serve as Research Assistants for an industry-funded research project.

The project examines how China’s rapidly evolving ESG and sustainability regulations are shaping business decisions and supply-chain management in the aerospace sector. The research team will build a comprehensive knowledge base covering regulatory developments, customer requirements, market intelligence, and stakeholder perspectives.

Research Assistants will work closely with the Principal Investigator, Prof. Roberto Doná, and the project team and will gain valuable experience in applied policy research, ESG analysis, industry engagement, and AI-supported knowledge management.

📢 We are looking for 4–5 enthusiastic students to join the research team.

Who Can Apply

In general, we welcome students with an interest in China studies and public policy, sustainability and ESG, international business and global affairs, and data management and AI applications.

We particularly encourage applications from:

• PhD students in the Department of International Studies;
• Master’s students from the programmes International Business and Global Affairs (IBGA) and Global Public Policy International Relations (GPIR).
• Undergraduate students in Years 3 and 4 of the BA International Relations (BAIR) programme.

Responsibilities

Research Assistants will contribute to:

• Conducting desk research on Chinese ESG, environmental, and sustainability policies;
• Collecting and organising regulatory documents and industry reports;
• Monitoring Chinese and international media and trade publications;
• Supporting stakeholder interviews and preparing interview summaries;
• Assisting in the construction of a searchable knowledge repository;
• Supporting the development of an AI-powered chatbot prototype;
• Preparing research summaries, presentations, and project deliverables.

⏰ Research Assistants are expected to dedicate approximately 4–6 hours per week during the project period. The workload may vary depending on project milestones.

Benefits

Research Assistants will receive:

✔ Remuneration in accordance with the XJTLU Administrative Policy for Non-Full-Time Research Assistants (科研助理（非全职）管理办法).

✔ Hands-on experience in an industry-funded research project

✔ Training in policy research, ESG analysis, and knowledge management;

✔ Opportunities to work directly with academic staff and industry partners;

✔ Development of research and analytical skills highly valued by employers;

✔ An official certificate of participation issued by the Department of International Studies;

Required Qualifications

• Strong command of spoken and written Chinese and English;
• Good organisational and analytical skills;
• Ability to work independently and meet deadlines;

How to Apply

Please submit a short motivation statement (approximately 300 words) including:

• Degree programme and year of study;
• Relevant experience and skills;

📌 Email Subject: Research Assistant Application – China ESG Project

📧 Send your application to:

Ms. Wenyuan Yu — Wenyuan.Yu@xjtlu.edu.cn

🗓 Application Deadline: 9^th of July, 5:00 PM.

For further information, please contact:

Professor Roberto Doná Roberto.Dona@xjtlu.edu.cn

Dr. Francesco Macheda Francesco.Macheda@xjtlu.edu.cn