How to apply for Research Fellow, Emerging Markets – Vietnam

About International Council on Clean Transportation

The ICCT is an independent nonprofit research organization that provides data-driven research to governments on transport policy and climate impact. It works with officials at all levels of government, plus civil society, industry, and media. The workplace values intelligence, flexibility, transparency, and good humor.

About the role

This is a one-year research fellowship on the Emerging Markets team, based in Vietnam. You will support research and analysis on Vietnam's transition to cleaner road transport, working with Vietnam-based staff and the wider Emerging Markets team. Topics include fuel economy standards, low-emission zones in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, two-wheeler electrification, heavy-duty vehicle regulations, and local manufacturing policy.

A typical day

A typical day may involve collecting and analyzing data on vehicle sales or emissions, drafting a section of a policy brief, and coordinating with Vietnam-based colleagues and the wider Emerging Markets team. You might also review government documents or prepare materials for a meeting with local officials. The exact routine depends on the workstream, so ask about team meetings and project cycles in the interview.

Who International Council on Clean Transportation is looking for

• A recent graduate or early-career professional with a background in transport policy, environmental science, engineering, economics, or a related field.
• Someone who can conduct quantitative and policy research and write clearly for government and public audiences.
• A person based in or willing to work remotely from Vietnam, with knowledge of Vietnam's transport sector or willingness to learn it quickly.
• A self-directed worker who can manage multiple workstreams and collaborate with a distributed team.

Tips for this application

• Address the Vietnam context directly. Mention specific topics from the job post, such as fuel economy standards, low-emission zones in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, or two-wheeler electrification.
• Show you understand the ICCT's role as a research provider to governments. Explain how your work would be useful to public officials.
• Keep your cover letter focused on research and analysis skills. Give one or two concrete examples of projects where you analyzed data or policy.
• If you have any experience with Vietnam's transport sector, local language skills, or knowledge of Vietnamese policy, state it clearly.
• Since the role is remote, note your ability to work independently and coordinate across time zones with a distributed team.

What to cover in your cover letter

["Your specific interest in Vietnam's zero-emission road transport transition and why you want to work on it.", 'Any research or analysis you have done on transport policy, fuel economy, electrification, or industrial policy.', 'Your ability to turn data into clear written outputs for government and public audiences.', 'Your fit for a one-year fellowship: what you want to learn and what you can contribute to the Emerging Markets team.']

Research before applying

• Read recent ICCT publications on Vietnam and other emerging markets. Look for reports on fuel economy, electric two-wheelers, and heavy-duty vehicles.
• Review Vietnam's current transport and climate policies, including any existing fuel economy standards or electric vehicle targets.
• Check the ICCT website for their research approach and how they present data to policymakers.
• Look up the backgrounds of the Vietnam-based staff and Emerging Markets team to understand their work.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How would you approach research on fuel economy standards for light-duty vehicles in Vietnam?
• What do you know about low-emission zones and how they could work in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City?
• What are the main barriers to two-wheeler electrification in Vietnam?
• How would you design a study on supply-side regulations for heavy-duty vehicles?
• What role can industrial policy play in local manufacturing of zero-emission vehicles and components in Vietnam?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Writing a generic cover letter that does not mention Vietnam or the specific topics in the job post.
• Focusing only on climate passion without showing research or analytical skills.
• Ignoring the one-year fellowship term and not explaining why you are interested in a time-limited role.