"In my eyes, such religious return stands higher than the academic prophecy, which does not clearly realize that in the lecture-rooms of the university no other virtue holds but plain intellectual integrity." -- Max Weber, "Science as a Vocation"​
"For ultimately there are only two kinds of deadly sins in the field of politics: lack of objectivity and--often but not always identical with it--irresponsibility. Vanity, the need personally to stand in the foreground as clearly as possible, strongly tempts the politician to commit one or both of these sins." -- Max Weber, "Politics as a Vocation"
Science as a Vocation
I am first and foremost a sociologist. I specialize in comparative historical sociology and study state formation, race and multiculturalism, Asian urbanisms, and religion 
  • 2015- Deputy Head of Department of Sociology, NUS
  • 2013- Associate Professor of Sociology, NUS
  • 2014-18 Convenor, Cultural Studies, NUS
  • 2014 Visiting Scholar, School of Culture and Communication, University of Melbourne
  • 2005-12 Assistant Professor of Sociology, NUS
  • 2005 PhD (Sociology), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
  • 2000 M.Soc.Sci (Sociology), NUS
  • 1998 B.Soc.Sci (Sociology), NUS
Politics as a Vocation
I am also a politician. Politics is an extension of national service for me and I am proud to serve my country and fellow citizens in the Workers' Party ​​
  • 2016- Non Constituency Member of Parliament
  • 2013- WP Central Executive Committee member
  • 2018-2020 WP Organising Secretary
  • 2015-2020 WP Media Chai
  • 2013 Joined WP as member
  • 2011 Began volunteering with WP during GE