Proposed Thesis Title: The Late Eighteenth Century French Search for a Southeast Asian Entrepôt
Supervisor: Associate Professor Peter Borschberg

I am interested in the entrepôt, as a concept, as a historical phenomenon, and as yet another way of framing Singapore history.  I am intrigued by the challenge of composing national histories that transcend ethnic, linguistic and religious categories.  I am fascinated by world history, within which I am more attracted by the stories of small places than those of great empires.  I sometimes claim to be working on eighteenth century Singapore.

I did an earlier round of graduate studies at Sciences Po and the London School of Economics, and later spent a decade with the Singapore foreign service.  Assignments as Political Counsellor in Beijing and Deputy Trade Representative in Taipei were especially rewarding.  I am also a studio potter, a father of two, and an inveterate drinker of cheap wine. I can be reached at khoo@u.nus.edu