As a senior research fellow, Syaikhu takes on the responsibility of a leader, advisor, or reviewer in various research projects and in certain stages of research activities. He also assists in completing certain stages of delayed research activities, especially the final report writing. Syaikhu is one of SMERU’s founders and a member of SMERU’s Trustees.

Among Syaikhu’s research specialties are public policy and poverty analysis. His research interests include local governance, citizen participation, and education.

Before joining SMERU, Syaikhu was a lecturer at Sriwijaya University, Palembang. Prior to that, he was a researcher at the Center for Policy and Implementation Studies (CPIS) and Social Monitoring and Early Response Unit (SMERU), World Bank, Jakarta.

Syaikhu was awarded the best graduate of a one-year research training program at the Social Sciences Research Center, Banda Aceh, in 1976. The training was attended by 12 lecturers from various Indonesian universities.