Research Assistant/Associate (Junior/Assistant/Associate Specialist) - California Policy Lab
Position overview Position title: Research Assistant/Associate
Salary range: The UC academic salary scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and step at appointment. See the following table(s) for the current salary scale(s) for this position: https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/2025-26/represented-july-2025-scales/t24-b.pdf A reasonable full-time salary estimate for this position is $65,000-$95,000.
Percent time: 100%
Anticipated start: June 2026
Position duration: 1 year with the possibility of extension based on funding and performance
Application Window
Open date: April 22, 2026
Next review date: Wednesday, May 6, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.
Final date: Tuesday, Jun 30, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.
Position description
Department Overview
The California Policy Lab (CPL) generates research insights for government impact. Through hands-on partnerships with government agencies, CPL performs rigorous research across issue silos and builds the data infrastructure necessary to improve programs and policies that millions of Californians rely on every day. We work on California's most urgent issues, including homelessness, poverty, criminal justice reform, and education inequality. CPL-Berkeley is a center within the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment (IRLE).
Position Description
The Research Assistant/Associate is a critical member of CPL research teams working on policy issues such as criminal justice, education, employment, health, and the social safety net. The Research Assistant/Associate will apply a variety of data analysis and statistical modeling approaches to large datasets in real-world settings. They will collect and clean and prepare data for analysis, collaborate in research design and model development, and implement studies via advanced data analysis, all while working on multiple research projects concurrently.
Specifically, the Research Assistant/Associate will be responsible for preparing and analyzing large datasets, primarily from government sources; applying knowledge of multiple statistical software packages and statistical analysis methods; helping to design and implement rigorous research designs, including randomized control trials (RCTs) and quasi-experimental studies; preparing graphs, tables, and other displays of research results; preparing reports and presentations; and developing other policy-relevant deliverables, including academic publications. The Research Assistant/Associate will contribute to a growing practice of advanced analytical solutions to provide data-driven research and technical assistance to governmental partners. We seek applicants who are confident bridging the gap between academic researchers and government policymakers, and who want to carry out joint research agendas with CPL partners The position works directly with leading social policy researchers at UC Berkeley and UCLA, state and local government agency staff, as well as the leadership team at CPL.
Responsibilities include:
• Analyzes sensitive individual-level administrative data; prepares and summarizes information; recommends and implements statistical approaches.
• Cleans, links, and prepares data sets, primarily from government sources, for analysis, using STATA or another, similar language (e.g., SAS, R, SPSS, Python).
• Communicates with government partners about data requests and other data issues.
• Collaborates on the design, documentation, testing and implementation of research studies, largely using quantitative methods and methods designed to assess causal impact.
• Prepares graphs, tables, and other displays of the results of research and analysis. Assists with preparation of manuscripts and presentations, including gathering references, copyediting, and confirming internal consistency.
• Researches and summarizes academic and applied research.
• Assists the Executive Director and Research Director with administrative aspects of research projects and execution of the Lab's other activities.
Conviction History Background
This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. Berkeley does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities. The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.
Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
Department: https://irle.berkeley.edu/
Unit: https://capolicylab.org/
Qualifications
Basic qualifications (required at time of application)
Bachelor's degree (or equivalent international degree) or enrolled in a Bachelor's degree (or equivalent international degree) program
Additional qualifications (required at time of start)
Junior Specialist
Bachelor's degree (or equivalent international degree).
Assistant Specialist
Bachelor's degree or equivalent international degree and at least two (2) years of professional experience
OR
Master's degree or equivalent international degree
Associate Specialist
Bachelor's degree or equivalent international degree and at least five (5) years of professional experience
OR
Master's degree or equivalent international degree and at least three (3) years of professional experience
Preferred qualifications
• Graduate degree in a related field.
• STATA programming skills or knowledge of another, similar language (e.g., SAS, R, SPSS, Python).
• Demonstrated quantitative skills, knowledge, and experience in data/statistical analysis, including analyzing large governmental datasets.
• Proficiency with additional statistical or programming languages such as R, Python, or SAS.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including writing skills.
• Organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to effectively manage time and multi-task, and see assigned parts of projects through to completion deadline.
• Ability to work both independently and as a team member.
• Experience working with large and complex datasets.
• Experience working on randomized controlled trials.
• Experience managing projects and client relationships.
Application Requirements
Document requirements
• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
• Cover Letter
Reference requirements
• 3 required (contact information only)
Apply link: https://apptrkr.com/7107286
Help contact: mailto:johanna.lacoe@berkeley.edu
About UC Berkeley
UC Berkeley is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in our public mission of research, teaching, and service, consistent with https://regents.universityofcalifornia.edu/governance/policies/4400.html and University of California Academic Personnel policy (https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/apm/apm-210.pdf). These values are embedded in our https://chancellor.berkeley.edu/about/principles-community, which reflect our passion for critical inquiry, debate, discovery and innovation, and our deep commitment to contributing to a better world. Every member of the UC Berkeley community has a role in sustaining a safe, caring and humane environment in which these values can thrive.
The University of California, Berkeley is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status.
For more information, please refer to the https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/apm/apm-035.pdf and the https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination.
In searches when letters of reference are required all letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. Please refer potential referees, including when letters are provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service or career center), to the http://apo.berkeley.edu/ucb-confidentiality-policy prior to submitting their letter.
As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.
Unless stated otherwise, unambiguously, in the position description, this position does not include sponsorship of a new consular H-1B visa petition that would require payment of the $100,000 supplemental fee.
As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.
• “Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination, as defined by the employer.
• https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000385/SVSH
• https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination
• https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/apm/apm-035.pdf
Job location
2521 Channing Way, Berkeley, CA; Eligible for 2 days remote work per week
To apply, visit https://apptrkr.com/7107286
