Junior Specialist/Assistant Specialist - Institute for Research on Labor and Employment
The University of California, Berkeley
About this position
Position Overview
Position title: Research Assistant Salary range: The UC academic salary scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and step at appointment. See the following table 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. The current full time base salary for this position is $55,000 - $70,700. "Off-scale" salaries, which yield compensation that is higher than the published system-wide salary at the designated rank and step, are offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions. Percent time: 100% Anticipated start: July 2026 Position duration: 1 Year with possibility of Reappointment
Application Window
Open date: February 13, 2026 Most recent review date:Saturday, Feb 28, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) Applications received after this date will be reviewed by the search committee if the position has not yet been filled. 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
The Research Assistant will assist Professor Jesse Rothstein’s academic and policy research. Rothstein is a labor economist with joint appointments in the Goldman School of Public Policy and the Department of Economics. He serves as faculty director of the Center for Studies in Higher Education and the California Policy Lab. The Research Assistant will be involved in projects on a range of topics in labor economics, higher education, and public policy, potentially including work on intergenerational mobility, the social safety net, educational pathways and outcomes, determinants of wages and employment, and labor market and education policy. Duties will include: Cleans and prepares data sets, primarily from government sources, for analysis, using Stata and R. Analyzes research data; summarizes information; implements statistical approaches for labor economics and higher education research projects, under direct supervision. Prepares graphs, tables, and other displays of the results of research and analysis. Assists with preparation of reports and analyses, including gathering references, copyediting, and confirming internal consistency. Reviews academic and applied research, and prepares research collections for PI review. Assists with design, documentation, and implementation of quantitative empirical research studies. Assists in coordination of research projects, including management of data access agreements, publication agreements, and other administrative aspects of the projects. Assists in proposal writing. 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)Bachelor's degree (or equivalent international degree). Preferred qualificationsU.S. Census Special Sworn Status to access restricted-use data (or reasonably be able to obtain within 4 months of start date). Demonstrated knowledge of research function. Ability to perform research analysis duties. Demonstrated statistical analysis, systems programming, and database design skills to perform research analysis duties. Knowledge of Stata, or ability to learn Stata, strongly preferred. Ability to effectively manage time and see assigned parts of projects through to completion deadline. Skills to communicate complex information in a clear and concise manner both verbally and written. Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including strong writing skills. Demonstrated interest in labor economics and higher education research.
Application Requirements
Document requirementsCurriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V. Cover Letter Copy of Undergraduate Degree Transcript Reference requirements 3 required (contact information only) Apply link:https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05265 Help contact:brykarz@berkeley.edu
Job Location
Berkeley, CA Apply now to Junior Specialist/Assistant Specialist - Institute for Research on Labor and Employment or Log in to your portfolio Need help? Contact the hiring department. The University of California, Berkeley is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. You have the right to an equal employment opportunity. The University of California, Berkeley is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. See our Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act Annual Security Reports Academic Personnel Recruit University of California, Berkeley Accessibility About California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) Opt-Out IconPrivacy Policy © 2007-2026 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.