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Junior and Assistant Specialist – Goldman School of Public Policy

Job #JPF05618
  • Goldman Sch of Public Policy / Goldman School of Public Policy / UC Berkeley

Position overview

Position title: JR SPECIALIST
Salary range: The UC academic salary scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and step at appointment. See the following table for current salary scale for this position. Table 24 B A reasonable full-time salary estimate for this position is $57,000 - $73,200.
Percent time: 100
Anticipated start: Summer 2027
Position duration: The initial appointment is for one year, with the possibility of renewal based on performance and funding availability.

Application Window

Open date: November 13, 2026

Next review date: Sunday, Nov 29, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Thursday, Dec 31, 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

ABOUT THE GOLDMAN SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY

The Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley, seeks a Junior/Assistant Specialist to work with Professors Shenhav and Taubinsky to assist with research in behavioral, public, and labor economics.

The Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley is one of the nation's leading public policy schools, known for rigorous, interdisciplinary scholarship and deep engagement with practitioners and policymakers. GSPP is consistently ranked #1 in the world in Policy Analysis and Public Affairs by U.S. News.

The Junior/Assistant Specialist position involves supporting cutting-edge research at the forefront of Behavioral, Public, and Labor Economics. Key responsibilities include analyzing public and private datasets using quasi-experimental methods, conducting literature reviews, setting up and analyzing online and field experiments, and performing numerical simulations and data analysis using statistical packages like Stata and languages like Matlab. Additional duties involve managing projects via GitHub, coordinating surveys, and editing manuscript drafts for consistency and statistical accuracy.

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent international degree, or enrolled in bachelor’s (or equivalent international) degree program.

Additional qualifications (required at time of start)

Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent international degree).

Preferred qualifications

• Prior experience working as a research assistant in economics, finance, or social science.
• Proficiency or advanced coursework in statistical software and programming languages such as Stata, R, Python, or Matlab.
• Experience handling, cleaning, and merging large administrative or empirical datasets.
• Basic communication, project management, and analytical skills, along with a commitment to maintaining confidentiality.
• Degree in Economics, Statistics, Data Science, Public Policy, Mathematics, or a related quantitative field.

Application Requirements

Document requirements

  • Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

  • Cover Letter

Reference requirements
  • 2 required (contact information only)
Apply link: https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05618

Help contact: nshenhav@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 UC Regents Policy 4400 and University of California Academic Personnel policy (APM 210 1-d). These values are embedded in our Principles of 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 University of California’s Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment Policy and the University of California’s Anti-Discrimination Policy.

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 UC Berkeley statement of confidentiality 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.

Job location

Berkeley, CA