Skip to main content

Project Scientist – Center for Long-Term Cybersecurity (CLTC) - School Of Information

We are no longer accepting applications for this recruitment. Browse open recruitments

Position description

The CLTC was established with a $15M grant from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation to Berkeley to support the building of a new field of cyber-security research that is multi-disciplinary and global in scope, and that contributes to shaping long term policy in the field. The Center is currently in the process of establishing an institution which, in our preliminary vision, would: (1) help vulnerable civil society organizations, journalists, and dissidents develop strong electronic systems resistant to high end adversaries; (2) provide real time threat tracking and system monitoring to assist individuals and groups without professional security teams; and (3) give incident response support to those already being targeted through a 24x365 security operations center (SOC). The Center has received a scoping grant from a major foundation to investigate the feasibility of such an organization.

To help complete the scoping process, CLTC seeks to hire a project scientist (hereafter “research coordinator”) who will be responsible for researching and producing an action plan for establishing the new institution. The research coordinator ideally should have a background in cybersecurity and human rights—particularly in regards to the needs of individuals vulnerable to targeted digital surveillance—and would ideally be able to navigate the existing network of institutions, organizations, and stakeholders currently operating in this space. The coordinator also should ideally have relevant technical expertise. Experience with university institutions and infrastructures, including at UC Berkeley, is a plus.

Appointment Length:
This is a short term position. We are seeking a candidate that can work for six months at 50% or can work at 100% for three months. Anticipated start date is February 2017. Interested applicants with different time frame requirements are welcome to propose an alternate structure, up to three months of full time work.

Responsibilities
The research coordinator will, with close engagement and supervision from CLTC, draft an action plan for establishing the proposed institution by the end of the grant period. The coordinator will be expected to research the current landscape for such work by identifying key stakeholders and existing institutions, evaluating what they have been doing and what gaps remain, and developing a realistic estimate of what the institution could accomplish. The coordinator will also be expected to outline the technical needs for the organization as it develops, the operational structure required, and the risk, legal, and other hurdles the Center will have to overcome to make the organization effective.

We anticipate that the action plan might contain sections detailing: 1) Problems within the current ecosystem; 2) Interviews with civil society dissidents, advocacy groups, journalists, private sector actors, and funders; 3) description of the proposed institution and how it would operate; 4) technical and operational requirements for establishing the organization; 5) legal and risk requirements; 6) partnership support; 7) fundraising plan; 8) and evaluation plan.

The research coordinator would be expected to conduct interviews and site visits; keep in close communication with CLTC leadership and partners on progress; and draft and write a final deliverable.

Basic Qualifications (By Date of Application):
• Ph.D. or equivalent foreign degree OR
• Terminal professional degree (e.g., J.D.)

Additional Qualifications (By Start Date):
• Demonstrated written and oral communication skills

Preferred Qualifications:
• Experience working at the intersection of cybersecurity and human rights
• Experience managing and executing a scoping project and writing action plans
• Technical expertise, including incident support response capabilities or knowledge
• Experience with UC Berkeley or other university administrative systems

Salary:
Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience and based on UC Berkeley salary scales. The full-time annual salary range is $78,700-$149,200.

Application Procedure:
To apply go to https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/apply/JPF01256
Please direct all questions for this position to cltc@berkeley.edu with the subject line: CLTC Project Scientist.

This position will remain open until filled.

Requirements:
• Cover letter, including a description of research vision
• Curriculum Vitae – Your up to date full academic C.V.
• Writing sample (example of action plan development or other relevant practical writing sample preferred)
• 3 references required (contact information only)

Letters of reference will only be solicited for finalists

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 (http://apo.berkeley.edu/evalltr.html) prior to submitting their letters.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action 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 the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy see: http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/NondiscrimAffirmAct.

Application Requirements

Document requirements
  • Curriculum Vitae - Your up to date full academic C.V.

  • Cover Letter - Including a description of research vision.

  • Writing Sample - Example of action plan development or other relevant practical writing sample preferred.

Reference requirements
  • 3 required (contact information only)

Job location

Berkeley, CA