"Health & Safety Net Researcher (Associate/Full Specialist) - California Policy Lab"

Position overview

Position title: Health & Safety Net Researcher

Salary range: The UC academic salary scales set the minimum pay determined by the 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/policy-covered-july-2025-scales/t24-a.pdf. The current full-time base salary range for this position is $76,500 - $197,700. 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: December 2025

Position duration: Two years

Application Window

Open date: October 20, 2025

Most recent review date: Monday, Nov 17, 2025 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: Wednesday, Dec 31, 2025 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. At its Berkeley site, CPL resides as a center within the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment (IRLE). CPL recognizes the value of having a diverse staff at all levels of the organization. When you join our team, you can expect to be part of an inclusive and equity-focused community.

Position Description

The Health & Safety Net Researcher will lead CPL's research portfolio relating to the social safety net and health, in collaboration with and under the oversight of CPL's faculty affiliates and Research Director. This is an exciting role for a skilled safety net and/or health researcher who wants to design and conduct policy-relevant quantitative research in partnership with state and local agencies throughout California. The Health & Safety Net Researcher conducts quantitative research, including conceptualizing research questions and design; requesting, receiving, and cleaning data files; creating and implementing an analysis plan; conducting quality assurance reviews; summarizing results in documents for both academic and policy audiences; and generating replicability documentation. The Health & Safety Net Researcher can implement multiple research designs and analysis techniques, including but not limited to randomized control trials, quasi-experimental designs using natural experiments or other such variation, and difference-in-difference and event study analyses. Further, a successful candidate can lead research projects under the oversight of CPL's Research Director with small teams, write proposals to support research projects, and ensure timely and high-quality completion of research tasks. The Health & Safety Net Researcher will mentor and supervise other research staff. The position will report to the Research Director and will work directly with leading social policy researchers at UC and other top universities, state and local government agency staff, and CPL's leadership team.

Position Responsibilities

• Under the oversight of the Research Director, conduct quantitative research, including conceptualizing research questions and design; requesting, receiving, and cleaning data files; creating and implementing analysis plans; conducting quality assurance reviews; summarizing results in documents for both academic and policy audiences; and generating replicability documentation.
• Annually publish multiple reports and policy briefs based on research.
• Implement multiple research designs and analysis techniques, including but not limited to randomized control trials, quasi-experimental designs using natural experiments or other such variation, and difference-in-difference and event study analyses.
• Lead research projects with small teams, write proposals to support research projects, and ensure timely and high-quality completion of research tasks.
• Supervise other research staff, provide feedback on performance.
• Partner effectively with state and local agency staff to build a joint research agenda.

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)
Bachelor's degree or equivalent international degree

Additional qualifications (required at time of start)
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
Full Specialist
Bachelor's degree or equivalent international degree and at least ten (10) years of professional experience
OR
Master's degree or equivalent international degree and at least eight (8) years of professional experience
OR
PhD or equivalent international degree and at least two (2) years of professional experience.

The California Policy Lab is unable to offer visa sponsorship for these positions.

Preferred qualifications

• Ph.D. in economics, public policy, or related social science field, or equivalent experience.
• Five or more years of post-Ph.D. experience managing projects as a Principal Investigator and supervising project staff.
• Training and experience that clearly demonstrates qualifications.
• Fluency in data-analysis packages from commonly used programming languages like Python, R, Stata, SQL, or SAS.
• Expertise in one of CPL's policy areas.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and ability to work both independently and as a team member.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail and ability to multi-task with demanding timeframes.
• Record of independent research and publication, including leading research design and analysis and writing for both academic and policy audiences.
• Experience writing grant proposals, communicating with funders, and managing grant reporting.
• Expertise in social safety net and/or health policy research.
• Experience working with large and complex administrative datasets, including data linkage techniques.
• Knowledge of data management systems, practices, and standards and ability to work discreetly with sensitive and confidential data, and experience with GitHub.
• Experience collaborating with government agency partners.

Application Requirements

Document requirements

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
• Cover Letter
• Research Statement - Please discuss research accomplishments and proposed plans. This can include, for example, your publication record, awards, presentations, inclusive research practices that promote the excellence of your research, and areas for future research. (Optional)
• Writing Sample - One or more illustrative examples of the candidate's research - a 'job market paper,' a manuscript, or other research product suitable to the candidate's field. The candidate should be the primary author.

Reference requirements
3-5 required (contact information only)

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.

Job location
Berkeley, CA with an expectation of 3 days a week in the office