"Junior or Assistant Specialist - Department of Political Science"

Position overview

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 $55,000-$63,500.

Percent time: 100%

Anticipated start: July 1, 2026

Position duration: One year, with possibility of renewal

Application Window

Open date: October 15, 2025

Most recent review date: Sunday, Nov 30, 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: Friday, Jan 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 Berkeley Center for American Democracy, under the guidance of Professor David Broockman, with the Travers Department of Political Science at UC Berkeley, is seeking highly motivated individuals for the position of Junior or Assistant Specialist.

The Center for the Study of American Democracy supports research on political institutions, political behavior, and political economy in the United States. The Center focuses on research of broad importance to American society, such as the political roots of rising inequality, the political and historical roots of our criminal justice and incarceration crisis, and the causes of political polarization. Understanding these questions is not only of academic importance but can help guide policymakers and society as the country faces unprecedented new challenges.

The Junior or Assistant Specialist will support Professor Broockman and other faculty members on their research. The research duties will span several topics, including:

• Assistance with the historical data on Congressional proposals. This will entail historical research and data analysis.
• Assistance with the gathering data on policing, crime, and crime victimization.
• Assistance with the historical data on polarization in the United States.
• Assistance with gathering data on local governments and politics.
• Provide occasional support for the activities of the Center, such as publicizing faculty research.

Department: https://polisci.berkeley.edu/

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)
Completion of Bachelor's degree (or equivalent international degree) is required by the start date.

Preferred qualifications
Coding skills in Stata or R
Research assistance experience
Desire to pursue an advanced degree in political science or a related field

Application Requirements

Document requirements

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
• Statement of Purpose - Please outline your research experience and qualifications, as well as the reasons you are interested in the position. If you have applied to graduate school, you can use the same statement.
• Writing Sample (Optional)
• Unofficial Transcript

Reference requirements

• 1 letter of reference required

Apply link: https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05187

Help contact: knera@berkeley.edu

Job location
Berkeley, CA