"Junior Specialist/Assistant Specialist - Institute for Research on Labor and Employment"

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

Next review date: Saturday, Feb 28, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

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 qualifications

• U.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 requirements

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
• Cover Letter
• Copy of Undergraduate Degree Transcript

Reference requirements

• 3 required (contact information only)