Junior Specialist/Assistant Specialist - Institute for Business & Social Impact

Final salary will be commensurate with level of experience.

The current full-time salary range for Junior Specialist positions is $55,000 to $58,600.

The current full-time salary for Assistant Specialist positions is $63,500 to $70,700.

Percent time: 100%

Anticipated start: 2/16/2026

Position duration: 2 years

Application Window

Open date: November 2, 2025

Most recent review date: Friday, Oct 2, 2026 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, Oct 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 Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley is seeking highly motivated individuals for the position of Junior or Assistant Specialist. The positions are to assist in research in economic development, labor, and health economics, applying rigorous methods for causal inference and machine learning.

The Institute for Business and Social Impact (IBSI) was launched in November 2013 at the Haas School of Business to train and empower leaders to address society's most pressing challenges. As part of the top-ranked Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley, IBSI advances pioneering research at the intersection of business and social impact, with particular focus on workforce skills development, financial inclusion, and mental health in organizational settings. Building upon the school's unique and historic commitment to comprehensive excellence in research and public education, IBSI translates rigorous academic inquiry into actionable solutions that improve lives and strengthen communities worldwide. The candidate would work at the Haas School of Business IBSI under the supervision of Laura Chioda (manager) and Professor Paul Gertler.

General Duties:

• Research Design & Analysis (20%): Assist in designing and interpreting analyses using advanced econometric methods, including reduced form approaches (difference-in-differences, regression discontinuity, instrumental variables) and structural econometrics (method of moments, maximum likelihood, dynamic programming), with a focus on causal inference.
• Data Collection & Field Operations (15%): Support the design and implementation of field experiments, survey development, and primary data collection activities; monitor data quality and coordinate with field teams to ensure research protocols are followed.
• Data Management & Programming (20%): Write efficient, well-documented code to manipulate large datasets and implement complex analyses; maintain data infrastructure using collaborative and replicable programming practices.
• Quality Assurance & Documentation (15%): Clean and validate data, identify and resolve technical issues with datasets or code, and maintain comprehensive documentation of all research procedures and analytical decisions.
• Research Communication (10%): Prepare materials for research manuscripts, project reports, and presentations; generate publication-ready tables, graphs, and visualizations that effectively communicate findings.
• Collaboration & Knowledge Sharing (20%): Work closely with faculty, research team members, and external collaborators to advance ongoing analyses, share methodological expertise, and contribute to the broader research agenda.

Department: https://haas.berkeley.edu/ibsi/

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

• The minimum qualification to be enrolled in a Bachelor's Degree, or equivalent international degree program at time of application.

Additional qualifications (required at time of start)

• A Bachelor's Degree, or equivalent international degree at the start of appointment.

Preferred qualifications

• A Bachelor's degree or in a quantitative field, including Computer Science, Mathematics, Economics or related and theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge in Economics. An advanced degree by start date is preferred.
• At least one year of experience as predoc. Scholars with strengths in applied micro-econometrics, field experiments, survey and applied data science (including machine learning and computational methods fare particularly encouraged.
• Advanced proficiency in the following coding languages: Proficiency in Coding Languages: R, Java, Python. Demonstrated experience with large and complex data sets.
• Demonstrated proficiency to work as part of a research team and/or previous experience working with data in a research context, including data collection.

Application Requirements

Document requirements

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
• Cover Letter
• Statement of Research (Optional)

Reference requirements

• 1-3 required (contact information only)

Apply link: https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05201

Help contact: dbeausoleil@berkeley.edu