Senior Research Assistant, Risk-Resilience Lab

About Berkeley

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We are looking for applicants who reflect California's diversity and want to be part of an inclusive, equity-focused community that views education as a matter of social justice. Please consider whether your values align with our Guiding Values and Principles, Principles of Community, and Strategic Plan.

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Departmental Overview

The Risk-Resilience Lab is a fun, dynamic, interdisciplinary team of students, staff, and scholars at the University of California, Berkeley. Our mission is to improve justice, safety, and well-being among people and communities at risk, through policy-relevant research. The lab is directed by Professor Jennifer Skeem, a psychologist affiliated with the Goldman School of Public Policy and the School of Social Welfare. For more about us and our work, please see: http://risk-resilience.berkeley.edu/

What We're Looking For

We are seeking a proactive, skilled professional to serve as Senior Research Assistant for our videogame-supported, school-based therapeutic program designed to prevent aggression and promote positive development among early adolescents. Over the next year, we will continue evaluating the effectiveness of this program and are looking for a dedicated senior-level team member to lead participant recruitment and assessment, support intervention implementation across multiple Bay Area elementary schools, and provide day-to-day guidance to peer Assistant Coaches.

The ideal candidate excels in advanced field research operations, exercises sound judgment in complex or sensitive situations, and works effectively both independently and collaboratively. This role requires building strong relationships with schools and community partners, maintaining high standards for data quality and intervention fidelity, and taking initiative to solve problems in the field.

We are especially interested in learning more about your interest in this work and alignment with our mission, your experience navigating challenging situations in research or youth-facing settings, your approach to supporting or coordinating the work of others, and your experience working with diverse youth and school communities.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is May 20, 2026

Responsibilities

Intervention Implementation & Facilitation

• Facilitate implementation of highly structured group intervention at multiple schools, including supporting the lead facilitator, supervising gaming activities, organizing tournaments, and managing prizes
• Address behavioral issues and maintain a respectful, productive environment
• Perform relatively complex facilitation assignments, including managing behavioral escalations and troubleshooting technical or interpersonal challenges
• Check intervention sessions for protocol conformity and accuracy

Participant Recruitment & Assessment

• Lead participant recruitment, tracking, and retention efforts across multiple elementary school sites, including outreach to youth and families
• Conduct participant interviews and assessments, including direct data collection with children and parents at school sites and homes
• Perform relatively complex interviewing assignments, including refusal conversion (re-engaging reluctant participants) and interviews requiring sensitivity to personal circumstances
• Exercise judgment in ensuring appropriate responses to sensitive questions; maintain organized tracking systems

Data Collection & Documentation

• Collect survey data from participants following established protocols
• Establish and maintain organized files for surveys, consent forms, documentation, attendance records, and session logs; collate materials for processing
• Alert project leadership to inadequate responses, protocol deviations, or quality concerns

Site Coordination

• Coordinate site logistics across multiple school locations, including scheduling, space arrangements, equipment setup, and materials preparation
• Act as liaison between the research team and participating schools; maintain relationships with school administrators, teachers, and staff
• Troubleshoot technical issues with gaming equipment; manage intervention materials, including games, prizes, and supplies
• Address site-specific challenges such as scheduling conflicts or space constraints

Team Coordination & Working Supervision

• Schedule and assign work for Assistant Coaches at multiple school sites; maintain work schedules and attendance records
• Instruct Assistant Coaches in behavior management protocols, intervention procedures, and data collection methods; check their work for conformity and accuracy
• Foster a positive, collaborative team culture; attend team meetings and correspond with the study team

Required Qualifications

• Strong interviewing and assessment skills with children, adolescents, and families; collect sensitive information respectfully and effectively
• Strong interpersonal, liaison, and communication skills; handle complex situations with judgment, build relationships with diverse stakeholders, and summarize information clearly
• Take initiative and solve problems with minimal day-to-day supervision while following established protocols
• Experience coordinating work with others, providing guidance to junior team members, or serving in a lead/senior role; schedule work, assign tasks, and check others' work for accuracy
• Strong organizational skills; manage multiple tasks, coordinate activities across sites, and maintain accurate records
• Strong behavioral management skills with youth; maintain positive group dynamics
• Working knowledge of MS Office (particularly Excel and Word); familiarity with video games and troubleshooting technical issues
• Cultural responsiveness: work effectively with diverse populations
• Must be able to travel punctually and reliably between various work sites, including locations outside city and county limits, in support of operational and programmatic needs.
• Availability during business hours with flexibility for occasional evenings or weekends
• High school or General Education Diploma and two years of experience in the collection of survey data, youth program implementation, and/or equivalent combination of education and experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with children and early adolescents (ages 9-12) in structured group settings
• Clinical and/or research interviewing experience
• Experience with behavioral management or positive youth development approaches
• Previous experience in lead/senior roles coordinating others' work, providing instruction, or checking work quality
• Demonstrated track record of taking initiative and addressing challenges; Experience acting as a liaison between organizations or coordinating across multiple sites
• Fluency/proficiency in Spanish
• Experience, training, or background in school or after-school settings; Experience in the education field or youth development
• Experience with quality assurance, protocol monitoring, or fidelity checking
• Experience with refusal conversion or retention strategies
• Training in evidence-based youth prevention or intervention programs
• Bachelor's degree in a related field (education, psychology, social work, public health, youth development) and/or equivalent combination of education and experience

Salary & Benefits

This is a full-time, career position.

This position is eligible for full UC Benefits. For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.

Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.

The budgeted hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $24.00 - $33.82 (steps 1-17).