Job Details

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

Join the Health & Safety Net Researcher (Associate/Full Specialist) - California Policy Lab role at University of California, Berkeley.

Position Overview

Position title: Health & Safety Net Researcher
Salary range: $76,500 - $197,700 (UC academic salary scales; see
Percent time: 100%
Anticipated start: December 2025
Position duration: Two years

Application Window

Open date: October 20, 2025
Next review date: Monday, Nov 3, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Final date: Wednesday, Dec 31, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) – after this date applications will only be considered if the position is still vacant.

Position Description

The California Policy Lab (CPL) generates research insights for government impact. CPL partners with state and local agencies to conduct rigorous research on pressing issues such as homelessness, poverty, criminal justice reform, and education inequality. The Health & Safety Net Researcher will lead CPL's research portfolio on the social safety net and health, working under the oversight of CPL's faculty affiliates and Research Director.

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 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 and provide feedback on performance.
• Partner effectively with state and local agency staff to build a joint research agenda.

Conviction History Background

This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. Berkeley hires people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities. The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

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

Required documents: CV, cover letter, research statement, writing sample(s). Optional: additional literature.

Document Requirements

• Curriculum Vitae – Your most recently updated C.V.
• Cover Letter
• Research Statement – Discuss research accomplishments and proposed plans (publication record, awards, inclusive research practices, future research areas).
• Writing Sample – One or more illustrative examples (job market paper, manuscript, or other research product).

Reference Requirements

• 3–5 references (contact information only)

Contact Information

Apply link:
Help contact: ...@berkeley.edu

Job Location

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

About UC Berkeley

UC Berkeley is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in its 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 its Principles of Community and reflect a deep commitment to contributing to a better world.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

UC 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. For more information, please refer to the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy and the UC's Nondiscrimination Policy.