Description
About Berkeley
At the University of California, Berkeley, we are committed to creating a community that fosters equity of experience and opportunity, and ensures that students, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds feel safe, welcome and included. Our culture of openness, freedom and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty and staff.
The University of California, Berkeley, is one of the world's leading institutions of higher education, distinguished by its combination of internationally recognized academic and research excellence; the transformative opportunity it provides to a large and diverse student body; its public mission and commitment to equity and social justice; and its roots in the California experience, animated by such values as innovation, questioning the status quo, and respect for the environment and nature. Since its founding in 1868, Berkeley has fueled a perpetual renaissance, generating unparalleled intellectual, economic and social value in California, the United States and the world.
We are looking for equity-minded applicants who represent the full diversity of California and who demonstrate a sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds present in our community. When you join the team at Berkeley, you can expect to be part of an inclusive, innovative and equity-focused community that approaches higher education as a matter of social justice that requires broad collaboration among faculty, staff, students and community partners. In deciding whether to apply for a position at Berkeley, you are strongly encouraged to consider whether your values align with our Guiding Values and Principles, our Principles of Community, and our Strategic Plan.
At UC Berkeley, we believe that learning is a fundamental part of working, and our goal is for everyone on the Berkeley campus to feel supported and equipped to realize their full potential. We actively support this by providing all of our staff employees with at least 80 hours (10 days) of paid time per year to engage in professional development activities. To find out more about how you can grow your career at UC Berkeley, visit grow.berkeley.edu.
Departmental Overview
The Possibility Lab at the University of California is a team of policy researchers and practitioners who partner with government and community to design, pilot, and scale data-driven innovations for the public good. Through ongoing collaborations, the Lab is pioneering innovative ways to center community perspectives and expertise in public policy by working directly with diverse stakeholders to foster engagement, empowerment, and equity.
Position Summary
The Research Associate position involves working with a diverse team of researchers and practitioners at the Possibility Lab, led by Professor Amy Lerman, who are passionate about conducting applied, data-driven research. The work involves gathering, analyzing, and interpreting a wide variety of research data; designing and conducting research including selecting data samples, developing research instruments, analyzing collected information according to established statistical methods, and developing recommendations based on research findings. The incumbent may also prepare reports, charts, tables, and other visual aids to interpret and communicate data and results.
All projects are carried out in direct collaboration with government agencies and the communities they serve, as well as non-government organizations, to ensure that data-driven innovation is undertaken in service of the public good. Projects may cover a range of topics, from criminal justice to housing and public health, with a focus on data-driven public policy that is co-designed in collaboration with government and community partners. Visit https://possibilitylab.berkeley.edu/ for more information.
Application Review Date
The First Review Date for this job is: 06/06/2024.
Responsibilities
- Manages relationships with research partners at government and non-government agencies.
- Liaison work includes regular engagement and client management, project management, troubleshooting issues, and being the main point of contact for research partners.
- Assists research partners in requesting administrative data, managing multiple research databases/datasets, using R, Stata, Python, or other statistical software packages on administrative data sets and/or other incoming data.
- Responsible for cleaning data correctly, doing primary analysis, and presenting results in various formats (tables/graphs etc.).
- Works with Senior Researchers at the Possibility Lab and faculty research affiliates to design, manage, and implement rigorous research studies, using a range of qualitative and quantitative methods, on a variety of public policy and social science topics including public safety, public health, housing, civic engagement, equity, and others.
- Supports authorship of academic papers, policy reports, and other publications by conducting literature reviews, editing or drafting text, and preparing manuscripts for publication and for presentation to key research partners and stakeholders.
- Other duties as assigned.
- May require some evening and weekend work, and occasional travel.
Required Qualifications
- Ability to take initiative and manage multiple projects with minimal supervision, including strong time management skills and ability to meet tight deadlines.
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively with diverse groups to achieve results.
- Strong oral and written communication skills.
- Ability to work both independently and as a team member.
- Analytical/problem-solving skills.
- Strong skills in analyzing, researching and synthesizing large amounts of data for preparing sound and relevant proposals/analyses.
- Ability to multi-task with demanding timeframes.
- Bachelor's degree in related area and/or equivalent experience/training.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience writing successful grant proposals.
- Experience working on public sector challenges.
- Master's degree in public policy, economics, statistics, or a related field and/or equivalent training/experience.
Salary & Benefits
This is a 1yr, full-time (40 hours/week), contract appointment, eligible for UC benefits with the possibility of extension with continued funding. This is a monthly paid, exempt position.
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 salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $78,000.00 - $92,000.00.
How to Apply
- To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter.
Other Information
- This is not a visa opportunity.
- This position is eligible for up to 50% remote work.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. For more information about your rights as an applicant, please see the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission poster.
The University of California's Affirmative action policy.
The University of California's Anti-Discrimination policy.
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