Junior Specialist​/Assistant Specialist

Position Overview

Junior Specialist / Assistant Specialist – Institute for Business & Social Impact (IBSI), Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley.

Salary range:
Junior Specialist $55,000–$58,600;
Assistant Specialist $63,500–$70,700. Percent time: 100%. Anticipated start:
February 16, 2026. Position duration: 2 years.

Application Window:
Open November 2, 2025 – Final review date June 5, 2026 – Final date September 30, 2026. Applications received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

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 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 will work at the Haas School of Business IBSI under the supervision of Laura Chioda (manager) and Professor Paul Gertler.

• Research Design & Analysis (20%):
  Assist in designing and interpreting analyses using advanced econometric methods, including difference‑in‑differences, regression discontinuity, instrumental variables, and structural econometrics.
• 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.

Basic Qualifications (required at time of application):

• Enrollment 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:

• Bachelor’s degree in a quantitative field (e.g., Computer Science, Mathematics, Economics) or related field; an advanced degree by start date is preferred.
• At least one year of experience as a pre‑doctoral scholar with strengths in applied micro‑econometrics, field experiments, survey design, and applied data science (including machine learning and computational methods).
• Advanced proficiency in R, Java, and Python; demonstrated experience with large and complex data sets.
• Demonstrated proficiency working as part of a research team and/or prior experience working with data in a research context, including data collection.

• Curriculum Vitae (most recently updated).
• Cover Letter.
• Statement of…