Health & Safety Net Researcher; Associate​/Specialist - California Policy Lab

Position overview

Position title:

Health & Safety Net Researcher

Salary range:
The UC academic salary scales set the minimum pay determined by the rank and step  current full‑time base salary range for this position is $76,500 - $197,700. Off‑scale salaries, which yield compensation higher than the published system‑wide salary at the designated rank and step, are offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions.

Percent time: 100

Anticipated start:
December 2025

Position duration:
Two years

Open date:
October 20, 2025

Next review date:
Monday, Nov 3, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time). Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date:
Wednesday, Dec 31, 2025 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.

Department Overview:
The California Policy Lab (CPL) generates research insights for government impact. Through hands‑on partnerships with government agencies, CPL performs rigorous research across issue silos and builds the data infrastructure necessary to improve programs and policies that millions of Californians rely on every day. We work on California’s most urgent issues, including homelessness, poverty, criminal justice reform, and education inequality. At its Berkeley site, CPL resides as a center within the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment (IRLE).

CPL recognizes the value of having a diverse staff at all levels of the organization. When you join our team, you can expect to be part of an inclusive and equity‑focused community.

Position

Description:

The Health & Safety Net Researcher will lead CPL’s research portfolio relating to the social safety net and health, in collaboration with and under the oversight of CPL’s faculty affiliates and Research Director. This exciting role is for a skilled safety net and/or health researcher who wants to design and conduct policy‑relevant quantitative research in partnership with state and local agencies throughout California.

The Health & Safety Net Researcher conducts quantitative research, including conceptualizing research questions and design; requesting, receiving, and cleaning data files; creating and implementing an analysis plan; conducting quality assurance reviews; summarizing results in documents for both academic and policy audiences; and generating replicability documentation. The Health & Safety Net Researcher can 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.

A successful candidate can lead research projects under the oversight of CPL’s Research Director with small teams, write proposals to support research projects, and ensure timely and high‑quality completion of research tasks. The Health & Safety Net Researcher will mentor and supervise other research staff. The position will report to the Research Director and will work directly with leading social policy researchers at UC and other top universities, state and local government agency staff, and CPL’s leadership team.

• 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 such 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…