Junior​/Assistant Specialist - Center Effective Global Action

Position Overview

Position title:

Development Economics Predoc

Salary range:
The UC academic salary scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and step  the following table(s) for the current salary scale(s) for this position: https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). The current base salary range for this position is $55,000-$70,700. Offscale salaries, which yield compensation that is higher than the published systemwide salary at the designated rank and step, are offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions

Percent time: 100%

Anticipated start:
July 2026

Position duration: 1 year with the possibility of renewal pending funding

Open date:
January 6, 2026

Next review date:
Tuesday, Feb 17, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date:
Monday, Mar 2, 2026 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.

The Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA) is a hub for research, training and innovation headquartered at the University of California, Berkeley. We generate insights that decision makers can use to improve policies, programs, and people's lives. Our best-in-class academic network includes nearly 200 faculty, 80 scholars from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)—primarily from East Africa, and hundreds of graduate students from diverse academic disciplines who produce rigorous evidence about what works to expand education, health, and economic opportunities for people living in poverty.

Our business model involves curating policy-relevant research agendas in collaboration with development leaders, overseeing competitive grant-making to answer critical questions, investing in research capacity, and strategically connecting research and ideas to inform decision‑making by governments, NGOs, and the private sector.

The Junior/Assistant Specialist will support research partnership development by cultivating strong relationships with organizations providing research support and data collection services, and may have the opportunity to travel to field sites. Other key responsibilities include: providing research assistance to research projects and papers using empirical approaches; contributing to technical grant proposals, progress reports for current funding sources; and other administrative tasks related to the projects, CEGA, and the Principal Investigator(s) (PI).

Junior/Assistant Specialist may also support additional research and policy efforts relevant to the goals of the PIs and CEGA.

/

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent international degree or enrolled in a Bachelor's Degree or equivalent international degree program.

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent international degree

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent international degree in Economics, Public Policy, Political Science, Business, or related discipline.
• Strong interest in development economics, causal inference in applied microeconometrics, research design, program evaluation, cost‑effectiveness analysis, and/or big data/remote sensing.
• 1-2 years experience conducting empirical research including contributing to data collection and cleaning

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
• Cover Letter
• Research Statement - Please discuss research accomplishments and proposed plans. This can include, for example, your publication record, awards, presentations, inclusive research practices that promote the excellence of your research, and areas for future research. (Optional)

• 3-5 required (contact information only)

sabrinaspatny

UC Berkeley is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in our 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 our Principles of Community, which reflect our passion for critical inquiry, debate, discovery and innovation, and our deep commitment to contributing to a better world.

Every member of the UC Berkeley community has a role in sustaining a safe, caring and humane environment in which these values can thrive.

The University of California, 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 affirmative action and nondiscrimination in…