Assistant Specialist - Berkeley Seismological Lab

University of California-Berkeley; Berkeley (CA); On-site; USD 66,000 - 73,000; Full time

Job summary

University of California, Berkeley is seeking an Assistant Specialist to advance earthquake research within the Berkeley Seismological Laboratory. The role focuses on developing and delivering real-time earthquake parameters and products while enhancing data pipelines and archival systems.

The ideal candidate will apply machine-learning techniques and work with SeisComP, Python, and potentially C++ to improve algorithms, validation, and dissemination of earthquake information.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent international degree required.

Responsibilities

• Review state-of-the-art approaches to produce earthquake parameters and products in real time.
• Research and develop new customized earthquakes solutions and products using machine-learning and new datasets.
• Validate accuracy of produced solutions across diverse earthquake sequences; fine-tune configurations.
• Lead or contribute to peer-reviewed papers on developed solutions and products.
• Research methods to compute amplitude/travel time corrections for all BSL stations.

Skills

SeisComP

Python

C++

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

None

Job description

Position overview

Position title: Assistant Specialist

Salary range: The UC academic salary scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and step at appointment. See the following tables(s) for the current salary scale(s) for this position: T24 B. The current full-time base salary range for this position is $65,800 -$73,200. "Off-scale" salaries, which yield compensation that is 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: Fall 2026

Position duration: 1 year with the possibility of renewal based on performance and availability of funding

Application Window

Open date: August 18, 2026

Next review date: Wednesday, Sep 2, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

Final date: Monday, Sep 21, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

Position description

The Berkeley Seismological Laboratory (BSL) conducts essential research on earthquakes and solid earth processes while collecting and delivering high-quality geophysical data. It provides robust earthquake and hazard information including real-time alerts to the public, in collaboration with our partners. It also enables the broad consumption of earthquake information by everyone while educating and training students at all levels and from all backgrounds.

The BSL is responsible for publishing all earthquake products in Northern California to the Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat), a live database and long-term archive run by the USGS. The BSL is in the process of modernizing this pipeline with the goal of delivering new advanced and high-quality solutions and products. The main goal of this position is to perform the necessary research to develop and provide new earthquakes solutions and products. The research duties for this position include:

• Review state-of-the-art approaches to produce earthquake parameters (e.g. relocation, different types of magnitudes) and products (e.g. ShakeMaps, Moment Tensors, double-difference solutions) in real time as well as to push and archive earthquakes solutions (e.g. PDL, catalog archiver, waveform archiver, etc)
• Research and develop new customized earthquakes solutions and products, including through the use of machine-learning techniques and integration of new types of datasets (e.g. distributed acoustic arrays)
• Validate the accuracy of the produced solutions and products on a diverse range of earthquakes sequences. Fine-tune the configuration when needed
• Lead or contribute to peer-reviewed papers on these newly developed earthquakes solutions and products
• Research different methods to compute amplitude/travel time corrections and compute these coefficients for all BSL stations

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent international degree

Preferred qualifications

• Master's degree or equivalent international degree
• Solid knowledge of SeisComP in operational and real-time environments
• Solid knowledge of Python
• Desired knowledge of C++

Application Requirements

Document requirements

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
• Cover Letter

Reference requirements

• 3 required (contact information only)

Help contact: [e-mail]

About UC Berkeley

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 Affiantate Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment Policy and the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy.

In searches when letters of reference are required all letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. Please refer potential referees, including when letters are provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service or career center), to the UC Berkeley statement of confidentiality prior to submitting their letter.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

Unless stated otherwise, unambiguously, in the position description, this position does not include sponsorship of a new consular H-1B visa petition that would require payment of the $100,000 supplemental fee.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination, as defined by the employer.
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
• APM - 035: Affiative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

Job location

Berkeley, CA