Junior Specialist/Assistant Specialist - O'Donnell Center for Behavioral Economics

University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley (CA); On-site; USD 58,000 - 74,000; Full time

Job summary

University of California, Berkeley is seeking candidates for the position of Junior or Assistant Specialist in the O'Donnell Center for Behavioral Economics at the Haas School of Business. The role supports research in behavioral economics and finance, under Professor Ulrike Malmendier, with data workflows, econometric analyses, and scholarly output a core focus.

The appointment is initially one year with potential renewal, 100% time, located in Berkeley, CA, with start anticipated Spring/Summer

Qualifications

• Enrollment in a Bachelor's Degree, or equivalent international degree at time of application.
• Bachelor's degree required by start date.
• Preferred: Bachelor's degree in a quantitative field (e.g., Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Economics) with both theoretical and practical application.
• Advanced degree by the start date is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a research team and/or prior experience working with data in a research context.

Responsibilities

• Develop and Execute Data Workflows: Clean complex datasets, identify and resolve technical coding issues, and monitor statistical deliverables to ensure rigorous quality assurance. (20% time)
• Implement Econometric Analyses: Write efficient, collaborative, and replicable code to maintain datasets and execute analyses using reduced-form (DiD, RD, IV) and structural econometrics (MLE, GMM, dynamic programming). (20% time)
• Support Research Design: Assist in the design and interpretation of causal inference models, collaborating with the research team and external experts to refine ongoing project analyses. (20% time)
• Manage Project Documentation: Maintain accurate, transparent documentation of all data processing and analytical steps to ensure research replicability. (20% time)
• Contribute to Scholarly Output: Prepare research manuscripts and project reports, including the generation of publication-quality tables and graphical visualizations of results. (20% time)

Education

Bachelor's degree by start date

Job description

Junior Specialist/Assistant Specialist - O'Donnell Center for Behavioral Economics - Haas School of Business

Position overview

The UC academic salary scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and step at appointment. See the following table for the current salary scale for this position T24. The current full-time base salary range for the Junior Specialist position is $57,600 to $61,300. The current full-time base salary for the Assistant Specialist position is $67,000 to $74,200. 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% time.

Anticipated start: Spring/Summer 2027

Position duration: The initial appointment is for one year with the possibility of renewal based on performance and funding availability.

Application Window

Open date: September 8, 2026

Next review date: Tuesday, Sep 22, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

Final date: Wednesday, Sep 8, 2027 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.

Position description

The Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley is seeking candidates for the position of Junior or Assistant Specialist. The position assists in research in behavioral economics and finance, intersecting with topics in applied microeconomics, macro-finance, labor, and health.

The mission of the O'Donnell Center for Behavioral Economics is to support scholarship combining the highest standards of economic research with insights drawn from psychology and across the sciences—including cognitive science, neuroscience, biology, medicine, epidemiology, and genetics. The candidate would work at the Haas School of Business O'Donnell Center for Behavioral Economics under the supervision of Professor Ulrike Malmendier.

• Develop and Execute Data Workflows: Clean complex datasets, identify and resolve technical coding issues, and monitor statistical deliverables to ensure rigorous quality assurance. (20% time)
• Implement Econometric Analyses: Write efficient, collaborative, and replicable code to maintain datasets and execute analyses using reduced-form (DiD, RD, IV) and structural econometrics (MLE, GMM, dynamic programming). (20% time)
• Support Research Design: Assist in the design and interpretation of causal inference models, collaborating with the research team and external experts to refine ongoing project analyses. (20% time)
• Manage Project Documentation: Maintain accurate, transparent documentation of all data processing and analytical steps to ensure research replicability. (20% time)
• Contribute to Scholarly Output: Prepare research manuscripts and project reports, including the generation of publication-quality tables and graphical visualizations of results. (20% time)

Program: https://haas.berkeley.edu/behavioral-economics/

Qualifications

Basic qualifications

The minimum qualification is to be enrolled in a Bachelor's Degree, or equivalent international degree at time of application.

Additional qualifications

Applicants must have obtained a Bachelor's degree (or equivalent international degree) by their start date.

Preferred qualifications

• A Bachelor's degree in a quantitative field—such as Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Economics, or a related discipline with both theoretical and practical application of highly specialized knowledge in Economics.
• An advanced degree by the start date is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a research team and/or prior experience working with data in a research context.

Application Requirements

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

• 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 Affi... 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: Affi...

Job location

Berkeley, CA. This position is based in Berkeley, CA, and may require occasional international travel to support ongoing RCT projects (e.g. fieldwork site visits).