Behavioral Economics Research Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Position overview
Position title: Junior Specialist or Assistant Specialist
Salary range: The UC academic salary scales set the minimum pay at appointment. See the following table for the current salary: Table 24B . Final salary will be commensurate with level of experience. The current full-time salary range for Junior Specialist positions is $55,000 to $58,600. The current full-time salary for Assistant Specialist positions is $63,500 to $70,700.
Percent time: 100%
Anticipated start: July 1, 2026
Position duration: 1 Year with possible extension for a second year.
Application Window
Open date: March 25, 2026
Most recent review date: Thursday, Apr 23, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) Applications received after this date will be reviewed by the search committee if the position has not yet been filled.
Final date: Friday, Jul 31, 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.
Position description
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 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.
General Duties:
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 (required at time of application)
The minimum qualification is to be enrolled in a Bachelor's Degree, or equivalent international degree at time of application.
Additional qualifications (required at time of start)
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
Document requirements

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

Reference requirements

• 3-5 required (contact information only)

Apply link: https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05329
Help contact: shagnik_chakravarty@berkeley.edu
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 Affirmative 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: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

Job location
Berkeley, CA