Public Policy Research Assistant Jobs in Riverside, CA

Position overview

Salary range:
$69,073 - $82,836. The posted UC salary scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and/or step at appointment. See Table(s): Postdoc Salary Scale

Review timeline:
First review date: Sunday, July 15, 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: Tuesday, September 30, 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.

Application Window

Open date: June 17, 2026

Most recent review date: Wednesday, Jul 15, 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: Thursday, Dec 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 Department of Urban Planning and Public Policy at the University of California, Irvine invites applications for a Postdoctoral Scholar position focused on wildfire recovery and sustainable building practices in disadvantaged and low-income communities in California.

The project will partner with community-based organizations to design and implement ground-truthing (GT) methodologies in order to assess existing building stock data based on community-led GT audits and to document community rebuilding priorities through surveys and GT engagement events.

Results will strengthen the capacity of disadvantaged and low-income communities impacted by wildfires to incorporate sustainability and wildfire resilience goals into rebuilding and recovery efforts by reducing embodied carbon in the building stock and by reconstructing with fire-resilient materials and building designs.

This position offers an opportunity to impact disaster recovery policies at state and local levels by utilizing GT methodologies to connect technical analyses derived from traditional research with the local, expert knowledge of residents and organizations based on their lived experiences.

Responsibilities

The postdoctoral scholar will work closely with the lead investigator, Professor Douglas Houston, to manage the research and engagement activities for a multi-campus project team which includes planning, policy, engineering, architectural, and community engagement specialists. Activities will include:

Coordinating project logistics and scheduling

Conducting spatial analysis of wildfire-impacted areas

Developing a building stock database for selected study areas

Co-developing GT research methodologies

Designing and implementing a resident rebuilding priorities survey

Supporting the co-development of engagement processes with community organizations

Overseeing the GT data collection components during activities run by community partners

Analyzing wildfire recovery and sustainable building practices

Supporting reporting requirements and knowledge sharing

The scholar will be encouraged to pursue collaborative inquiry, publications, and presentations relating to post-wildfire recovery processes and practices, particularly as they relate to disadvantaged and low-income communities. They will also engage in professional development activities (e.g., seminar attendance, conference presentations, and networking opportunities).

Basic qualifications: This position requires a Ph.D. in urban planning, public policy, environmental planning or engineering, architecture or urban design, social ecology, or a closely related field.

Preferred qualifications: The ideal candidate will bring a combination of the following:

Familiarity with quantitative, qualitative, and spatial research methods, including community-engaged research designs

Strong organizational skills and project management experience

Experience with community-engaged research, including relationship building and co-development and implementation of collaborative research and engagement

Strong written communication skills and contribution to peer-reviewed publications

This is a full-time, 33-month appointment, with the possibility of renewal subject to performance and funding availability. The start date for this appointment is negotiable but is anticipated to be September 2026. An in-person appointment is strongly preferred. Screening of applicants will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

Basic qualifications

This position requires a Ph.D. in urban planning, public policy, environmental planning or engineering, architecture or urban design, social ecology, or a closely related field.

Application Requirements

Document requirements

Cover Letter - A brief cover letter describing your research background and interest in the position, 1-2 pages

Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V. (no page limit)

Statement of Research - Brief statement of research interests, 1-2 pages

Writing Sample or Publication

Reference requirements

3 required (contact information only)

Apply link: Application Link

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

This position requires a Ph.D. in urban planning, public policy, environmental planning or engineering, architecture or urban design, social ecology, or a closely related field.

Application Requirements

Document requirements

• Cover Letter - A brief cover letter describing your research background and interest in the position, 1-2 pages
• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
• Statement of Research - Brief statement of research interests, 1-2 pages
• Writing sample or Publication

Reference requirements

• 3 required (contact information only)

Apply link:
https://recruit.ap.uci.edu/JPF10214

About UC Irvine

The University of California, Irvine 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, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC anti-discrimination policy.

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 for Employees, Students and Third Parties
• APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment.

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.

Job location
Irvine, CA