Job Description
About Berkeley At the University of California, Berkeley, we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty and staff. As a world-leading institution, Berkeley is known for its academic and research excellence, public mission, diverse student body, and commitment to equity and social justice. Since our founding in 1868, we have driven innovation, creating global intellectual, economic and social value. We are looking for applicants who reflect California's diversity and want to be part of an inclusive, equity-focused community that views education as a matter of social justice. Please consider whether your values align with our Guiding Values and Principles, Principles of Community, and Strategic Plan. At UC Berkeley, we believe that learning is a fundamental part of working, and provide space for supportive colleague communities via numerous employee resource groups (staff organizations). Our goal is for everyone on the Berkeley campus to feel supported and equipped to realize their full potential. We actively support this by providing all of our full-time staff employees with at least 80 hours (10 days) of paid time per year to engage in professional development activities. Find out more about how you can grow your career at UC Berkeley. Departmental Overview The Risk-Resilience Lab is a fun, dynamic, interdisciplinary team of students, staff, and scholars at the University of California, Berkeley. Our mission is to improve justice, safety, and well-being among people and communities at risk, through policy-relevant research. The lab is directed by Professor Jennifer Skeem, a psychologist affiliated with the Goldman School of Public Policy and the School of Social Welfare. For more about us and our work, please see: http://risk-resilience.berkeley.edu/ What We're Looking For We are seeking a proactive, skilled professional to serve as Senior Research Assistant for our videogame-supported, school-based therapeutic program designed to prevent aggression and promote positive development among early adolescents. Over the next year, we will continue evaluating the effectiveness of this program and are looking for a dedicated senior-level team member to lead participant recruitment and assessment, support intervention implementation across multiple Bay Area elementary schools, and provide day-to-day guidance to peer Assistant Coaches. The ideal candidate excels in advanced field research operations, exercises sound judgment in complex or sensitive situations, and works effectively both independently and collaboratively. This role requires building strong relationships with schools and community partners, maintaining high standards for data quality and intervention fidelity, and taking initiative to solve problems in the field. We are especially interested in learning more about your interest in this work and alignment with our mission, your experience navigating challenging situations in research or youth-facing settings, your approach to supporting or coordinating the work of others, and your experience working with diverse youth and school communities. Application Review Date The First Review Date for this job is May 20, 2026 Responsibilities Intervention Implementation & Facilitation Facilitate implementation of highly structured group intervention at multiple schools, including supporting the lead facilitator, supervising gaming activities, organizing tournaments, and managing prizes Address behavioral issues and maintain a respectful, productive environment Perform relatively complex facilitation assignments, including managing behavioral escalations and troubleshooting technical or interpersonal challenges Check intervention sessions for protocol conformity and accuracy Participant Recruitment & Assessment Lead participant recruitment, tracking, and retention efforts across multiple elementary school sites, including outreach to youth and families Conduct participant interviews and assessments, including direct data collection with children and parents at school sites and homes Perform relatively complex interviewing assignments, including refusal conversion (re-engaging reluctant participants) and interviews requiring sensitivity to personal circumstances Exercise judgment in ensuring appropriate responses to sensitive questions; maintain organized tracking systems Data Collection & Documentation Collect survey data from participants following established protocols Establish and maintain organized