Senior Research Assistant, Risk-Resilience Lab (7232C) 86054

Senior Research Assistant, Risk-Resilience Lab (7232C) 86054 About Berkeley

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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 files for surveys, consent forms, documentation, attendance records, and session logs; collate materials for processing
Alert project leadership to inadequate responses, protocol deviations, or quality concerns
Site Coordination

Coordinate site logistics across multiple school locations, including scheduling, space arrangements, equipment setup, and materials preparation
Act as liaison between the research team and participating schools; maintain relationships with school administrators, teachers, and staff
Troubleshoot technical issues with gaming equipment; manage intervention materials, including games, prizes, and supplies
Address site-specific challenges such as scheduling conflicts or space constraints
Team Coordination & Working Supervision

Schedule and assign work for Assistant Coaches at multiple school sites; maintain work schedules and attendance records
Instruct Assistant Coaches in behavior management protocols, intervention procedures, and data collection methods; check their work for conformity and accuracy
Foster a positive, collaborative team culture; attend team meetings and correspond with the study team Required Qualifications

Strong interviewing and assessment skills with children, adolescents, and families; collect sensitive information respectfully and effectively
Strong interpersonal, liaison, and communication skills; handle complex situations with judgment, build relationships with diverse stakeholders, and summarize information clearly
Take initiative and solve problems with minimal day-to-day supervision while following established protocols
Experience coordinating work with others, providing guidance to junior team members, or serving in a lead/senior role; schedule work, assign tasks, and check others' work for accuracy
Strong organizational skills; manage multiple tasks, coordinate activities across sites, and maintain accurate records
Strong behavioral management skills with youth; maintain positive group dynamics
Working knowledge of MS Office (particularly Excel and Word); familiarity with video games and troubleshooting technical issues
Cultural responsiveness: work effectively with diverse populations
Must be able to travel punctually and reliably between various work sites, including locations outside city and county limits, in support of operational and programmatic needs.
Availability during business hours with flexibility for occasional evenings or weekends
High school or General Education Diploma and two years of experience in the collection of survey data, youth program implementation, and/or equivalent combination of education and experience Preferred Qualifications

Experience working with children and early adolescents (ages 9-12) in structured group settings
Clinical and/or research interviewing experience
Experience with behavioral management or positive youth development approaches
Previous experience in lead/senior roles coordinating others' work, providing instruction, or checking work quality
Demonstrated track record of taking initiative and addressing challenges; Experience acting as a liaison between organizations or coordinating across multiple sites
Fluency/proficiency in Spanish
Experience, training, or background in school or after-school settings; Experience in the education field or youth development
Experience with quality assurance, protocol monitoring, or fidelity checking
Experience with refusal conversion or retention strategies
Training in evidence-based youth prevention or intervention programs
Bachelor's degree in a related field (education, psychology, social work, public health, youth development) and/or equivalent combination of education and experience Salary & Benefits

This is a full-time, career position.

This position is eligible for full UC Benefits. For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.

Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.

The budgeted hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $24.00 - $33.82 (steps 1-17).
Other Information

This is not a visa opportunity. This position does not include sponsorship of a new consular H-1B visa petition that would require payment of the $100,000 supplemental fee.

This position is governed by the terms and conditions in the agreement for the Clerical & Allied Services Unit (CX) between the University of California and Teamsters Local 2010. The current bargaining agreement manual can be found at: http://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/labor/bargaining-units/cx/index.html