Project(MH): SC2.0 – A Study of Data-Driven Interventions for Student Well-Being and Academic Outcomes
Paul Gertler, Professor
Business, Haas School
Applications for Spring 2026 are closed for this project.
Passionated and interested in Field Experiments, Research Management, and Data collection?
Join a cutting-edge research team at UC Berkeley!
Professors Paul Gertler and Laura Chioda are leading an exciting project to understand how innovative, data-driven tools can transform student success. The study evaluates the SC2.0-based continuum model—including a new digital “portal” that helps connect students to the right support services—on outcomes such as mental health, well-being, academic performance (grades, retention, graduation), and broader life trajectories.
As a Project/Research Manager, you’ll gain hands-on experience in high-impact social science research. This is a unique opportunity to sharpen your research, leadership, and problem-solving skills while contributing to rigorous evidence on one of today’s most pressing challenges: how to support student success and well-being at scale.
- Field Experiments: Learn the design and implementation of large-scale RCTs testing innovative education and training interventions
- Data Collection: Support questionnaire development and manage data collection processes, including data entry, cleaning, organization, and quality assurance
- Research Supervision: Contribute to fieldwork monitoring, ensure adherence to research protocols, and assist in training field staff
- Data Analysis: Apply econometric methods to experimental data, develop data pipelines, and uncover meaningful insights
This is a unique opportunity to contribute to a project generating rigorous evidence on improving US students mental health youth outcomes in education and entrepreneurship while addressing pressing global challenges.
Role: Students will:
- Coordinate research activities: support the design, planning, and execution of surveys, experiments, and data collection.
- Manage project logistics: track deadlines, organize meetings, maintain documentation, and liaise with team members.
- Data support: assist with preliminary analysis, and contribute to quality assurance.
- Literature and background research: review relevant academic and policy literature, summarize findings, and prepare briefs.
- Communication: draft research updates, prepare presentation materials, and maintain clear documentation for faculty and partners.
Qualifications: Technical Qualifications:
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for interacting with diverse stakeholders
Experience in field research, including survey design and data collection techniques
Understanding of development economics and randomized controlled trials (RCTs)
Proficiency in R or Python
Prior experience with project coordination, research assistance, or leadership roles
Desire to pursue graduate school in economics (and related fields), public policy, or data science a plus
Soft Skills:
Strong ability to anticipate, plan, prioritize, and meet deadlines
Capacity to handle multiple projects at once, effectively manage time, and interface confidently with co-workers
Self-motivated, detail-oriented, hard worker who enjoys working in teams
Day-to-day supervisor for this project: Laura Chioda, Staff Researcher
Hours: 9-11 hrs
Social Sciences Engineering, Design & Technologies