Staff Research Associate III (9611C) - Physics

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Physics is the largest department in the L&S Division of Mathematical and Physical Sciences. It is ranked as one of the top physics departments in the world, with excellence in research, teaching, and service to the community all highly valued. The department has 80 ladder and active emeriti faculty, 60 career and casual staff, and 300 lecturers, teaching assistants, readers, research personnel, postdocs, fellowship recipients, and visiting scholars. It enrolls 250 graduate students, 250 undergraduate majors, and over 7,000 students in its courses, many with laboratory sections. Its faculty fully participates in teaching and administration and conducts world-class research in campus, local, national, and international laboratories and sites; research activities require active financial arrangements with organizations such as Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. Physics manages 3 distinct campus buildings in its facilities complex with 240,000 assignable square feet, and it also houses and provides services to several research centers, the Physics Library, and multiple research Laboratories with varying physical environments. It has an active fundraising program.

This position reports to the Director of Instructional Support (R&D Engineer Supervisor) and will be primarily responsible for setting up, preparing and supporting daily lecture demonstrations and weekly lab experiments, as well as researching and designing the new demonstrations/experiments in consultation with faculty, supervisor, and outside experts. This position develops new demonstrations/experiments and modifies existing demonstrations/experiments, and must be responsive to faculty requirements and recommendations about the physical principles to be demonstrated. This position functions relatively independently to research, analyze, and propose new educational materials, maintain the collection, and order materials and supplies. In addition the Staff Research Associate collaborates with other staff members to prepare and disassemble the weekly laboratory experiments; and meets with GSIs and faculty members to understand their needs.

The First Review Date for this job is: September 2, 2025 - Open Until Filled

50%

• Lecture Demonstrations and Support of Undergraduate Instruction: Prepare lecture demonstrations for supported classes in physics lecture halls, including advance set-up of apparatus and instructing faculty in safe and effective use of demonstration materials. Inspect and maintain demonstration equipment, diagnosing equipment malfunctions and replacing, repairing, or arranging for repair. Recommend new equipment when needed. Develop new lecture demonstrations based on best practices and needs of instructors, and responsive to changes in physics and educational methods. Consult publications and colleagues at other institutions. Research, design, and fabricate or purchase new apparatus. Design considerations would include safety, economy, and educational effectiveness.
• Create, maintain, and update a physics lecture demonstration web site, including description of services and resources available to instructors, procedures for obtaining services, abstracts of demonstration exercises, and contact information for staff.
• Maintain and improve historic collection of about 600 demonstrations. Participate in planning for equipment needs, annual demonstration budget, class schedules, and renovation of lecture halls that may effect delivery of demonstrations. Revise and maintain online demonstration catalogue. Using educational demonstration materials, support departmental special events such as the Colloquium, Cal Day, special lectures, and Society of Physics Students events. Conduct various administrative tasks such as preparation of master semester schedule, organization of storage space, equipment ordering, and tracking of demonstration & audiovisual equipment usage. Maintain own computer and those provided for use in lecture halls
• Maintain a safe work environment for self, coworkers, instructors, and students in compliance with regulations. Provide for safe storage and disposal of chemicals, radioactive sources, and other hazardous materials or apparatus. Maintain chemical inventory. Demonstrate and encourage instructors to use safe procedures for avoiding electrical, mechanical, and laser hazards in the classroom.

35%

• Laboratory Preparation and Support: Perform experiment preparation; check stock of needed equipment, components, and supplies; plan logistics and setup placement. Perform weekly lab setups, including setting up and inspect finished setups prior to student use. Work with instructors/GSIs to effectively use lab equipment to perform and teach the class labs. Organize lab clean-ups between classes.
• Test and calibrate equipment prior to and after student usage. Diagnose equipment malfunctions and repair or arrange for repair at departmental shops.
• Maintain and improve about 50 laboratory experiments. Participate in planning for equipment needs, annual lab class budget, class schedules, and modifications of lab rooms that may affect delivery of class labs. Conduct various administrative tasks such as preparation of master semester schedule, organization of storage space, equipment ordering, and tracking of laboratory equipment usage. Maintain own computer and those provided for use in lab rooms.

10%

• Innovation and Development of New Demonstrations/Experiments/Equipment : Develop and modify lower division demonstrations/experiments/equipment, including researching, designing, and testing new apparatus. Contributes to development as needed. Evaluate and recommend new techniques and equipment to faculty. Determine needs through direct observation, analysis, student/instructor interviews and written student evaluations, and in response to faculty requests and suggestions. Consider safety, economy, current standards, changing technologies, current educational philosophies, educational effectiveness relative to target audience, and durability.
• Assist faculty and supervisor with preparation of proposals for extramural funding to support curricular development, innovative teaching programs, and major equipment purchases.

5%

• Education Materials and Outreach: Create new educational materials and outreach materials based on best practices and needs of instructors, responsive to changes in physics and educational methods. Consult publications and colleagues at other institutions. Research, design, and fabricate or purchase new apparatus. Design considerations include safety, economy, and educational effectiveness.
• Develop outreach activities that further students' understanding of the scientific method and principles of physics and inspire them to become scientists. Coordinate and present educational programs involving faculty and student volunteers.
• Seek scientific inquiries from other institutions and the public. Confer and exchange ideas with colleagues in local and national educational organizations, such as the Physics Instructional Resources Association, the American Association of Physics Teachers, and the National Science Teachers Association.

• Working knowledge of undergraduate-level physics, mathematics, and chemistry.
• Technical knowledge of electrical equipment, mechanical apparatus, vacuum and magnetic equipment, digital counters, logic devices, electronic test equipment, and radiation.
• Computer skills with hardware and software installation, maintenance, and removal.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, strong writing skills, and the ability to manage multiple responsibilities under pressure of deadline.

• Undergraduate degree in Physics, education, or a related field.
• Ability to troubleshoot and manipulate mechanical and electrical apparatus; Perform basic mechanical and electrical repairs/fabrication.
• Graduate training in science education, physics, engineering, or other physical sciences to understand the physics principles involved and to be able to translate them into effective lecturer demonstrations and exercises.
• Ability to use software for publishing, graphics, web authoring, and data acquisition and analysis.
• Experience in physics teaching or presenting science education workshops.
• Aware of current literature trends in instructional content and methods at comparable institutions.

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 salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $79,385.98 $89,409.01 yearly ($6,615.50 to $7,450.75 monthly). This is a 100% FTE career position eligible for full benefits. This position is FLSA Exempt and paid monthly.

This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. Berkeley does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities. The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

"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, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

The University of California 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 status under state or federal law.