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Postdoctoral Employee - Artificial Intelligence - Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences Department

Position overview
Salary range: The UC postdoc salary scales set the minimum pay determined by experience level at appointment. See the following table(s) for the current salary scale(s) for this position: https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/2025-26/represented-oct-2025-scales/t23.pdf. The current minimum salary range for this position is $69,073 - $77,030 annually. Salaries above the minimum may be offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions.

Percent time: 100%

Anticipated start: January 2026 or flexible

Position duration: 2 years with the possibility of extension based on performance and availability of funding

Application Window
Open date: August 13, 2025

Next review date: Thursday, Aug 28, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Monday, Sep 15, 2025 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 Pierson Lab, within the Berkeley EECS department, is affiliated with the Berkeley AI Research Lab, Computational Precision Health, and the Center for Human-Compatible AI. We develop AI methods for applications in the health and social sciences, focusing in particular on improving health and reducing inequality.

We seek applicants with background and experience in language modeling and interests in applications in the health and social sciences. Specific potential projects include:

1. Using language models for scientific discovery. This project will build on our work developing sparse autoencoder methods for hypothesis generation and explore applications of these methods in the health and social sciences, in collaboration with clinicians and social scientists.


2. Using language models to improve equity. Building on our work we will develop and deploy language models that can democratize access to reliable health information.

Applicants will collaborate closely with PI Emma Pierson as well as other PhD students and postdocs in the lab.

Union: https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/resources/employment-policies-contracts/bargaining-units/postdoctoral-scholars/contract/

Sparse Autoencoders for Hypothesis Generation: https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.04382

Using large language models to promote health equity: https://arxiv.org/abs/2312.14804v2

Qualifications
Basic qualifications (required at time of application)
PhD or equivalent international degree, or enrolled in a PhD or equivalent international degree granting program

Additional qualifications (required at time of start)
PhD or equivalent international degree.

Preferred qualifications

• PhD in Computer Science or closely related field


• Demonstrated record of publications in relevant computer science venues, such as NLP conferences, machine learning conferences, and/or general interest journals

Application Requirements

Document requirements

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.


• Research Statement - Please discuss research accomplishments and proposed plans. This can include, for example, your publication record, awards, presentations, inclusive research practices that promote the excellence of your research, and areas for future research.


• Two Papers

Reference requirements

• 3 required (contact information only)

Apply link: https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05028

Help contact: emmapierson@berkeley.edu

About UC Berkeley

UC Berkeley is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in our public mission of research, teaching, and service, consistent with UC Regents Policy 4400 and University of California Academic Personnel policy (APM 210 1-d). These values are embedded in our Principles of Community, which reflect our passion for critical inquiry, debate, discovery and innovation, and our deep commitment to contributing to a better world. Every member of the UC Berkeley community has a role in sustaining a safe, caring and humane environment in which these values can thrive.

The University of California, Berkeley 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, or protected veteran status.

For more information, please refer to the University of California's Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment Policy and the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy.

In searches when letters of reference are required all letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. Please refer potential referees, including when letters are provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service or career center), to the UC Berkeley statement of confidentiality prior to submitting their letter.

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.

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


• APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

Job location
Berkeley, CA


To apply, visit https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05028