Research

Each semester, our Research Division launches five to six initiatives spanning a broad range of policy areas: past examples range from environmental policy and criminal justice to economic development and housing. Each initiative is conducted in partnership with a client organization that helps shape the research agenda and determines the format of the final deliverable.

Our past clients include local, city, and state-level public offices—such as members of the Berkeley City Council and the California State Assembly—as well as specialized agencies like the Berkeley Office of Economic Development. Prior to recruitment, Research Directors formalize each project in close collaboration with the client, developing a core research question, abstract, and submission framework. Once recruitment is complete, initiative team members are fully integrated into ongoing client communications.

The scope and outcomes of each initiative vary. Some teams culminate their work with a final presentation delivered directly to the client, while others present their findings publicly (such as before the Berkeley City Council). Certain initiatives focus on sensitive or legislation-related research, in which case findings remain internal to the project team and client. Across all initiatives, however, our work addresses pressing challenges facing the city, region, or state, and delivers actionable insights directly to stakeholders with clear pathways for policy impact.

In addition to project-based research, the SPIB team actively cultivates opportunities for broader dissemination and engagement. We are pleased to co-host the inaugural Bay Area Undergraduate Policy Conference this March, in partnership with Stanford’s Cardinal Policy Group.

There are three primary roles within each initiative: Research Associate, Editor, and Initiative Lead. All team members serve as Research Associates, with two members taking on additional responsibilities as either Editor or Initiative Lead. Team size typically ranges from five to eight members, depending on the scope and needs of the project.

Research Associate

• Identify, evaluate, and analyze existing policies and their impacts
• Gather supporting evidence through data collection and expert interviews
• Contribute to writing the final research product across all stages

Editor

• Fact-check sources and claims to ensure all information is accurate
• Review the final product for coherence and stylistic consistency
• Manage the sourcing and bibliography

Initiative Lead

• Lead a team of 4-6 Research Associates and guide the research process (with the assistance of the Research Directors)
• Meet and communicate regularly with elected officials & their policy teams
• Coordinate and maintain operations with team members
• Schedule team working meetings and ensure continuous progress