Student Roles at Jacobs

Are you a current Berkeley student looking for ways to get more involved with the Jacobs student community? This page describes some avenues for you to help build the community at Jacobs Hall.

Volunteer Opportunities:

Student Innovation Council

Since 2017, the Jacobs Student Advisory Board has assisted in ensuring the opinions, needs, and interests of the Jacobs student community are taken into account during the Institute’s strategic planning and program development. Over 8 years, the agenda of Jacobs Institute and the opinions, needs, and interests of the Jacobs student community has shifted and continues to change due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the rise of artificial intelligence and other innovations, the political climate of the US and the world, transitioning Jacobs administrative staff, and incoming new generations of youth. The results of the Jacobs Institute AY23-24 Annual Student Survey and the approach of the Jacobs Institute’s 10th anniversary calls for new approaches in addressing the opinions, needs, and interests of the Jacobs student community, engaging with UC Berkeley community, and responding to historical and significant changes in the world. Starting Fall 2025, the Jacobs Student Advisory Board will transition to the Jacobs Student Innovation Council.

Mission Statement: The mission of the Jacobs Student Innovation Council is to serve as the voice of the Jacobs student community through community engagement, outreach, leadership, and research, ensuring that student perspectives inform strategic planning, program development, and the evolution of resources that empower students to excel in designing technologies that benefit people and planet.

Vision Statement: The Jacobs Student Innovation Council strives to be an active change agent for student concerns, opinions, needs, and interests, fostering an equitable, inclusive, and collaborative environment where students can shape and enhance design innovation at the Jacobs Institute for Design Innovation.

Membership Eligibility:

• The Jacobs Student Innovation Council will comprise no more than 8 members and aims to reflect the diversity of students at Jacobs Institute.
• Members must be a full-time undergraduate or graduate student for the current academic year.
• Members must have at least one semester of Jacobs Institute Maker Pass experience and demonstrated interest in the design community at Jacobs Institute.
• Members who are interested in returning must be in good standing with council responsibilities.

Responsibilities:

• Serving in the Jacobs Student Innovation Council for the full academic year with an estimated time commitment of 1-2 hours per week.
• Attending hybrid, 1-hour, bi-weekly meetings throughout the school year on Fridays from 12pm-1pm.
• Leading Jacobs Student Community Town Halls hosted during the Fall semester, engaging in preparation leading up to the event, facilitation of the event with attendees, and evaluation of both the event itself as well as the data collected from attendees.
• Analyzing data from Jacobs Student Community Town Halls and formulating responsive solutions, such as hosting an event, facilitating a workshop, or fabricating a design, that address issues, concerns, and needs from the Jacobs student community and benefits students engaging with Jacobs Institute.
• Offering feedback relevant to the Jacobs student experience for Jacobs staff, leadership, and working groups (DEI, Resource Development, Co-curricular programs, Technical Infrastructure, Undergraduate curriculum, Graduate program)
• Supporting student engagement programming and yield events throughout the school year, including (but not limited to): Golden Bear Orientation, Jacobs Makerspace Open House, Campus Makerspace Crawl, Maker Faire, Design Showcase, Cal Day, various group tours, and bridges Multicultural Resource Fair.
• Learning and remaining informed about resources at Jacobs Institute and serving as a resource for other students.
• Construct an impact report at the end of the school year with the Student Engagement Manager, documenting qualitative and quantitative data as well as reflections that highlight accomplishments, challenges, and suggestions for the following Student Innovation Council.

Application Process:

• The application consists of three sections:
  • About You
  • Materials
    • Resume/CV
  • Essay Questions
    • Please provide a personal statement. Tell us why you are interested in serving on the Student Innovation Council and what skills you bring to the team. What ideas do you have for improving the student experience at Jacobs? (500 words or fewer)
    • What does “design for all” mean to you? Please provide a statement of your prior experience with, and commitment to, advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion. (250 words or fewer)
• Apply here.

Benefits:

• Members will receive a complimentary Jacobs Institute Maker Pass for the current academic year.
• Members will be featured in the Jacobs Institute Student Newsletter and acknowledged in the Jacobs Institute “People” webpage.
• Returning members receive priority enrollment for DES INV undergraduate courses.

Upcoming Information Sessions:

Join us for an information session to learn more about the Jacobs Student Innovation Council. Learn more about Jacobs Institute, the responsibilities of the role, and ask questions as you prepare your application. RSVP here.

• Friday, September 12, 2025 ⋅ 12:00 – 1:00pm ⋅ 10 Jacobs (basement of Jacobs Hall)
• Friday, September 19, 2025 ⋅ 12:00 – 1:00pm ⋅ 10 Jacobs (basement of Jacobs Hall)

We are seeking applications for new members for the 2025-2026 academic year; submit an application by Monday, September 22nd, 9AM PST. Contact Janrey Javier (janreyjavier@berkeley.edu) if you have questions.

Employment Opportunities:

Student Supervisor Program

The Jacobs Student Supervisors are undergraduate student staff who are responsible for helping Jacobs Hall run smoothly and safely. Primary responsibilities to achieve this include monitoring makerspace access, enforcing safety and usage policies, regularly maintaining resources, and providing assistance to Maker Pass holders. Experienced Student Supervisors have the opportunity to advance to the Student Supervisor II role, which entails additional equipment maintenance and training responsibilities; each Student Supervisor II apprentices with a Jacobs Design Specialist and gains specialized knowledge of a particular area of the Makerspace. New Student Supervisors are hired in August, and occasionally in January, before the start of the semester.

Openings: Check Handshake (search “Jacobs”) before the start of each semester for new openings.

Student Creative Team

A small team of students supports the Jacobs Institute’s work in graphic design, content production for web and print, creative storytelling, and web design. Graphic Design Assistants primarily focus on design outputs like posters and print collateral, illustrations, infographics, and brand applications, while Student Reporters primarily focus on outputs like written stories, video and photography, and web and social media content. Student web designers help create templates for the website, and work closely with staff to update the website as needed. All roles involve the opportunity to work on long-term special projects, propose new ideas, and work as part of a collaborative team.

Openings: Positions generally open in July, but also sometimes during the academic year. Check Handshake (search “Jacobs”). 

Program Assistant

The Program Assistant works with the Jacobs program staff to help courses and programs at Jacobs Hall run smoothly. The primary responsibilities to achieve this include maintaining class, event, and office supplies, formatting announcements for the student community mailing list, supporting event marketing and operations, and maintaining our collection of collateral and student projects.

Openings: Check Handshake (search “Jacobs”).

TA (formerly GSI), Reader, and Tutor Roles

Each semester, the Jacobs Institute hires dedicated, knowledgeable graduate students to serve as academic student employees (ASEs) for the Design Innovation (DES INV) courses. Available roles range from teaching assistants (TAs), readers, and tutors, depending on the course.

Applications for the Summer & Fall 2024 course ASE roles are now open (see bottom of this page). To join the general candidate pool and receive an email when the ASE application opens for the next semester, fill out this interest form. 

Please reference the FAQ at the end of this page for general information about Jacobs ASE hiring. Other questions that are not addressed in the FAQ can be directed to Tyshon Rogers.

Academic Student Employee Hiring FAQ

What does the percentage appointment mean? 

The percentage for an ASE appointment indicates the time commitment for the role, in reference to a 40-hour full-time job. For example, 10 hours is 25% of 40 hours, so a 10 hours/week role means it is a 25% appointment.

Whom should I contact if I am interested in learning more about a specific role or course?

Course instructors manage the search process for their ASEs; you can contact an instructor directly if they would like to learn more about a specific role. 

What does it mean if I haven’t heard back about my ASE application?

Course instructors will contact applicants whom they would like to interview. Applicants who are not selected for an interview will not be contacted. 

Does this role qualify for fee remission?

Graduate student academic appointments that are eligible for fee remission include TA, GSR, AI-GS, Reader or Tutor employment during the Fall and Spring semesters (fee remission is not provided for any Summer appointments). A fee remission is generated when a graduate student holds a fee remission eligible appointment or combines multiple appointments that then create the minimum fee remission eligibility criteria of a 25% appointment. To learn more about ASE appointments policies, including fee remission, visit the Graduate Division website.

What compensation would I receive as an ASE?

All ASEs receive a salary for their employment, with rates set by the campus. TA rates are paid monthly and Tutor and Reader rates are paid hourly. Please note Summer ASE pay rates are different from the Fall/Spring rates that are provided in the previous links.

In addition to these wages, students in eligible ASE roles in the Fall and Spring semesters may receive fee remission as a benefit of employment.  The Jacobs Institute provides a small amount of fee remission that supplements the standard fee remission that is set by campus policies. Please see the table below for fee coverage at different levels of employment for Jacobs Institute ASEs. Current fee levels may be found on the Registrar’s website.

 

Apply here for ASE positions. Before applying for a position, 1) review information about the course, including meeting time and description, and 2) ensure you meet the eligibility requirements to be an ASE, especially if you are applying to be a first-time TA.

We will update the class schedules when they becomes available.

Spring 2026 ASE Roles