We invite UC Berkeley PhD students from select disciplines to apply to two training programs: Computational Research for Equity in the Legal System Training Program (CRELS) and Computational Social Science Training Program (CSS).
Get details below and submit your application here (deadline: April 5, 2026, 11:59 pm PT)!
CRELS and CSS Training Program Opportunities
The CRELS and CSS training programs are distinct efforts, funded by two separate training grants. However, we manage many activities as one cohort, maximizing trainees’ opportunities for collaboration and to learn from each other.
Computational Research for Equity in the Legal System Training Program (CRELS)
The NSF-funded CRELS training program supports students studying criminal legal systems, data science methods, and ethical and social implications of artificial intelligence and big data.
CRELS brings together students and faculty across social sciences, statistics, computer science, and professional schools to advance computational approaches to legal system research. A central goal of the program is to build a multidisciplinary research community at Berkeley and beyond that integrates a broad set of perspectives with data science tools.
Learn more about the CRELS Fellowship here, including Funding, Eligibility, and Program Goals & Design. For questions, email bids-crels@berkeley.edu.
Computational Social Science Training Program (CSS)
The NIH-funded CSS training program supports students studying health and the social determinants of health in the social and behavioral sciences.
The goal of CSSTP is to build a multidisciplinary community at Berkeley and beyond that integrates the intellectual frameworks and methods of their disciplines with data science tools to advance what we’re calling computational social science. The programs will create an intellectual community where all students can thrive and learn from one another.
Learn more about CSS here, including Funding, Application Requirements, and Program Goals & Design. For questions, email css-t32@berkeley.edu.
Combined activities
CRELS and CSS trainees benefit from:
- Faculty and program mentorship through guidance from faculty and program leadership, including support on research design, professional growth, and navigating interdisciplinary projects
- Weekly research workshop where trainees share current research, receive feedback from peers and faculty, and engage in discussion around methods, research design, and career development
- Invited faculty presentations as part of the CRELS sponsored speaker series (speakers selected with cohort input), along with opportunities to meet with the guest speakers in small group or one-on-one settings
- Science communication workshop, a multi-day training focused on communicating research to broader audiences, including sessions with journalists, public communicators, and experienced writers
- Access to the Berkeley Institute for Data Science (BIDS) community, including talks, workshops, hackathons, and open source community events such as those connected to Berkeley’s Open Source Program Office (OSPO), Cultural Analytics Group, as well as collaborative spaces like the AI Futures Lab (AIFL)
To stay in touch with BIDS and hear more about the CRELS & CSS training programs, please visit or follow us on Bluesky and LinkedIn, and subscribe to the BIDS newsletter.