Research Associate (Quantitative and/or Qualitative), Division of Research and Faculty Development

Harvard University • Boston, MA

6d • Hybrid

About The Position

Harvard Business School is hiring multiple quantitative and/or qualitative and writing-based Research Associates to support faculty research projects across business topics. Projects include artificial intelligence, digital transformation and innovation; the future of work and U.S. competitiveness; finance and the role of the CFO; corporate fraud; and identity and power. Candidates should indicate in their cover letter which faculty they are interested in supporting. The position reports directly to faculty supervisors and an administrative manager in Research Staff Services. Associates are expected to work independently, exercise intellectual curiosity and discretionary judgment, and apply subject-area knowledge to faculty research. The appointments begin immediately and run through June 30, 2027, with expected reappointment through June 30, 2028 subject to funding and performance. Harvard describes Research Associate roles as one-year term appointments and faculty strongly prefer a two-year commitment. The position is hybrid, based at the Boston campus, with at least three onsite days per week. The standard schedule is 40 hours per week. Harvard cannot provide visa sponsorship. A cover letter is required; candidates must also submit a writing sample and transcript, and may be asked for a code sample for review by an HBS statistician.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree with a GPA above 3.5.
• Ability to read academic and subject-specific information, write reasoned and thoughtful analyses, and produce creative interpretations.
• Comfort working with a high level of independence, intellectual curiosity, and discretionary judgment.
• Extremely high standards for work quality, attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and commitment to completing tasks.
• Ability to balance multiple tasks and shifting priorities, including under tight deadlines and at an accelerated pace when necessary.
• Candidates for Professor Foley’s book project should bring knowledge of finance, strong writing and research skills, and the ability to conduct statistical analysis on firm profitability data.
• Candidates for the Heese and Dey corporate fraud book project should have prior writing experience and an interest in business management.
• Candidates for Professor Ramarajan’s projects should have experience with, or strong interest in, research methods including interviewing, qualitative data analysis, laboratory and field experiments, and quantitative methods using archival and survey data.

Nice To Haves

• Evidence of independent research in a specific advanced field of study.
• Prior high-quality, original academic writing and a background in analyzing and interpreting relevant data, research, news, and literature.
• Familiarity with navigating a complex organization such as Harvard Business School.
• Prior experience supporting short-form writing and website project management.
• Experience with research methods and tools relevant to the assigned faculty project, including statistical programming, NLP, and packages such as STATA, Python, R, or MATLAB.

Responsibilities

• Work under the general direction of HBS faculty on topics central to the School’s research agenda.
• Provide subject-area knowledge, analysis, and interpretation to faculty, and identify and explore questions related to their research agendas.
• Write cases, case supplements, project reports, policy memos, and articles for relevant business audiences, based on subject expertise, research, and interviews.
• Develop, design, conduct, analyze, and implement research using data science knowledge and statistical packages; perform statistical programming and work with NLP.
• Manage and manipulate data using packages such as STATA, Python, R, or MATLAB.
• Ensure compliance with department, University, and federal regulations, and remain aware of applicable department, School, University, and external research policies.
• Apply complex research ideas, concepts, and methodologies to new projects and situations; structure assignments and keep faculty informed using independent judgment.
• Build trust and collaboration by working onsite and engaging directly with colleagues and other constituents.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off, including parental leave.
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one.
• Retirement plans with university contributions.
• Wellbeing and mental health resources.
• Support for families and caregivers.
• Professional development opportunities, including tuition assistance and reimbursement.
• Commuter benefits, discounts, and campus perks.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level