Process
All Research Associates are hired by Research Staff Services.
RAs are hired throughout the year based on faculty need. Open positions are posted on Harvard Careers. Applicants must apply online in this portal to be considered.
All RA roles are hired as term appointments, many of which begin on July 1. Therefore, applicants are often recruited in fall or winter to start in the following summer.
Applicants who are selected for further consideration will be contacted by a member of the recruiting team in Research Staff Services.
Eligibility
Completion of bachelor’s degree from an accredited US college or university is required. Alternatively, applicants who earn an undergraduate degree outside the US but complete graduate studies at an accredited US college or university may still apply.
Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States without visa sponsorship. International students with OPT or OPT/STEM are eligible to apply. Harvard University does not provide visa sponsorship for staff positions.
Some jobs may require specific credentials or skills, depending on faculty need. Applicants who do not meet minimum qualifications for a specific position may be considered for suitable alternative roles. A recruiter will share more information about this if applicable.
Application Materials
To expedite your application please include the following materials when applying through the Harvard Careers Portal:
Resume
Cover letter
Transcript(s) — unofficial is acceptable at time of application, official are required before official start date.
Writing sample
Candidates who are selected to interview for quantitative roles will be asked to complete a 90-minute quantitative exercise using either Stata, R, or Python
Three references are not due at the time of application, but are required before an offer is extended. These could be from professors, academic advisors, or work supervisors with thoughts on their experience with the applicant’s skills, background, and motivation as they relate to this position.
Culture of Inclusion
The work and well-being of HBS is profoundly strengthened by the diversity of our network and our differences in background, culture, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, and life experiences. Learn more about HBS work culture.