"Predoctoral Research Associate"

Job Description

Harvard Business School seeks Predoctoral Research Associates to support faculty members across our Entrepreneurial Management, Marketing, and Finance units starting in Fall 2025. Faculty currently hiring include: Professors Zoe Cullen, Jeremy Yang, and Eva Ascarza & Ayelet Israeli. We require that you indicate the specific faculty of interest in your cover letter.

Predoctoral Research Associates will assist with the daily operations of academic projects in a variety of fields, such as competition, management, and innovation. Research often draws heavily on applied econometrics and microeconomic theory. These positions are ideal for candidates with an interest and plans for doctoral studies in business, economics, finance, psychology, organizational behavior, or other fields after working as a Predoctoral Research Associate for two years.

The Predoctoral Research Associates will report directly to the faculty and administrative manager in the Research Staff Services office. Ideal candidates will be comfortable in an environment that requires a high level of independence, intellectual curiosity, and the ability to use discretionary judgment.

Primary Duties:

• Develop and maintain expertise in new research methodologies and techniques.
• For quantitative roles, Predocs will manage and manipulate data using requested packages, such as STATA, Python, R, or MATLAB.
• For behavioral roles, Predocs will manage and manipulate data using qualitative research tools, such as Qualtrics and MTurk. They will also manage IRB submissions.
• Collect, clean, synthesize, and analyze data. Produce statistical models. Provide analysis of data exhibits for academic journal articles. Provide statistical analysis and design for reports and presentations.
• Develop, synthesize and provide analysis of literature reviews. May also provide analysis, editing, and drafts for academic journal articles, HBS cases and HBS teaching notes.
• Balance project requests from multiple faculty members, using strong communication and prioritization skills. Must be able to structure assignments and keep faculty member informed as necessary, using own judgment.
• Independently manage all timelines and deliverables. Exercise independent decision making with regard to progression of research project and methodologies.
• Responsible for other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in economics, mathematics, quantitative sciences, or business-related field is required.
• Statistical/programming experience and/or applied experience with Python, STATA, R, or MATLAB are required.
• Behavioral predoctoral roles require familiarity with qualitative coding and research methods, including tools like Qualtrics and MTurk.

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

• Evidence of outstanding academic achievement. Indication of independent research experience and/or applied experience.
• Methodological interests in econometrics, statistics, machine learning, industrial organization, productivity, and economic theory are preferred.
• Must be able to take complex research ideas, concepts, and methodologies and apply them to new projects and situations.
• Ability to use own judgement, structure assignments, and keep faculty members informed are a must.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, organization, research, analytical, writing, and editing skills are required.
• Proven ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously and to adapt to changes in priorities; ability to work calmly under deadline pressure, work both independently and as a team member, take initiative; and follow projects through to completion.
• Strong interest or prior experience leveraging AI.

Additional Information

Appointment End Date: June 30, 2026. Standard Hours/Schedule: 40 hours per week. Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position. Pre-Employment Screening: Education, Identity. Other Information: These are term appointments starting Fall 2025, through June 30, 2026, with an expectation of reappointment until June 30, 2027, based on funding and performance. All Predoctoral Research Associate roles at HBS are structured as one-year term appointments, but faculty strongly prefer candidates willing to commit for two years. This is a hybrid position which we consider to be a combination of remote and onsite work at our Boston, MA based campus. HBS expects all staff to be onsite a minimum of 3 days per week and departments provide onsite coverage Monday - Friday. Specific hours and days onsite will be determined by business needs and are subject to change with appropriate advanced notice. A cover letter is required to be considered for this opportunity. All candidates will be expected to submit a writing sample, transcript, and a code sample to be reviewed by an HBS statistician. Harvard Business School will not offer visa sponsorship for this opportunity. Work Format Details: This is a position that is based at a Harvard campus location with some remote work options available. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. All remote work must be performed within one of the Harvard Registered Payroll States.

Salary Grade and Ranges: This position is salary grade level 055. Benefits: Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package that is designed to support a healthy work-life balance and your physical, mental and financial wellbeing. Because here, you are what matters. Our benefits include, but are not limited to: 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.