Predoctoral Research Associate (Summer 2026)

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Why join Harvard Business School?

Harvard Business School, located on a 40-acre campus in Boston, was founded in 1908 as part of Harvard University. It is among the world's most trusted sources of management education and thought leadership. For more than a century, the School's faculty has combined a passion for teaching with rigorous research conducted alongside practitioners at world-leading organizations to educate leaders who make a difference in the world. Through a dynamic ecosystem of research, learning, and entrepreneurship that includes MBA, Doctoral, Executive Education, and Online programs, as well as numerous initiatives, centers, institutes, and labs, Harvard Business School fosters bold new ideas and collaborative learning networks that shape the future of business.

Harvard Business School (HBS) is seeking multiple Predoctoral Research Associates starting in Summer 2026 to support an assigned faculty member in one of the following academic units. 

• Accounting & Management
• Business, Government and the International Economy
• Entrepreneurial Management
• Finance
• General Management
• Marketing
• Negotiation Organizations & Markets
• Organizational Behavior 
• Strategy 
• Technology and Operations Management

Research subjects can include but are not limited to: labor economics, private equity / venture capital disclosures and taxation, algorithms impact on consumer behavior, media economics and economics of digital platforms, emerging financial technologies and alternative data, corporate social responsibilities focused on climate change and gender diversity, asset pricing shaping politics and markets, commercialization of specialized knowledge and micro-geographic environments shaping innovation, intergroup inequity, media markets and the political economy, and tech strategy. 

Please note the faculty currently hiring include: Livia Alfonsi, Brian Baik, Maren Hoff, Quan Le, Jung Koo Kang, Madhav Kumar, Shirley Lu, Maxwell Miller, Demi Oba, Maria Roche, Lumumba Seegars, Jesse Shapiro, and Andy Wu. You will see this posting updated with names of additional hiring faculty listed in the coming months as more needs are identified. We ask that you please indicate the faculty you are interested in supporting in your cover letter. 

More information on career outcomes, including PhD programs recent Predoctoral Research Associates attended, can be seen here. 

Overview: The Predoctoral Research Associate position reports directly to faculty supervisors 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:

• Build trust and collaboration by being present on-site and engaging directly with colleagues and various constituents.
• Work under the general direction of HBS faculty on topics central to HBS research agenda.  Provide subject-area knowledge, analysis and interpretation to faculty member.  Identify and explore a wide-range of questions related to faculty’s research agenda.
• Write cases, case supplements, project reports, and policy memos from start to finish creating original writing based on subject-area expertise, research, and interviews, and write articles for applicable business audiences such as Harvard Business Review.
• Develop, design, conduct, analyze, and implement research using data science knowledge and prior knowledge of requested statistical packages.  Perform statistical programming.
• Ensure compliance with department, University, and federal regulations.  Complete work with only general direction.  Be aware of department, School, University policies and potential outside research policies.
• Under general direction of faculty member, must be able to take complex research ideas, concepts, and methodologies and apply them to new projects and situations.  Must be able to structure assignments and keep faculty member informed as necessary, using own judgment.
• Responsible for other duties as assigned.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree with a GPA above 3.5 is required.

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

Proven evidence of independent research in specific advanced field of study. Evidence of prior high-quality, original academic writing, and background in analysis and interpretation of relevant data, research, news, and literature is helpful. Ability to read academic, subject-specific information and write a reasoned and thoughtful analysis, as well as produce a creative interpretation, is a must.

The candidate must have extremely high standards in terms of quality of work, attention to detail, strong organization skills, and absolute commitment to task completion. Must be able to balance multiple tasks and shifting priorities under tight deadlines at an accelerated pace when necessary. It is helpful if the candidate is familiar with navigating a complex organization, such as Harvard Business School.  

Appointment End Date: June 30, 2027. These are term appointments starting summer 2026 through June 30, 2027, with an expectation of reappointment until June 30, 2028, 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.

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: 

The recruiting process starts in the fall and continues into 2026 with offers typically finalized in the late spring.

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.

We may conduct candidate interviews virtually (phone and/or via Zoom) and/or in-person for this role.

A cover letter is required to be considered for this opportunity. All candidates will be expected to submit a writing sample, transcript, and at times a code sample to be reviewed by an HBS statistician. 

Work Format Details

This position has been determined by school or unit leaders that some of the duties and responsibilities can be effectively performed at a non-Harvard location. The work schedule and location will be set by the department at its discretion and based upon operational needs. When not working at a Harvard or Harvard-designated location, employees in hybrid positions must work in a Harvard registered state in compliance with the University’s Policy on Employment Outside of Massachusetts. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Salary Grade and Ranges

This position is salary grade level 055. Please visit  Harvard's Salary Ranges  to view the corresponding salary range and related information. 

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 

Learn more about these and additional benefits on our Benefits & Wellbeing Page. 

EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard's academic purposes.

Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university's non-discrimination policy. Harvard's equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.