Research Associate

at  Harvard University

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Harvard Business School (HBS) seeks a part-time (20 hours per week) Research Associate to support a faculty member in the Technology and Operations Management Unit from July 1st through December 31st, 2024. The successful candidate will have a strong foundation in data gathering, cleaning, and analysis.
The Research Associate (RA) position reports directly to faculty supervisors and administrative manager in the Research Staff Services office. Ideal RA candidates will be comfortable in an environment that requires a high level of independence, intellectual curiosity, and the ability to use discretionary judgment. This position would fit a candidate looking to pursue a PhD in the future.

Primary Duties

• 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.
• Develop, design, conduct, analyze, and implement research using data science knowledge and prior knowledge of requested statistical packages. Perform statistical programming.
• Exercise independent decision making with regard to progression of research project and methodologies. When confronted with unexpected research data, be able to make deductions, add insight, and draw conclusions to share with faculty.
• 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.
• 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.
• Responsible for other duties as assigned.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree in economics, mathematics, quantitative sciences, or business-related field required.

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

• Evidence of outstanding academic achievement.
• Indication of independent research experience and/or applied experience.
• Statistical/programming experience and/or applied experience with Python, R, or other languages.
• 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.

• 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.
• Develop, design, conduct, analyze, and implement research using data science knowledge and prior knowledge of requested statistical packages. Perform statistical programming.
• Exercise independent decision making with regard to progression of research project and methodologies. When confronted with unexpected research data, be able to make deductions, add insight, and draw conclusions to share with faculty.
• 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.
• 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.
• Responsible for other duties as assigned