Position Description

Harvard Business School (HBS) seeks a highly motivated individual to serve as a Predoctoral Research Associate and work closely with HBS faculty member Yuan Zou in the Accounting and Management Unit. Research topics center on corporate communications and corporate financial social media. This is a terrific opportunity to gain exposure to a variety of research topics including, but not limited to corporate disclosure, information intermediaries, mutual funds, corporate culture, and financial statement analysis. This position is ideal for candidates who have plans for doctoral studies after working for two years.

The Predoctoral Research Associate position reports directly to the faculty supervisor and the administrative manager in the Research Staff Services office. Ideal Predoctoral Research Associate 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:

• Under the general direction of a faculty member, the Predoctoral Research Associate will be directly involved in the entire research process, including: background research, data collection and documentation, data analysis, and visualizing data for manuscripts and presentations.
• The Predoctoral Research Associate will be required to independently manage all timelines and deliverables as well as exercise independent decision making with regard to progression of research project and methodologies. Must be able to structure assignments and keep faculty member informed as necessary, using own judgment.
• The Predoctoral Research Associate must also ensure compliance with department, university, and federal regulations, policies, and potential outside research policies.
• Other duties may be assigned.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor?s degree required.
• Demonstrated strong working knowledge of Stata, python, or SAS.

Additional Qualifications and Skills

Evidence of outstanding academic achievement. Strong mathematics background, statistical/programming experience and/or applied experience preferred. Indication of training and good habits in data management and analysis. Proven ability to work independently and creatively. All candidates will be expected to submit sample coding to be reviewed by and discussed with an HBS statistician.

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. He or she must be able to balance multiple tasks and shifting priorities under tight deadlines at an accelerated pace when necessary. Preference for candidate who plans to seek an advanced degree.

Additional Information

This is a term appointment starting July 1, 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.

The recruiting process is rolling. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, now through spring 2025. Candidates with external deadlines should notify the recruiter as soon as possible.

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 a code sample to be reviewed by an HBS statistician.

Harvard Business School will not offer visa sponsorship for this opportunity.

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. Explore HBS work culture at https://www.hbs.edu/employment/.

Benefits

We invite you to visit Harvard's Total Rewards website (https://hr.harvard.edu/totalrewards) to learn more about our outstanding benefits package, which may include:

• Paid Time Off: 3-4 weeks of accrued vacation time per year (3 weeks for support staff and 4 weeks for administrative/professional staff), 12 accrued sick days per year, 12.5 holidays plus a Winter Recess in December/January, 3 personal days per year (prorated based on date of hire), and up to 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents who are primary care givers.
• Health and Welfare: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits, disability and life insurance programs, along with voluntary benefits. Most coverage begins as of your start date.
• Work/Life and Wellness: Child and elder/adult care resources including on campus childcare centers, Employee Assistance Program, and wellness programs related to stress management, nutrition, meditation, and more.
• Retirement: University-funded retirement plan with contributions from 5% to 15% of eligible compensation, based on age and earnings with full vesting after 3 years of service.
• Tuition Assistance Program: Competitive program including $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School and reduced tuition through other participating Harvard graduate schools.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Program that provides 75% to 90% reimbursement up to $5,250 per calendar year for eligible courses taken at other accredited institutions.
• Professional Development: Programs and classes at little or no cost, including through the Harvard Center for Workplace Development and LinkedIn Learning.
• Commuting and Transportation: Various commuter options handled through the Parking Office, including discounted parking, half-priced public transportation passes and pre-tax transit passes, biking benefits, and more.
• Harvard Facilities Access, Discounts and Perks: Access to Harvard athletic and fitness facilities, libraries, campus events, credit union, and more, as well as discounts to various types of services (legal, financial, etc.) and cultural and leisure activities throughout metro-Boston.

Work Format

Hybrid (partially on-site, partially remote)


Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging
Harvard University views equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging as the pathway to achieving inclusive excellence and fostering a campus culture where everyone can thrive. We strive to create a community that draws upon the widest possible pool of talent to unify excellence and diversity while fully embracing individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and values.

EEO Statement
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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