Research Associate

Harvard Business School
Boston - United States
S: Competitive

HBS Seeks several full-time pre-doctoral Research Associates for the academic year 2017-18 to work with our research group in the HBS Finance unit. Research topics include corporate finance, financial innovation, public finance, financial institutions, and asset pricing.

The positions will be under the direction of Professors Baker, Begenau, Di Maggio, Greenwood, Hanson, Siriwardane and Sunderam. The fellowship is a terrific opportunity for a candidate who is seeking academic research experience in preparation for pursuing a PhD in 1-2 years. This positions offers candidates the opportunity to develop a variety of skills for graduate school, such as to the ability to develop, design and conduct research projects; synthesize, analyze, and produce statistical models. In addition to closely working with faculty members, the pre-doctoral Research Associate will work together in a common environment with weekly meetings and other informal events. Ideal candidates will be comfortable in an environment that requires a high level of independence, intellectual curiosity, and the ability to use discretionary judgment. Candidates would ideally begin on June 1, 2017 and work for us for one to two years before applying to graduate school. Salary will be competitive.

Primary duties:

Collect, synthesize, and provide analysis of data exhibits for academic journal articles. Provide statistical analysis and design for reports and presentations. Independently manage all timelines and deliverables.

Develop and maintain expertise in new research methodologies and techniques. Manage and manipulate data using requested packages; STATA, Python, MATLAB, or R.

Balance project requests from multiple faculty members, using strong communication and prioritization skills.

Exercise independent decision making with regard to progression of research project and methodologies. When confronted with research data, be able to make deductions, add insight and draw conclusions to share with faculty. Collaborate in development of new techniques and instruments. Use knowledge of quantitative methods to analyze and interpret experimental results. Work independently with research methodologies to identify gaps in research data and methods. Produce innovative academic materials to supplement faculty research and teaching. Make recommendations to faculty based on statistical interpretation and independent research. Analyze, interpret, and evaluate the quality of results.

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 members informed as necessary, using own judgment.

Basic Qualifications

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

Statistical/programming experience and/or applied experience Stata, Python, Matlab, or R.

Additional Qualifications

Evidence of outstanding academic achievement. Strong mathematics background. Indication of training and good habits in data management and analysis. Evidence of prior high-quality data manipulation and analysis required. Proven ability to work independently and creatively. This position requires an individual capable of consistent use of discretion, judgment and initiative. Background in analysis and interpretation of relevant data and research is necessary. All candidates will be expected to submit sample coding to be reviewed by and discussed with an HBS statistician. Diplomatic skills, comfort in interacting with prominent individuals, and grace under pressure are essential. Strong skills related to the Microsoft Office Suite are expected.

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. It is helpful if the candidate is familiar with navigating a complex organization, such as Harvard Business School. Preference for candidate who plans to seek an advanced degree.

Additional Information NOTE: This is a term appointment through June 30, 2018, with strong potential for re- appointment, and a preference for a candidate who can commit for a minimum of two years.

Ideal candidates will be interested in pursuing PhD studies in the future.

Job summary