Associate Director of Research, Computational Policy Lab

Company Description

By working at Harvard University, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard's world-changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise. We are dedicated to creating a diverse and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive.

The John

F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is one of 12 graduate and professional schools at the university. Harvard Kennedy School’s mission is to improve public policy and leadership so people can live in societies that are more safe, free, just, and sustainably prosperous. By combining cutting‑edge research, the teaching of outstanding students, and direct interaction with practitioners, we have an impact on solving public problems that no other institution can match.

When you work at Harvard Kennedy School, you make a difference.

Professor Sharad Goel’s Computational Policy Lab at the Shorenstein Center at Harvard Kennedy School is seeking an Associate Director of Research to help shape and advance a portfolio of computational and technological research addressing pressing issues in education, public benefits, AI governance, and other areas of public policy.

The Associate Director of Research works closely with Professor Goel to lead the lab’s research strategy, funding, and operations: identifying and incubating new multi‑stakeholder research initiatives, translating faculty priorities into fundable projects, and driving them from concept through implementation. Beyond portfolio leadership, the Associate Director contributes directly to the intellectual work of the lab — advising on study design and mixed‑methods approaches, safeguarding methodological rigor, and supporting the production of academic and policy‑relevant outputs.

The Associate Director of Research supervises lab staff, oversees research fellows, manages the lab’s external partnerships with government agencies and other collaborators, and represents the lab in relevant academic, research, and policy settings. This position is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts and requires working on our campus 3 days/week.

• Provide strategic leadership across the lab’s research portfolio, where computational approaches are used to advance public policy.
• Shape and align research initiatives with the lab’s institutional goals.
• Identify and incubate new multi‑stakeholder research and policy‑engagement opportunities, ensuring coherence across projects and delivery of rigorous, policy‑relevant outputs.

• Advise researchers on experimental design, mixed‑methods approaches (including RCT design), data collection, and analysis; help ensure rigor and feasibility across the portfolio.
• Contribute to and co‑author academic manuscripts, policy briefs, and other publications.
• Serve as a strategic thought partner to Professor Goel and lab members on the intellectual direction of the lab’s research.

• Build and steward the lab’s partnerships with government agencies, funders, and other research and policy stakeholders.
• Represent the lab at relevant meetings, conferences, and convenings; author or co‑author materials for external and internal stakeholders.
• Lead strategy for research dissemination and policy engagement, translating findings for varied audiences.

• Secure new funding opportunities aligned with the lab’s mission; develop proposal narratives, budgets, and other grant materials, and coordinate with funders to meet reporting requirements and milestones.
• Lead the development of cases…