Research Assistant at Harvard University — Cambridge, MA

Job Summary:

The Ecological Approaches to Social Emotional Learning (EASEL) Lab, led by Professor Stephanie M. Jones, seeks a full-time Research Assistant to support our team in the Human Development and Education Program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. The EASEL Lab explores the effects of high-quality social and emotional interventions on the development and achievement of children, youth, teachers, parents, and communities. Our projects aim to advance the field of social and emotional learning through research, practice, and policy.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

The Research Assistant will support data analysis, data visualization, measurement tasks, writing and publication tasks, and other activities for EASEL Lab research-practice partnerships. Specifically, this position will support current studies with school-based educators in Ukraine, afterschool staff in Nebraska, and with Special Olympics International. This position will involve the following:

• Create comprehensive implementation reports for a large scale, multi-year, multi-site randomized control trial of SEL Kernels in afterschool settings across Nebraska
• Create comprehensive implementation reports for a multi-year, multi-site study of SEL Kernels during a National Rollout across primary schools in Ukraine
• Analyze quantitative and qualitative data collected in school- and community-based partnerships
• Synthesize findings and prepare reports for internal team members as well as for program partners, funders, policymakers, and other stakeholders
• Support writing for various audiences (academic, media, funders, others)
• Support the publication process (conduct literature reviews for book chapters and journal articles, prepare reference lists, respond to feedback from reviewers, etc.)
• Support other research team activities, as needed

Basic Qualifications:

Minimum 3 years of related experience. Degree may count toward experience. Must be familiar with SEL programs and research. Experience with data management and data analysis, and experience interpreting and communicating data for diverse stakeholders including educators, policymakers, and the research/academic community.

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

• This position requires excellent organizational and communication skills, demonstrable initiative, ability to work independently, and strong interpersonal and administrative skills. A deep understanding of SEL program data and child development research, and a high capacity to plan and organize is required.
• A master’s degree in human development or education
• Experience working with school-based data and child development research
• Familiarity with social-emotional developmental literature and SEL programs
• Ability to work collaboratively and independently
• Must have excellent organizational and communication skills.
• Excellent attention to detail
• Commitment to produce high-quality work under tight deadlines
• Willingness and flexibility to collaborate with team members on diverse project tasks
• The ideal candidate will have experience working in international education contexts.
• Appointment End Date: 5/28/2027
• Standard Hours/Schedule: 35 hours per week
• Compensation Range/Rate (including Shift Differential if applicable):
• Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
• Pre-Employment Screening: Identity

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Work Format Details

Salary Grade and Ranges

Benefits

• 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