Job Details

School: Harvard Business School
Institute: Digital Data and Design (D³) Institute
Lab: Laboratory for Innovation Science at Harvard (LISH)
Location: Boston, Massachusetts (Hybrid – Onsite Required)
Position Type: Full-Time, Term Appointment
Salary: $75,000 annually
Posted: December 11, 2025
Start Date: July 2026 (flexible through Spring 2026)
Term: July 2026 – June 30, 2027, with anticipated renewal based on funding and performance

Position Overview

The Digital Data and Design (D³) Institute at Harvard Business School invites applications for a Postdoctoral Fellow for the 2026–2027 academic year. The fellow will conduct collaborative research with the Laboratory for Innovation Science at Harvard (LISH), focusing on innovation, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence.

Launched in 2022, D³ advances research at the intersection of academia and real-world practice, addressing how digitization, AI, machine learning, and design-driven innovation are reshaping organizations, economies, and societies.

Research Focus

Postdoctoral Fellows will conduct rigorous empirical research across areas including:

• Digital transformation of business and operating models

• Organizational and workforce transformation

• Entrepreneurial problem-solving and venture development

• Innovation contests and crowdsourcing

Research is conducted through partnerships with leading organizations such as BCG, Procter & Gamble, Microsoft, MIT Solve, Harvard Medical School, and NASA, offering unique opportunities to study real-world innovation challenges.

Role & Supervision

The Postdoctoral Fellow will work under the direct supervision of:

• Professor Karim Lakhani

• Professor Jacqueline Lane

• Dr. Ramona Pop, Director of LISH

The role involves conducting high-impact research using field experiments, large-scale data analysis, and computational methods. There are no teaching requirements for this position.

Candidate Profiles

We welcome applicants with strong quantitative and computational research expertise in one of the following domains:

Economics

• PhD in Economics or Strategy

• Expertise in causal inference, econometrics, experimental design, industrial organization, or applied microeconomics

• Experience with field experiments, quasi-experimental methods, or structural modeling preferred

Sociology / Organizational Behavior

• PhD in Sociology, Organizational Behavior, or related fields

• Expertise in computational social science, organizational theory, social networks, science and technology studies, or economic sociology

• Strong quantitative skills and experience with large-scale data analysis required

Computer Science / HCI

• PhD in Computer Science, Human-Computer Interaction, Information Science, or related fields

• Expertise in machine learning, natural language processing, human-AI interaction, or computational social science

• Experience applying AI/ML methods to organizational or social science research preferred

All candidates must demonstrate advanced proficiency in quantitative research methodologies and data science techniques, along with a strong publication record or clear potential for high-impact research.

Basic Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent doctoral degree in Business, Economics, Strategy, Psychology, Sociology, Computer Science, or another relevant quantitative or social science field

Degree Completion Requirement:
Candidates who earned their PhD within the past 12 months must provide either:

• A certificate of degree completion, or

• A letter from the Registrar confirming all degree requirements have been fulfilled and stating the conferral date

No exceptions will be made.

Application Instructions

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Please apply through the Harvard application system.

Required Application Materials:

• Curriculum vitae

• Statement of research

• Two representative publications

• Two letters of recommendation

Candidates may be asked to complete an assessment as part of the interview process.

Please do not contact faculty directly.
Questions should be directed to: d3@harvard.edu

Work Arrangement

• Hybrid position requiring regular onsite presence at Harvard’s Boston campus

• Specific onsite schedule will be determined with the hiring manager

• Interviews will be conducted virtually (phone and/or Zoom)

• Relocation funding is not provided

Contact Information

Harvard Business School
Soldiers Field Road
Boston, MA 02163

Contact Email: kdestadler@hbs.edu

Compensation

• Annual Salary: $75,000

• References Required: Minimum 2, Maximum 4

Equal Opportunity Statement

Harvard University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.