Research Assistant

Title: Research Assistant

Position Type: Contract role with potential extensions(6 weeks to begin with)

Location: Cambridge, MA 02138-Hybrid-Flexible

JOB ID: HUJP00011240

Pay rate: $30/hour on W2

NOTES

1) Local candidates only.

2) Weeks 1–2: Must work in person at the Kennedy School of Government.

3) After Week 2: Can work 2–3 days on-site (flexible) as long as they complete 35 hours per week.

4) Submission Requirements - Resume Cover Letter

Job Details:

The Corporate Net-Zero Emission Targets Project, with support from the Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability, is seeking Research Assistants (RAs). In this project, faculty and researchers at the Harvard Business School, Harvard Kennedy School, and Harvard Law School are evaluating voluntary corporate goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For these Research Assistant (RA) positions, the tasks will focus on collecting data from firms’ sustainability reports, which will include tracking and reviewing reports, analyzing their carbon commitment statements, and converting this information into structured data.

The primary responsibility of Research Assistants is to review and analyze firms’ sustainability reports, focusing on their carbon commitment statements, and transform this information into structured, high-quality data.

This role involves:

• Tracking and reading sustainability reports from various firms.

• Analyzing qualitative content, including carbon commitment statements and other environmental goals.

• Codifying qualitative data into structured datasets in Excel.

• Ensuring accuracy, consistency, and reliability of the collected data to support the project’s empirical research.

The position requires close attention to detail, an ability to follow instructions precisely, and the discretion to exercise sound judgment when interpreting ambiguous or nuanced statements. Ideal candidates will excel in a role that demands both meticulousness and independent thinking.