The Crafting Your Life (LIFE) Lab, led by Professor Leslie Perlow, is seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow. The mission of the LIFE lab is to use technology to create a life-long learning community that benefits the community through life-long learning and provides academics the opportunity to study both the process of such community building and the content derived from community members' sharing their life journeys. The lab seeks to explore how HBS alums (a case study of business graduates) craft their lives – exploring questions such as how do they spend their time and how that relates to what matters to them, how do life events influence what matters to them, and how do they make decisions both large and small in living out their life journeys.

The LIFE Lab stems from a new second year MBA course created by Professor Perlow in collaboration with second year MBA students and alumni to help students better manage their careers, relationships, and lives after graduating from HBS. The course leverages HBS alumni to learn from their real-world experiences in the years following their own HBS graduation. The LIFE Lab seeks to use data analytics as a powerful enabler for further learning about the alumni's journeys over the course of their lives, and importantly for fostering community among alumni.

The LIFE Lab is part of The Digital, Data, and Design (D^3) Institute at Harvard. D^3 launched in the summer of 2022 with 12 labs working on research at the intersection of academia and practice. For more information on D^3, please visit https://d3.harvard.edu.

Professor Perlow and the LIFE lab are seeking an experienced researcher to help them make the most of this opportunity, and especially the quantitative data they are collecting. They seek a candidate who has completed their pre-doctoral work, if not their dissertation, to partake in the design and management of multiple quantitative data collection efforts. The successful candidate will be eager to creatively design data collection efforts, analyze resulting data, and work with the team to write up the findings. The data collection will involve existing tools that have already been developed for this special project (e.g. LIFE simulation, reflection app, relationship mapping), as well as those that are in development (e.g., LIFE Matrix which explores how alumni spend their time and the value those time allocations bring to them as well as LIFE Connect built to match student and alum and alum with each other around topics of mutual interest).

The ideal candidate has a background in organizational behavior and is naturally drawn to the areas of work-life, designing your work, careers, and happiness.

Basic Qualifications:

Basic Qualifications

Ph.D. obtained (or expected) in organizational behavior, psychology, industrial organizational psychology, management, or related field required. PLEASE NOTE: If you have obtained your Ph.D. in the past 12 months you must be able to provide a certificate of completion from the degree-granting institution OR a letter from the institute's registrar stating all requirements for the degree have been successfully completed and should verify the date the degree has been conferred.
Demonstration of initiative and originality in research, and strong analytic skills are desired.
Excellent analytical and communication skills (both written and oral) are a must.
Evidence of prior high-quality, original academic writing required. Ability to read academic, subject-specific information and write a reasoned and thoughtful analysis necessary.

Additional Qualifications:

Additional Qualifications

Proven ability to work independently and creatively. This position requires an individual capable of consistent use of discretion, judgment, and initiative. 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. Ability to balance multiple tasks and shifting priorities under tight deadlines at an accelerated pace when necessary.

Diplomatic skills, comfort in interacting with prominent individuals, and grace under pressure are essential. It is helpful if the candidate is familiar with navigating a complex organization, such as Harvard Business School.

Contact Information:

Laura Kelley, Associate Director, Research Staff Services
Harvard Business School
Soldiers Field Road
Boston, MA 02163

Contact Email: [email protected]

Special Instructions:

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Please do not contact lab faculty; if you have any questions, please contact [email protected].

All applications should include the following:

Curriculum vitae
Cover letter
Copy of academic records (unofficial records are acceptable)
2-page research statement
Two research papers
Two letters of recommendation

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

Additional Information:

This is a term position through June 30, 2024, with the strong possibility of renewal based on funding and performance. Relocation funding not provided.

The University requires all Harvard community members to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and remain up to date with COVID-19 vaccine boosters, as detailed in Harvard's Vaccine & Booster Requirements. Individuals may claim exemption from the vaccine requirement for medical or religious reasons. More information regarding the University's COVID vaccination requirement, exemptions, and verification of vaccination status may be found at the University's

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