Since 2001, 1,000+ Harvard Extension admitted degree candidate students have participated in the Faculty Aide program.
The majority have worked as research assistants to support Harvard Extension and Harvard University faculty with their publications and other scholarship.
The program offers students the opportunity to develop the research skills they need to become future scholars. The experience serves as an excellent vehicle to crystallize academic interests.
The program is ideal for students who are considering going on to graduate school (master’s or PhD) because prior research can be a requirement (or highly desired) for many graduate school applications.
How it Works
1 Jobs sent via email
In the fall (September) and spring semesters (February), a small number of faculty aide jobs will be sent to currently registered, eligible admitted degree candidate or Premedical program students via email.
To be eligible to participate, you must live in the United States, be allowed to work in the United States (and for Harvard), and, if an ALB candidate, have a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA or, if an ALM candidate or Premedical program student, have a 3.33 or higher cumulative GPA.
You also must be a student in good academic standing with no current or prior administrative warnings or disciplinary actions in your student record.
An eligible student can only hold one Faculty Aide role per semester.
2 Apply for jobs
If you meet these basic qualifications as well as specific job requirements, you simply connect with the instructor directly to apply for the position.
In most cases, you send a resumé and/or schedule a phone or video interview with the instructor.
The instructor will let CARC know who they wish to hire.
3 Hired and start working
If hired, you’ll be paid $21 an hour for a maximum of 50 hours per semester (typically five to seven hours a week).
You may also, if you meet the above eligibility requirements, design your own faculty aide job by approaching a Harvard instructor whose research aligns with your academic interests. For more information and to see program rules and guidelines, please see this page or e-mail carc@extension.harvard.edu with questions.
This is an honors option program subject to the rules, regulations, and policies of the Harvard Extension School Career and Academic Resource Center.
Recent Research Projects
How might encounters with works of art in a museum be an opportunity to meaningfully engage with difficult issues surrounding pain and suffering?
A project based at the Harvard Art Museums, seeks to interrogate what we mean by “empathy” in the museum context and thinking critically about how pain and suffering in art can be an integral part of larger discussions of embodiment, personhood, and social justice.
The Faculty Aide assisted in researching the literature on empathy and related subjects, as well as current museum-based empathy programs.
Faculty:
David Odo, Spring 2018
Faculty Feedback
“I wanted to send a sincere thank you. [My faculty aide student] was an INCREDIBLE resource. Because of her help, the documentary is already in the early production stages.
She was a creative partner and an excellent sounding board for ideas. She knows the science of climate very well, and her enthusiasm for the project has really helped keep me moving these past few months. I can’t thanks her and you enough. This support is invaluable”.
John Sutter
Contributor & Climate Correspondent, CNN