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Details

Title OpenDP Research Associate

School Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences

Department/Area OpenDP

Position Description

The OpenDP Project at Harvard University seeks to hire a Research Associate to work with faculty directors Gary King and Salil Vadhan and the OpenDP Community to formulate and advance the scientific goals of OpenDP and solve research problems that are needed for its success. OpenDP is a community effort to build trustworthy, open-source software tools for statistical analysis of sensitive private data, offering the rigorous protections of differential privacy for individuals who may be represented in confidential data and statistically valid methods of analysis for researchers who study the data.

Key responsibilities include working with the OpenDP team, our collaborators and community members on applying differential privacy in building software tools for data science problems, writing grant applications for fundraising and outreach, and serving as the scientific point of contact and fulcrum with use case partners and DP subject matter experts.

It is expected that the Research Associate will regularly write and publish research papers related to their work with OpenDP. Up to 20% of their time can be spent on their own independent research projects, a percentage that can be increased if funding is raised to support such work.

Basic Qualifications

Candidates are required to have a PhD and at least three years of postdoctoral experience.

Additional Qualifications

Candidates should have familiarity with differential privacy and one or both of the following:

+ Experience with implementing software for data science, privacy, and/or security, and an interest in contributing to the development of the OpenDP codebase.

+ Experience with applied statistics, and an interest in working with domain scientists to apply OpenDP software to data-sharing problems in their field.

Special Instructions

Required application materials include a cover letter; an updated curriculum vitae; a two-to-four page statement on research and applications discussing both past accomplishments and current and future areas of interest; links to at most three research papers or software products. Please submit the names and contact information for three references.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis starting January 15, 2026, until the position is filled, so candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

Contact Information

Salil Vadhan

Office 3.327

Harvard Science and Engineering Complex

150 Western Ave

Boston, MA 02134

Contact Email [email protected]

Salary Range

$68,821 – $95,000

Pay offered to the selected candidate is dependent on factors such as rank, years of experience, training or qualification, field of scholarship, and accomplishments in the field. There is an expectation that the selected candidate will work with the OpenDP team to raise funding for future support.

Minimum Number of References Required 3

Maximum Number of References Allowed 3

Keywords

EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard’s academic purposes.

Harvard has an equal employment opportunity (https://hr.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum6281/files/2025-04/reaffirmation\_statement.pdf) policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university’s non-discrimination policy (https://provost.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum3356/files/2025-07/non-discrimination\_and\_anti-bullying\_policies.pdf) . Harvard’s equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.

Supplemental Questions