Annual Appointees

The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health provides several academic appointment titles to support research, teaching, and collaboration. Below is a summary of the roles:

Research Associate

Focused on research under a faculty sponsor, this role involves planning, conducting, and supervising research projects. A doctoral degree and 2+ years of postdoctoral experience are typically required. Appointments are renewable annually, with the expectation of achieving research independence within 3–5 years.

Research Fellow

A full-time training position aimed at developing independent investigators. Requires a doctoral degree and is generally limited to 3 years (extendable to 5 in some cases). Fellows may receive funding as a salary or stipend, depending on the source, and are typically eligible for benefits.

Instructor

For those significantly contributing to teaching programs without another academic appointment. Requires a doctoral or relevant master’s degree. This role is focused on teaching and cannot be combined with research appointments.

Visiting Scientist

External experts collaborating with SPH faculty or engaging in teaching, mentoring, or research. This role is often held by individuals on sabbatical or those facilitating institutional collaborations. A doctoral degree is typically required.

Visiting Scholar

Nontraditional fellows (e.g., Takemi or Fogarty) contributing to academic projects through collaboration with SPH faculty. Requires external funding and is tied to specific fellowship programs.

Visiting Graduate Student

Graduate students from other institutions conducting research at SPH under faculty sponsorship. Typically for doctoral students or master’s students in the research phase. Requires documentation of academic status and, if applicable, J-1 visa support.

Department Associate

An unpaid appointment for self-funded individuals supporting the School’s teaching or research missions. Used for remote or short-term collaborations and renewable annually.

Benefits

Annual appointees who are on a regular Harvard payroll, with an FTE of at least 0.5 or who earn $15,000 or more per year are benefits-eligible. The benefits for which an appointee is eligible differ depending on pay class. Specific questions regarding individuals should be addressed to the University Benefits Office (617-496-4001).

All benefits-eligible individuals must sign up for benefits within the first thirty (30) days of employment. The Benefits Office in Cambridge will send the individual information regarding benefit plans. It is the responsibility of the individual to ensure that he/she is enrolled in any benefit plans before the 30-day enrollment period ends. For more information regarding benefits for annual appointments (excluding postdoctoral fellows), please see the 2024 Programs and Premiums for Harvard Faculty, Administrative and Professional Staff, and other Nonunion Staff. 

For information regarding benefits for postdoctoral fellows, please visit the Harvard Chan Postdoc Benefits page.