Harvard University Research Assistant II Remote Job 2026: Requirements, Salary, Benefits and How to Apply
Harvard University Research Assistant II Remote Job 2026: Requirements, Salary, Benefits and How to Apply. Harvard University is currently recruiting for a Research Assistant II (Non-Lab) position that can be performed fully remotely, offering an opportunity for candidates with backgrounds in Celtic Studies, Scottish Gaelic, Irish language, folklore, research, digital humanities and related fields to work on an important academic research project.
The vacancy is based within the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences and supports the Fionn Folklore Database Project, a digital resource providing scholars and the public with access to orally recorded stories and songs relating to the legendary Gaelic hero Fionn mac Cumhaill.
The role was officially posted on 6 August 2026 and Harvard states that the vacancy will remain open until filled.
This is a full-time, seven-month term appointment, working approximately 35 hours per week, with the possibility of renewal depending on available funding.
Although Harvard lists the position as fully remote, applicants should note an important restriction: this is not a work-from-anywhere international remote job. Employees must perform their work from an approved Harvard registered payroll state in the United States, and Harvard University does not provide visa sponsorship for this vacancy.
🎓 Harvard Research Assistant II Remote Job 2026: Quick Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Employer | Harvard University |
| Position | Research Assistant II (Non-Lab) |
| Project | Fionn Folklore Database Project |
| School/Unit | Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences |
| Job Function | Research |
| Work Format | Fully Remote |
| Location Listed | Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA |
| Hours | 35 hours per week |
| Contract | Full-time, 7-month term |
| Renewal | Possible depending on available funding |
| Salary Grade | 053 |
| Current Grade 053 Range | Approximately $58,232–$90,958 annually |
| Visa Sponsorship | Not available |
| Posting Date | 6 August 2026 |
| Deadline | Open until filled |
🏛️ About Harvard University
Harvard University is one of the world’s best-known research universities, with academic activities spanning the humanities, social sciences, sciences, medicine, law, public policy, education and many other disciplines.
This Research Assistant II position falls under the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, the academic division that includes Harvard College, the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, dozens of academic departments and numerous interdisciplinary research centres.
The successful candidate will contribute to a specialised research initiative focused on preserving, organising and expanding access to Gaelic cultural heritage.
📚 What Is the Fionn Folklore Database?
The Fionn Folklore Database provides researchers and members of the public with digital access to an important body of Gaelic intangible cultural heritage.
The project focuses on orally recorded stories and songs associated with Fionn mac Cumhaill, a central figure in Irish and Scottish Gaelic folklore.
Harvard is recruiting a Research Assistant to help maintain and expand the database.
This means the position combines traditional academic research with digital research, translation, database management, archival investigation, website content creation and public communication.
It is therefore especially relevant to candidates interested in the intersection of:
Folklore
Celtic Studies
Scottish Gaelic
Irish language
Digital humanities
Archival research
Cultural heritage
and
Online academic databases.
💼 What Will the Research Assistant Do?
The Research Assistant will support several areas of the Fionn Folklore Database Project.
One of the principal responsibilities involves translation.
The successful candidate may translate descriptions, labels and editorial materials from English into either:
Scottish Gaelic — Gàidhlig
or
Irish.
The Research Assistant may also create content for the project website, including descriptions of stories, characters and other materials related to the Fionn tradition.
Another major responsibility involves data entry and database development.
The candidate will help enter information into the website and improve existing records.
🔎 Online Library and Archival Research
A significant part of the position involves online research.
The Research Assistant may carry out:
Online library research
and
Archival research
to expand or improve information about collection events represented in the database.
This can involve locating historical sources, verifying details, identifying connections between records and improving the accuracy of database information.
The successful candidate may also conduct online biographical research to strengthen records about individuals represented in the database.
Candidates with strong research skills and the ability to navigate academic, historical and archival resources may therefore be particularly well suited to the role.
📢 Communications and Publicity Responsibilities
The position is not limited to academic research.
Harvard says the Research Assistant may also help with project publicity activities.
These can include:
Designing brochures
Preparing or giving presentations
and
Promoting the project through social media.
Candidates who combine academic expertise with digital communication skills may therefore have an advantage.
🎓 Basic Qualification Requirements
Harvard lists two principal basic qualifications for the role.
Applicants should have:
College background or equivalent experience
in areas such as:
Celtic Studies
Scottish Gaelic
Irish Language
or a closely related field.
Applicants must also have:
Qualifications or relevant experience in Scottish Gaelic or Irish language composition and translation.
This language requirement is particularly important.
The vacancy is therefore not a general research assistant position open to candidates from any academic discipline.
Applicants should demonstrate credible knowledge or experience relating specifically to Scottish Gaelic or Irish.
🗣️ Language Skills
Harvard identifies excellent literacy and written ability in either Scottish Gaelic or Irish as beneficial.
Very good:
Oral English
and
Written English
are also desirable.
Because the role involves translation, research, content development, database work and communication, strong written-language skills will be important.
⭐ Preferred Skills and Experience
Harvard University Research Assistant II Remote Job 2026: Requirements, Salary, Benefits and How to Apply
In addition to the basic qualifications, Harvard lists several capabilities that may strengthen an application.
Candidates may benefit from having strong:
Organisational skills
Decision-making ability
Problem-solving skills
Time-management skills
and
Prioritisation abilities.
The successful candidate should also be comfortable collaborating with academic and professional colleagues while being capable of working independently.
Because this is a fully remote role, Harvard particularly values candidates who are:
Highly motivated
Able to work with minimal supervision
Able to resolve routine issues independently
and
Capable of managing their workload effectively.
Flexibility, adaptability and resilience are also listed as useful qualities.
📖 Research Experience That Could Strengthen Your Application
Coursework or previous research relating to:
Fionn Cycle folklore
or
Fionn Cycle literature
could be particularly valuable.
Other potentially beneficial experience includes working with:
Irish place names
Scottish Gaelic place names
Genealogical records
Census information
and other historical or cultural datasets.
Candidates do not necessarily need to possess every preferred qualification, but directly relevant experience can make an application more competitive.
💻 Digital and Technology Skills
The role also involves digital systems.
Experience with:
Website data entry
is considered beneficial.
Harvard additionally values candidates with excellent IT skills and the ability to learn new technology or systems quickly.
Because the Fionn Folklore Database is a digital research resource, applicants should be comfortable working with online platforms and structured information.
Experience developing social-media content or presentations may also be useful.
🏠 Is the Harvard Research Assistant Job Really Remote?
Yes.
Harvard officially classifies this vacancy as:
Fully Remote
and describes it as a:
Remote/work-from-home position.
However, applicants need to understand what Harvard means by remote employment.
The position can be performed away from a Harvard campus, but employees must work all scheduled hours from a Harvard registered payroll state in the United States.
Harvard’s registered states currently include jurisdictions such as Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Washington and certain California positions, subject to Harvard’s employment rules.
The department may also occasionally require a fully remote employee to attend a Harvard location.
Therefore:
❌ This is not a global work-from-anywhere job.
An applicant living permanently outside the United States should not assume that being qualified academically allows them to perform this job from another country.
🌍 Can International Applicants Apply?
International candidates who already have the appropriate legal right to work from an eligible Harvard payroll location may potentially be considered if they meet all of the employment and role requirements.
However, the vacancy clearly states:
Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position.
This is one of the most important eligibility considerations.
Candidates requiring Harvard to sponsor a U.S. employment visa for this particular vacancy should therefore not expect sponsorship.
Applicants must satisfy applicable work-location and employment-authorisation requirements before employment.
⏰ Working Hours
The standard schedule is:
35 hours per week
making this a full-time position.
Candidates should be prepared to manage research activities, translations, online records, content development and communication assignments independently while working remotely.
📅 Contract Duration
The appointment is initially:
Seven months
and is classified as a term position.
Harvard states that there is a:
Possibility of renewal based on available funds.
Applicants should therefore understand that this is not advertised as an indefinite permanent appointment.
Any extension beyond the initial term will depend on project circumstances and available funding.
💰 Harvard Research Assistant II Salary 2026
The position is classified at:Harvard University Research Assistant II Remote Job 2026: Requirements, Salary, Benefits and How to Apply
Harvard Salary Grade 053
under the Harvard Union of Clerical and Technical Workers salary structure.
For the FY2027 salary ranges effective 1 July 2026, Harvard lists the Grade 053 annual salary range as approximately:
$58,232 – $90,958 per year
for positions based on a 35-hour workweek.
The exact starting salary is not stated directly in the individual vacancy.
Harvard explains that salaries within a grade depend on factors such as:
Qualifications
Relevant skills
Experience
Internal equity
and
External market considerations.
Harvard also notes that new hires typically begin somewhere toward the lower portion of the applicable range.
Applicants should therefore avoid assuming that the maximum figure of $90,958 represents the guaranteed starting salary.
💵 What Could That Mean Per Month?
Using Harvard’s published salary-grade range purely as an annual-to-monthly conversion, Grade 053 corresponds approximately to:
$4,853 – $7,580 per month
before taxes and other deductions.
Again, this is a mathematical conversion of Harvard’s salary-grade range rather than a guaranteed monthly offer for this particular candidate.
The final compensation would be determined by Harvard.
🎁 Harvard Employee Benefits
Harvard advertises a comprehensive employee benefits package for eligible employees.
Benefits listed on the vacancy include:
🏥 Medical, Dental and Vision Coverage
Harvard provides eligible employees with medical, dental and vision insurance, with coverage beginning from the first day where applicable.
🏖️ Paid Time Off
The benefits package includes generous paid time off and parental leave.
💰 Retirement Plans
Eligible employees can access retirement programmes that include university contributions.
🧠 Mental Health and Wellbeing Support
Harvard provides wellbeing and mental-health resources to employees.
👨👩👧 Family and Caregiver Support
Benefits can also include resources designed for families and caregivers.
🎓 Professional Development
Harvard lists professional-development opportunities, including eligible tuition assistance and reimbursement programmes.
🚌 Additional Benefits
Other benefits may include commuter assistance, employee discounts and campus-related perks.
Exact eligibility can depend on appointment type, employment status and Harvard benefit rules.
📄 What Documents Are Required?
Applicants should prepare a strong application tailored specifically to this project.
One particularly important requirement appears in the official vacancy.
Harvard asks applicants to include in their:
Cover letter
the:
Names and email addresses of two referees.
At this stage:
Reference letters themselves are not required.
Candidates should nevertheless select referees who can speak credibly about their academic, language, research or professional capabilities.
Applicants should also prepare an updated résumé or CV demonstrating their relevant education and experience.
✍️ How to Strengthen Your Cover Letter
Because this is a specialised vacancy, generic applications are unlikely to be as effective as tailored ones.
Applicants should explain clearly how they meet the core criteria.
A strong cover letter could highlight:
Scottish Gaelic or Irish language competence
Translation experience
Celtic Studies or related academic training
Folklore or cultural heritage research
Archival or online library research
Digital database work
Website content management
Social-media communication
and
Ability to work independently in a remote environment.
Where possible, applicants should provide concrete examples rather than simply stating that they possess a particular skill.
🧠 How Competitive Is the Position?
Harvard has not published the number of applicants it expects or a formal acceptance rate for this vacancy.
However, the combination of the Harvard name, fully remote format and specialised cultural-heritage project could attract significant interest.
At the same time, the language requirements substantially narrow the potential applicant pool.
Candidates who can demonstrate strong Scottish Gaelic or Irish translation capability, combined with digital research skills and experience relating to Celtic culture or folklore, may have particularly relevant profiles.
⚠️ Application Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid treating this as a generic remote research position.
The central academic and language requirements matter.
Common mistakes could include submitting a generic CV without explaining relevant Gaelic or Irish-language experience, failing to include the two referees requested in the cover letter, exaggerating language proficiency, overlooking the U.S. work-location restriction or assuming Harvard will provide visa sponsorship.
Applicants should also avoid describing themselves as suitable simply because they have general research experience.
The strongest applications will demonstrate direct alignment with the Fionn Folklore Database and its language, research and digital requirements.
📅 Application Deadline
Harvard states that:
The posting will remain open until filled.
There is therefore no conventional fixed closing date currently listed for the vacancy.
That does not mean applicants should delay.
Open-until-filled vacancies can close once Harvard has identified sufficient qualified candidates or selected a successful applicant.
Interested candidates should therefore prepare and submit their applications as early as reasonably possible.
📝 How to Apply for the Harvard Research Assistant II Remote Job
Applications should be submitted through the official Careers at Harvard recruitment portal.
Search for:
Research Assistant II (Non-Lab), Fionn Folklore Database Project
The job reference is:
003358SR
Applicants should review the complete vacancy, prepare the requested résumé/CV and cover letter, include the names and email addresses of two referees in the cover letter, and submit through Harvard’s official application system.
Harvard does not require reference letters at the initial application stage.
🌟 Why This Opportunity Matters
This vacancy provides an unusual combination of academic research, cultural heritage preservation, language work and digital humanities.
The successful Research Assistant will contribute to improving access to significant Gaelic cultural resources while gaining professional research experience within Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences.
For candidates specialising in Celtic Studies, Scottish Gaelic, Irish language, folklore or digital humanities, the role can provide valuable exposure to an internationally recognised university research environment.
The remote format may also provide greater flexibility than a traditional campus-based research role, provided the applicant meets Harvard’s U.S. work-location requirements.
Final Thoughts
Harvard University Research Assistant II Remote Job 2026: Requirements, Salary, Benefits and How to Apply
The Harvard University Research Assistant II Remote Job 2026 is a specialised but attractive opportunity for candidates with relevant experience in Celtic Studies, Scottish Gaelic, Irish language, folklore, translation and digital research.
The position is fully remote, works 35 hours per week, and initially runs for seven months, with a possibility of renewal depending on funding.
The role falls under Harvard salary grade 053, whose current FY2027 HUCTW annual range is approximately:
$58,232 – $90,958
Harvard also offers eligible employees benefits including health coverage, paid leave, retirement contributions, wellbeing support and professional-development programmes.
However, applicants must pay particular attention to two restrictions:
Remote work must be performed from an eligible Harvard registered U.S. state.
and
Harvard will not provide visa sponsorship for this position.
The vacancy is currently advertised as open until filled, meaning suitable candidates should consider applying promptly rather than waiting for a formal deadline.
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Key Details
🏫 Employer: Harvard University
💼 Position: Research Assistant II (Non-Lab)
📚 Project: Fionn Folklore Database Project
🏢 Unit: Faculty of Arts and Sciences
🏠 Work Format: Fully remote, subject to Harvard U.S. location rules
⏰ Hours: 35 hours per week
📑 Appointment: Full-time, seven-month term
💰 Salary Grade: 053
💵 Grade Range: Approximately $58,232–$90,958 annually
🎓 Background: Celtic Studies, Scottish Gaelic, Irish Language or related field/equivalent experience
🗣️ Key Requirement: Scottish Gaelic or Irish composition and translation experience
🛂 Visa Sponsorship: Not available
📅 Posted: 6 August 2026
🚨 Deadline: Open until filled
🔖 Job Reference: 003358SR
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