PhD Resources and Support

The following list was compiled to provide you with the most likely to be used Ph.D. resources but does not include all university resources. Within the department, GSAS, and the broader Harvard community, there are many people and offices that can answer your questions and get you the help you need.   This list also notes confidential supports, such as Counseling and Mental Health Services.  Most other employees and offices on campus are called “responsible reporters,” which means that they are obligated to report sexual harassment, discrimination, and misconduct to the Title IX Office so that this office may follow up with the student.

Department Resources:

  • Research Advisor and Committee: To discuss your research, professional development, and goals, please contact your research advisor as well as your committee. You are also encouraged to seek career advising from other faculty.
  • Directors of Graduate Studies and Chair: To discuss your academic program as well as any questions or concerns about your experience in the program, please contact the Director of Graduate Studies, Prof. Jun Liu: jliu@stat.harvard.edu, or Prof. Susan Murphy (Director of PhD Admissions): samurphy@fas.harvard.edu. You also have the option of contacting our Chair, Prof. Sam Kou: kou@stat.harvard.edu. It can be particularly useful to contact the chair for issues that may be relevant to multiple students or to the department as a whole.
  • Harvard Statistics Graduate Student Council: If you would prefer to discuss questions or concerns with a peer, please contact the Harvard Statistics Graduate Student Council: hsgc@g.harvard.edu.
  • Academic requirements, records, and teaching assignments: Please contact Kathleen Cloutier cloutier@fas.harvard.edu.
  • Grant application questions: Please contact Laverne Martinez lavernemartinez@fas.harvard.edu.
  • Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (EDIB) Department Committee: Please contact to share EDIB ideas and concerns stat-edib@lists.fas.harvard.edu.
  • Women in Statistics Group: Offers social opportunities and support for women-identifying individuals in the department.  Contact Professor Austern for information.
  • See full list of Faculty and Staff contacts.

Academic/Teaching Resources:

International Student Resources:

Professional Support:

Social Resources:

  • GSAS Student Center: Social, intellectual, and recreational activities
  • GSAS Engage: Main link for GSAS events, including online trivia, meetups, workshops, etc. Student groups include:
    • Affinity groups based on identity, such as gender, race, sexual orientation/identity, ethnicity, religion, nationality, etc.
    • Affinity groups based on interest, such as sports, music, language, arts, etc.
    • GSAS Student Council: official representative body of students in GSAS

Physical/Mental Health Resources:

Reporting Incidents:

Other Supports:

  • GSAS Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (EDIB): works with faculty, staff, and graduate students in GSAS degree programs on student retention efforts and methods for improving department inclusivity. Contact: gsas_edib@fas.harvard.edu.
  • Ombuds Office (confidential): Provides support for any conflicts or difficult situations that you would like to talk through with someone outside of the department.
  • Chaplains (confidential): They represent many of the world’s religious, spiritual, and ethical traditions, and share a collective commitment to serving the spiritual needs of students.