Contact
We are always looking for motivated individuals to work with us! We aim to foster a vibrant, supportive community of undergraduates, master's students, PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and collaborators who create open-source tools that augment human sensemaking and human-computer collaboration, as well as communal open-source resources like the reading list and classroom activity examples for supporting HCI's engagement with theory.
For all general + media inquiries, please email us at variation@g.harvard.edu. This is an actively monitored inbox, but if we miss your email after one business week, feel free to bump! We are physically located on the second floor of Harvard's Science and Engineering Complex @ 150 Western Ave, Allston, MA 02134.
Postdoctoral Researchers
Interested postdocs should send an email to variation@g.harvard.edu.
PhD Students
We do not plan to recruit new PhD students for the Fall 2027 admissions cycle.
If you are interested in applying in a future cycle, read more about what we're excited to pursue with new students and browse our publications to find the directions that resonate with you.
Undergraduate, Master's, and Visiting Students
We always welcome undergraduate, master's, and visiting students from a wide range of backgrounds. Visiting positions can be in person or remote.
If you are interested in joining us, please email variation@g.harvard.edu or any of the current PhD students whose interests align with yours. Please also fill out our interest form to help us get to know you better. We hope you can reach out to us with a goal in mind, and we will try our best to support you in this journey. We regularly review these requests, though we cannot guarantee a reply to every one.
P.S. In person preferred!
FAQ
Q: Are there collaboration opportunities for non-Harvard affiliated students?
A: If you are not affiliated with Harvard but would like to visit or collaborate with us (in person or remotely) for an extended period, maybe! Post-secondary students in the greater Boston area are especially encouraged to reach out. Unfortunately, we do not have opportunities for high school/pre-college students.
Q: I have an idea for an interesting follow-up to a recent lab publication—who can I talk to?
A: We love to talk to people with thoughts about our work! Most projects will list a corresponding author contact, but as a fallback you can email variation@g.harvard.edu. The more brief and concrete you can make your description, the more likely we are to read it and get back to you.
Q: How can I help fund the lab's research?
A: Non-profits and philanthropists interested in funding the Variation Lab's research should reach out to variation@g.harvard.edu or tdepodesta@seas.harvard.edu, directly.
Q: Can I pay you to supervise a student?
A: No.