Solving society’s greatest challenges through bold and collaborative social science

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Mapping Chinese History and Society

The China Biographical Database quantifies a distant society and social network that looks remarkably like our own

Led by director Peter K. Bol, the Charles H. Carswell Professor of East Asian Languages and Civilizations at Harvard University, the CBDB has been systematically identifying and capturing the biographical details of elite members of Chinese society from ancient times onward.

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Update on the Collaboration between Harvard’s Institute for Quantitative Social Science and Microsoft to Develop Open Source Differential Privacy Software

In September 2019, Harvard’s Institute for Quantitative Social Science announced a large-scale collaboration with Microsoft to develop open source tools for differential privacy. We are excited by our progress and write today to report on several lines of substantial progress.

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A Message from the Director on Human Rights

Harvard University’s research centers devoted to studying human rights have posted this joint statement about the horrific events in Minneapolis and around the country. At IQSS, we stand with them and deeply appreciate their leadership on this issue. We reproduce their eloquent words here in full.

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Research Resources

Research Computing

The Research Computing Evironment (RCE) offers you a centralized place in which to store your data and run your analysis on your own or in collaboration with other researchers.

Data Science Services

Our team of PhD data science specialists provides research support to the Harvard community, offering both consultation and collaboration services for researchers.

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Training & Workshops

We offer specialized instruction to develop your software skills and broadening your knowledge on social science-related topics.

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IQSS Computer Labs

The Labs offer access to workstations with a full array of statistical, GIS, and other commonly-used desktop applications.

Learn more about IQSS Computer Labs

Client Support Services

We're here to help you with your software, hardware and all your technological needs including (but not limited to) computer, smartphone, tablet and printer issues .

Our Impact

IQSS worked with a research fellow in brain surgery to analyze data on a new procedure. The goal of the project was to understand if a new surgical procedure might extend the survival of brain shunts used to drain fluids from and relieve pressure on the brain.

Funding Opportunities

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For Faculty

Undergraduate Research Scholars Program

The IQSS Undergraduate Research Scholars program is an opportunity for Harvard College students to gain first-hand research experience working with faculty members all across the University.

Travel Grants

Travel grants are available to IQSS graduate student affiliates and are meant to support travel to facilitate presentation at a professional conference relevant to their research.

Note: Currently on hold due to COVID-19.

Research Grants

Harvard Graduate student affiliates may apply for funding to support ongoing or future research activities.

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Upcoming Events

2020 Sep 23

Dataverse Open Office Hours

Repeats every week every Wednesday until Wed Dec 23 2020 except Wed Nov 11 2020.

11:00am to 1:00pm

2020 Sep 23

Workshop in Applied Statistics

12:00pm to 1:30pm

2020 Sep 24

Program on Political Economy Seminar

4:30pm to 5:45pm

2020 Sep 25

Working Group in Political Psychology and Behavior (WoGPoP)

12:00pm

2020 Sep 25

R Introduction

1:00pm to 4:00pm

2020 Sep 30

Dataverse Open Office Hours

11:00am to 1:00pm

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Latest News

Fall Workshops from Data Science Services Now Open for Registration

August 24, 2020

IQSS is teaming up with HBS to host 12 free Data Science workshops this fall. Instructors from both IQSS Data Science Services (IQSS-DSS) and the Harvard Business School Research Computing Services (HBS-RCS) will lead virtual workshops on Zoom that focus on data analysis software (R, Python, and Stata), as well as other key tools... Read more about Fall Workshops from Data Science Services Now Open for Registration

IQSS Affiliate-Led HDSI Receives Sloan Grant

July 30, 2020

by Elizabeth Salazar

The Harvard Data Science Initiative (HDSI) has received a generous grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to support a team of Harvard faculty working on new methods for causal inference and machine learning... Read more about IQSS Affiliate-Led HDSI Receives Sloan Grant

Mapping Chinese History and Society: The China Biographical Database quantifies a distant society and social network that looks remarkably like our own

July 2, 2020

by Elaine K. Howley

For millennia, Chinese society has been richly populated with individuals who’ve shared ideas and connections across an enormous landmass. Identifying and cataloging all of these people through the ages is the aim of an ambitious prosopography project supported by the Institute for Quantitative Social Science called the China Biographical Database Project (CBDB)... Read more about Mapping Chinese History and Society: The China Biographical Database quantifies a distant society and social network that looks remarkably like our own

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Become an Affiliate

IQSS welcomes requests from scholars to become affiliated with our institution. Affiliation allows graduate students and faculty to apply for funding or access IQSS-based services, such as Sponsored Research Services.