Campus & Community

Matthew Alper Joins Kennedy School As New Assistant Dean for Research

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Matthew Alper, director of administration and finance for the Carl J. Shapiro Institute for Education and Research at the Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, has been named assistant dean for research at the Kennedy School of Government. Dean Joseph S. Nye made the announcement on Feb. 23.

Reporting to the executive dean and academic dean, Alper will manage the Kennedy School’s sponsored research activities, collaborating with the faculty, the Development Office, and the Office of Sponsored Research. Alper will keep the Kennedy School faculty apprised of research opportunities, help develop research grant proposals, track the grant approval process, monitor research expenditures, and report to funders.

“Matthew Alper has just the kind of high-level research administration experience we are looking for, and I am delighted he will be joining us in this vital role,” said Dean Nye. “Matt’s experience in managing research support will enable faculty to focus their own efforts on research ideas, design, and output.”

Alper will manage the research infrastructure dealing with issues that include funding opportunities, grants, sponsored research approval, overhead, technical support, and the dissemination of results.

Alper said he is looking forward to joining the Kennedy School.

“This is an exciting opportunity for me, and I welcome the chance to work with the faculty and administration to resolve some of the difficult issues and actively participate in moving the Kennedy School’s research forward,” he said.

A Harvard administrator for more than 10 years at both the Medical School and the School of Public Health, Alper has been at the Shapiro Institute for two years. Before joining the Institute, he was director of administration for the Center for Biostatistics in AIDS Research at the School of Public Health. Prior to coming to Harvard, Alper spent five years in research administration at the Boston University School of Medicine.

Alper received his bachelor of arts degree in 1981 from the University of Pennsylvania and his master of arts in 1989 from Tufts University.

Alper will join the Kennedy School on March 8.