Harvard engineering layoffs disrupt research labs, courses, and student projects

Recent layoffs at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences are beginning to affect research activity, coursework, and student organizations, with reduced staffing leaving laboratories with fewer technicians and slower equipment maintenance.

According to a report by the The Harvard Crimson, the cuts were announced last October by SEAS Dean David C. Parkes as part of a broader effort to address financial pressures. Roughly 25% of the school’s clerical and technical union workers were affected, contributing to about 40 staff reductions overall.

University administrators cited a combination of financial challenges, including a higher federal tax on the institution’s endowment and uncertainty around research funding.

Researchers taking on technical responsibilities

The impact has been particularly visible in laboratories where technical staff previously handled equipment maintenance and operational support.

PhD student Mady Corrigan told The Harvard Crimson that her lab lost both its research technician and its lab manager after the restructuring was announced. Although a replacement manager has been hired, the new staff member now oversees responsibilities that previously belonged to two separate roles.

As a result, graduate students and researchers increasingly spend time troubleshooting equipment and coordinating repairs—tasks that were once handled by trained technical personnel.

Students adjusting thesis and design projects

Undergraduate research and design work has also been affected by the staffing cuts.

Mechanical engineering student Leo M. Bessler told The Harvard Crimson that he had originally planned to use fiberglass techniques in the SEAS Active Learning Labs for his senior thesis project. However, the trained staff member responsible for overseeing the safety procedures had been laid off, forcing him to modify his plan.

Instead of using fiberglass, he adapted the design using alternative materials that could be applied without specialized supervision.

Course formats and offerings changing

Budget pressures have also influenced how some engineering courses operate.

Student Grant M. Kaufmann told The Harvard Crimson that one engineering design course now requires students to work in pairs on projects that previously could be completed individually. While instructors have attributed the change to increased enrollment, students say financial constraints across the school may also be shaping such adjustments.

In another case, a course titled “Humanitarian Design Projects,” which allowed students involved in engineering outreach initiatives to earn academic credit, was not offered in the spring semester after its instructor and program coordinator were laid off.

Student clubs and lab facilities feeling the impact

Student organizations have also experienced the ripple effects.

Members of the Harvard Undergraduate Robotics Club told The Harvard Crimson that they were initially concerned about losing access to the SEAS machine shop after administrators considered prioritizing the space for coursework. Following discussions with school leadership, the club ultimately retained access to the facility.

However, reduced staffing has reportedly slowed equipment maintenance across shared laboratories. Students cited 3D printers and other tools in fabrication labs remaining out of service longer while awaiting repairs.

Concerns about long-term effects on campus culture

Some students say the layoffs have also affected the academic community within SEAS.

With fewer staff members coordinating advising logistics and departmental activities, students report that organizing events and managing administrative processes has become more difficult. According to The Harvard Crimson, some students worry that the reduced support could weaken engagement in smaller programs and affect the broader student experience.

While university administrators maintain that the cuts were necessary to address financial challenges, students and researchers say the changes are already reshaping daily academic life within Harvard’s engineering school.
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