Daniel Schneider

Daniel Schneider is the Malcolm Wiener Professor of Social Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) and a Professor of Sociology at Harvard University’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS). He holds a B.A. in Public Policy from Brown University (2003) and a Ph.D. in Sociology and Social Policy from Princeton University (2012). Prior to his current roles, he was an Assistant Professor of Sociology at UC Berkeley (2012–2020) and a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Postdoctoral Scholar in Health Policy Research at Berkeley/UCSF.

His research focuses on social demography, inequality, and the intersection of work and family life. Key themes include precarious employment, workplace scheduling instability, gender and racial inequities in labor markets, and the effects of policy interventions on worker well-being. As Co-Director of the Shift Project, Schneider leads research on unpredictable work schedules and their impacts on household economic security and health.

Recent articles highlight his work on paid sick leave policies, job quality mobility during the “Great Resignation,” and the gender wage gap in the service sector. His research has been supported by grants from NIH/NIA, the Urban Institute, and the Annie E. Casey Foundation, among others. He currently serves as a W.T. Grant Foundation Faculty Research Scholar.

Notable contributions include studies on the health consequences of employment shocks during the pandemic, the role of labor market conditions in job mobility, and the relationship between workplace technology and job retention for older workers. Schneider’s work bridges academic research with policy advocacy, emphasizing evidence-based solutions to reduce economic and social inequalities.