Jonathan M. Girard serves as the Director of the Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) for the Harvard University Area. In this role, Jonathan leads institutional officials, investigators, research staff, administrative offices, and public constituencies in implementing a comprehensive program for protecting human subjects in research. To do so, he develops Institutional Review Board (IRB) policies and procedures to be compliant with federal regulations and current best practices. He also oversees human subjects research education and initiatives for the University Area research community. Jonathan provides guidance regarding the interpretation of regulations, laws, and policies to the University Area’s IRB, researchers, staff, and administrators.

Jonathan joined the Harvard University Area IRB in 2015 as an IRB Administrator. Prior to Harvard, he conducted human subjects research in the Psychiatry department at Boston Children’s Hospital with a focus on neuropsychological outcomes in children with ADHD, HIV, and malnourishment, among others. Jonathan graduated from Boston University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology.