Get AI support for research, writing, analysis, and coding
Claude is an advanced AI assistant from Anthropic, available to eligible HMS users and approved for Level 3 data. It works from written prompts, uploaded files, and images to produce text, code, and data visualizations, and it suits long, careful work across large documents and datasets.
Your Claude access includes three ways to work:
- Claude Chat – A conversational interface on the web and desktop, for writing and editing, research and summarization, brainstorming, data analysis, and everyday productivity.
- Claude Code – Runs in your terminal or code editor, where Claude can read a codebase, write files, and handle development work such as building features, fixing bugs, and navigating large projects.
- Claude Cowork – An agentic desktop tool for complex, multi-step tasks: describe a goal, and Cowork plans and carries out the steps across your files, folders, and applications while you steer.
To get Claude, start with the AI tool training. Training opens the request form, where you choose your tool.
Eligibility
Available to email-eligible, Quad-based employees and to HMS and HSDM degree studentsEmail-eligible, Quad-based employees, as well as HMS and HSDM degree students, may use one AI tool. You also get access to the Harvard AI Sandbox after you complete your training.
Security
Approved for Level 3 data; sign in with your HarvardKey.Claude runs in a secure, Harvard-approved environment, and the data you enter is not used to train Anthropic’s models. It is approved for use with data classified as Level 3 and below under the University risk classifications. Do not use Level 4 or Level 5 data in any tool.
Even if an AI tool is approved for your data’s security level, contractual obligations related to the data, funding, and/or project may separately restrict use of AI or a specific AI tool or require the data provider or sponsor’s permission. Contact the Research Data Compliance team in the Office of Research Administration (ORA) at Data_ORA@hms.harvard.edu with questions about whether contractual restrictions may apply to your planned use of AI.
You sign in to use Claude with your HarvardKey.
Getting started
Steps to access and begin using Claude.Complete these steps to start using Claude:
- Complete AI tool training. Training covers data security levels, citing AI-generated content, and effective prompting.
- Request Claude. Choose Claude as your AI tool.
- Wait for provisioning. Requests go through HMS IT, and access is typically granted by the next business day.
After you are granted access, you will receive an email that directs you to:
- Open Claude. Go to claude.ai.
- Enter your email address. Use your HarvardKey email address.
- Sign in. Select Sign in with SSO to complete authentication. The button appears only after you enter your email address.
Account activation can take up to 24 hours. If you get an access error when you sign in, try again later.
When to choose Claude
Long-context research, analysis, and coding.Claude is well-suited to long, careful work: literature summaries, manuscript and grant drafting, organizing and analyzing large documents and datasets, and coding. It is also the only tool that can run a multi-step task on its own, through Cowork. Choose Claude when you want to hand off an entire workflow rather than prompt it step by step. Faculty researchers, postdoctoral researchers, research and lab staff, and software developers may find it particularly useful.