In addition to his trip to India in April, Sachs is planning a visit to Africa later in the year.
But Sachs said his new appointment will not require a leave of absence from his responsibilities at Harvard.
Aside from teaching, Sachs is also the director of the research-oriented Center for International Development (CID), co-chair of one of the Kennedy School of Government's masters degree programs and chair of an advisory council on international studies.
He admits his new job will contribute to a "heavy load" but "right now, I'm planning to do it in the course of current work," he said.
Sachs said he also hopes a number of people from around the University in the economics department, the School of Public Health, the Kennedy School of Government (KSG), and CID will be able to help contribute to CMH's study.
"It's a wonderful opportunity to do something useful for very poor people," Sachs said.