He then engaged in graduate studies at Harvard, earning an MA. and PhD in geology. In 1908 Daly began teaching at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and in 1912 he joined the faculty of Harvard, where he remained for the rest of his life.
After completing graduate studies at Harvard that resulted in an MA. and PhD in geology, Daly started teaching at MIT in 1908 and joined Harvard's faculty in 1912, continuing until his retirement.