What is the ruling on translating research papers and academic theses? Is this considered participation in sin? And what is the ruling on money earned from it? Does the ruling differ if students conduct the research themselves and limit it to translation only?

If researching and translating references is not part of the evaluation of researchers, then there is no harm in doing so and earning from it. And, assuming one engaged in unlawful acts out of ignorance of their prohibition, there is no harm in benefiting from what was earned thereby, based on the opinion of some scholars.