Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) OPT Eligible Jobs USA
Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) hires OPT students for research-intensive roles across biomedical science, laboratory operations, and science program management. As a leading independent research organization, HHMI is a strong destination for F-1 students in life sciences seeking hands-on research experience and a pathway to H-1B visa sponsorship.
See All Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 114+ Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) OPT Eligible Jobs USA
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
See all 114+ Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) OPT Eligible Jobs USA
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) OPT Eligible Jobs USA.
Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute has an exciting opportunity for a Research Technician to join the research team in the Barton Lab at The University of California, Berkeley. The Barton lab wants to understand how the immune system recognizes and responds to threats while limiting damage to our own cells and tissues, including the beneficial microbes that live on and within us. The team studies immune recognition in the intestine with the goal of determining how the host discriminates between the beneficial and harmful microbes there.
ABOUT THE ROLE:
In this role, you will join a team of scientists studying how the immune system interacts with bacterial members of the microbiota. The primary focus of this role will be managing a colony of gnotobiotic mice, which are housed in an environment devoid of bacteria or colonized with defined bacteria. This opportunity would be perfect for someone who enjoys working with mouse colonies. You will manage daily facility operations for the mouse colony including animal husbandry (health checks, food/water, cage changes, breeding/weaning), maintenance/ordering of supply stocks, cleaning the facility, and moving supplies in and out of the isolators. You will be a valued member of the lab and participate in weekly lab meetings along with other group meetings. There may also be opportunities to assist other lab members with experiments.
WHAT WE PROVIDE:
- A competitive compensation package, with comprehensive health and welfare benefits.
- Being part of research projects and the possibility of being an author on lab research publications.
- Regular meetings with Dr. Barton in a collaborative and highly team-oriented setting.
WHAT YOU’LL DO:
- Maintenance of the gnotobiotic mouse colony: assembly of microisolators, autoclaving, husbandry, mouse census, optimization of protocols, and documentation of compliance. This includes hiring, training, and management of undergraduate students who will assist with daily operations of the colony.
- Microbiological testing: culturing of fecal material from gnotobiotic animals, DNA extraction and PCR analysis from samples.
- Order chemicals, reagents, and other laboratory supplies.
- Research related to immune detection of the micro bio: assist lab members with experiments, configure and operate laboratory apparatus and instruments, read and record instrument data, keep laboratory records, and prepare written summaries of experiments with results.
- Read literature applicable to research areas as the need arises.
WHAT YOU BRING:
- Bachelor of Science degree in an appropriate field of science or technology or equivalent in education and experience.
- Able to learn complex tasks with general instructions and then perform them independently.
- The successful applicant will be a highly motivated, ambitious individual with strong organizational skills and willingness to learn new techniques. The ability to plan ahead and coordinate with others is essential for success in this position.
- Ability to lift 15 pounds.
- Experience working with mice & bacterial preparations in a laboratory setting is preferred.
- Experience working with gnotobiotic microisolators is preferred.
- Experience with sterile techniques.
- Proficiency in MS Word and MS Excel.
Physical Requirements
Remaining in a normal seated or standing position for extended periods of time; reaching and grasping by extending hand(s) or arm(s); dexterity to manipulate objects with fingers, for example using a keyboard; communication skills using the spoken word; ability to see and hear within normal parameters; ability to move about workspace. The position requires mobility, including the ability to move materials weighing up to several pounds (such as a laptop computer or tablet). Work may involve possible exposure to malodorous vapors, low dose radiation, contamination by toxic chemicals and acids and presence of carcinogenic substances or other hazardous materials.
Persons with disabilities may be able to perform the essential duties of this position with reasonable accommodation. Requests for reasonable accommodation will be evaluated on an individual basis.
PLEASE NOTE:
This job description sets forth the job’s principal duties, responsibilities, and requirements; it should not be construed as an exhaustive statement, however. Unless they begin with the word “may,” the Essential Duties and Responsibilities described above are “essential functions” of the job, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
Our employees are compensated from a total rewards perspective in many ways for their contributions to our mission, including competitive pay, exceptional health benefits, retirement plans, time off, and a range of recognition and wellness programs.
Compensation Range
$20.08 (minimum) - $25.14 (midpoint) - $32.65 (maximum)
Pay Type: Hourly
HHMI’s salary structure is developed based on relevant job market data. HHMI considers a candidate's education, previous experiences, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal consistency when making job offers. Typically, a new hire for this position in this location is compensated between the minimum and the midpoint of the salary range.
HHMI is an Equal Opportunity Employer
We use E-Verify to confirm the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires.
INTRODUCTION
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute has an exciting opportunity for a Research Technician to join the research team in the Barton Lab at The University of California, Berkeley. The Barton lab wants to understand how the immune system recognizes and responds to threats while limiting damage to our own cells and tissues, including the beneficial microbes that live on and within us. The team studies immune recognition in the intestine with the goal of determining how the host discriminates between the beneficial and harmful microbes there.
ABOUT THE ROLE:
In this role, you will join a team of scientists studying how the immune system interacts with bacterial members of the microbiota. The primary focus of this role will be managing a colony of gnotobiotic mice, which are housed in an environment devoid of bacteria or colonized with defined bacteria. This opportunity would be perfect for someone who enjoys working with mouse colonies. You will manage daily facility operations for the mouse colony including animal husbandry (health checks, food/water, cage changes, breeding/weaning), maintenance/ordering of supply stocks, cleaning the facility, and moving supplies in and out of the isolators. You will be a valued member of the lab and participate in weekly lab meetings along with other group meetings. There may also be opportunities to assist other lab members with experiments.
WHAT WE PROVIDE:
- A competitive compensation package, with comprehensive health and welfare benefits.
- Being part of research projects and the possibility of being an author on lab research publications.
- Regular meetings with Dr. Barton in a collaborative and highly team-oriented setting.
WHAT YOU’LL DO:
- Maintenance of the gnotobiotic mouse colony: assembly of microisolators, autoclaving, husbandry, mouse census, optimization of protocols, and documentation of compliance. This includes hiring, training, and management of undergraduate students who will assist with daily operations of the colony.
- Microbiological testing: culturing of fecal material from gnotobiotic animals, DNA extraction and PCR analysis from samples.
- Order chemicals, reagents, and other laboratory supplies.
- Research related to immune detection of the micro bio: assist lab members with experiments, configure and operate laboratory apparatus and instruments, read and record instrument data, keep laboratory records, and prepare written summaries of experiments with results.
- Read literature applicable to research areas as the need arises.
WHAT YOU BRING:
- Bachelor of Science degree in an appropriate field of science or technology or equivalent in education and experience.
- Able to learn complex tasks with general instructions and then perform them independently.
- The successful applicant will be a highly motivated, ambitious individual with strong organizational skills and willingness to learn new techniques. The ability to plan ahead and coordinate with others is essential for success in this position.
- Ability to lift 15 pounds.
- Experience working with mice & bacterial preparations in a laboratory setting is preferred.
- Experience working with gnotobiotic microisolators is preferred.
- Experience with sterile techniques.
- Proficiency in MS Word and MS Excel.
Physical Requirements
Remaining in a normal seated or standing position for extended periods of time; reaching and grasping by extending hand(s) or arm(s); dexterity to manipulate objects with fingers, for example using a keyboard; communication skills using the spoken word; ability to see and hear within normal parameters; ability to move about workspace. The position requires mobility, including the ability to move materials weighing up to several pounds (such as a laptop computer or tablet). Work may involve possible exposure to malodorous vapors, low dose radiation, contamination by toxic chemicals and acids and presence of carcinogenic substances or other hazardous materials.
Persons with disabilities may be able to perform the essential duties of this position with reasonable accommodation. Requests for reasonable accommodation will be evaluated on an individual basis.
PLEASE NOTE:
This job description sets forth the job’s principal duties, responsibilities, and requirements; it should not be construed as an exhaustive statement, however. Unless they begin with the word “may,” the Essential Duties and Responsibilities described above are “essential functions” of the job, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
Our employees are compensated from a total rewards perspective in many ways for their contributions to our mission, including competitive pay, exceptional health benefits, retirement plans, time off, and a range of recognition and wellness programs.
Compensation Range
$20.08 (minimum) - $25.14 (midpoint) - $32.65 (maximum)
Pay Type: Hourly
HHMI’s salary structure is developed based on relevant job market data. HHMI considers a candidate's education, previous experiences, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal consistency when making job offers. Typically, a new hire for this position in this location is compensated between the minimum and the midpoint of the salary range.
HHMI is an Equal Opportunity Employer
We use E-Verify to confirm the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires.
Job Roles at Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI)
See all 114+ Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) OPT Eligible Jobs USA
Align your research background with HHMI's focus areas
HHMI funds investigator-driven research in fields like cell biology, genetics, neuroscience, and immunology. Before applying, map your graduate or postdoctoral research directly to an active HHMI investigator's lab focus so your application reads as a scientific fit, not a general inquiry.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting an offer
HHMI must be enrolled in E-Verify for you to use your 24-month STEM OPT extension. Ask HR to confirm enrollment status before your start date, since missing this step can cut your authorized work period in half without any USCIS appeal available.
Target HHMI's Janelia and Investigator program separately
HHMI operates distinct hiring tracks: the Janelia Research Campus and its university-embedded Investigator program recruit independently. Applying through only one channel means missing relevant postdoc and research associate openings at the other, so search both pipelines when targeting open OPT roles.
Benchmark your expected salary using OFLC Wage Search
For STEM OPT roles that may transition to H-1B, your offered salary needs to meet DOL prevailing wage levels. Use OFLC Wage Search to look up wage levels for your occupation code before negotiating, so you enter the conversation knowing the floor HHMI would need to meet later.
Use Migrate Mate to find HHMI's H-1B filing history
HHMI's H-1B Labor Condition Application data shows which job titles and salary levels it has filed for previously. Migrate Mate surfaces this DOL LCA data by employer, so you can verify which roles at HHMI have a real sponsorship track record before you invest time in an application.
Time your OPT start date around HHMI's hiring cycles
HHMI postdoctoral and research associate hiring tends to follow academic calendars, with openings concentrating after spring graduations and in early fall. Request your OPT EAD start date to align with this window rather than activating it before a confirmed offer to avoid burning authorization time unnecessarily.
Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) OPT Eligibility: Frequently Asked Questions
Does Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) sponsor OPT visas?
HHMI does not sponsor OPT itself. OPT is work authorization granted by USCIS directly to F-1 students, not something employers file for. What HHMI does is hire students who already hold an OPT EAD. For STEM OPT extensions, HHMI must be enrolled in E-Verify, which allows eligible employees to extend their work authorization by 24 months beyond standard OPT.
Which roles at HHMI typically hire OPT students?
HHMI most commonly hires OPT students into postdoctoral researcher, research associate, and laboratory technician roles across its biomedical science programs. Science program and grants management positions occasionally open as well. Roles at the Janelia Research Campus tend to be highly specialized, requiring direct alignment with an active research project rather than general lab experience.
How do I navigate the OPT hiring process at HHMI?
Apply through HHMI's careers portal and clearly indicate your OPT authorization status and EAD expiration date in your application materials. Once an offer is extended, coordinate with HHMI's HR team to confirm E-Verify enrollment and ensure your I-983 training plan is completed accurately before your OPT start date if you are on STEM OPT.
How do I know if HHMI is likely to sponsor my H-1B after OPT?
The strongest signal is HHMI's Labor Condition Application filing history, which shows which job titles and wage levels it has filed H-1B petitions for in the past. Migrate Mate aggregates this DOL LCA data so you can search HHMI's sponsorship history by occupation before accepting an OPT role, giving you a clearer picture of your long-term prospects at the organization.
What timeline should I expect for moving from OPT to H-1B at HHMI?
HHMI would need to file an H-1B petition during the annual cap registration period in March for an October 1 start date. If you are on a 24-month STEM OPT extension, cap-gap rules allow you to continue working past your EAD expiration while an H-1B petition is pending. Start conversations with HHMI HR at least six months before your OPT ends to give adequate lead time.
How does Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) hire OPT students?
OPT is work authorization granted directly to F-1 students after graduation — no employer petition is required. Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) can hire OPT students as soon as their EAD card is approved. STEM degree holders can extend OPT by 24 months when their employer is enrolled in E-Verify. Most companies that hire OPT students also support the transition to H-1B when the student's OPT period is ending. Check Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI)'s individual postings on Migrate Mate to confirm OPT acceptance per role.