North Carolina State University OPT Eligible Jobs USA
North Carolina State University hires OPT students across research, engineering, IT, and academic support roles, making it a practical target for F-1 graduates seeking hands-on experience at a major research university. Its broad departmental footprint and active hiring across STEM disciplines give OPT candidates real entry points.
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Posting Information
Posting Number PG194642EP
Internal Recruitment No
Working Title Assistant/Associate Professor - Forest Genetics
Anticipated Hiring Range Rank and salary will be commensurate upon experience
Work Schedule 8:00AM - 5:00PM Monday - Friday
Job Location Raleigh, North Carolina
Department Forestry & Environmental Resources Academic Research
About the Department
The Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources has a wide variety of strengths in forestry and natural resources management, policy and economics, environmental science and technology, renewable energy assessment, wildlife and conservation biology, tree improvement, silviculture, forest biotechnology, and international forestry. The Department has over 90 full time faculty and staff, and more than 750 undergraduate and 150 graduate students. Faculty, staff, and students work together with business, industry, government, community groups, and non government organizations to address a wide range of challenges facing our state and the world. These partnerships facilitate research and discovery, teaching and learning, and outreach and service. Additional information about the department can be found at http://cnr.ncsu.edu/fer.
The College of Natural Resources (CNR) at North Carolina State University is a world leader in the sustainable use of natural resources. The college’s comprehensive approach to teaching, research, and service encompass the many and varied ways in which people’s physical, economic, and social needs are met through the wise use of natural resources.
Wolfpack Perks and Benefits
As a Pack member, you belong here, and can enjoy exclusive perks designed to enhance your personal and professional well-being. As you consider this opportunity, we encourage you to review our Employee Value Proposition and learn more about what makes NC State the best place to learn and work for everyone.
What we offer:
- Medical, Dental, and Vision
- Flexible Spending Account
- Retirement Programs
- Disability Plans
- Life Insurance
- Accident Plan
- Paid Time Off and Other Leave Programs
- 12 Holidays Each Year
- Tuition and Academic Assistance
- And so much more!
Attain Work-life balance with our Childcare benefits, Wellness & Recreation Membership, and Wellness Programs that aim to build a thriving wolfpack community.
Disclaimer: Perks and Benefit eligibility is based on Part-Time or Full-Time Employment status. Eligibility and Employer Sponsored Plans can be found within each of the links offered.
Essential Job Duties
The Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources at North Carolina State University invites applicants for a 9-month, tenure track faculty position as an Assistant or Associate Professor of Forest Genetics. This position is 45% teaching and mentoring, 45% research, and 10% service.
Key Responsibilities fall within three primary functions:
Teaching and Mentoring Responsibilities:
- Teach an average of 8–10 credit hours per year at the undergraduate and graduate levels in areas aligned with faculty expertise and departmental curricular needs.
- Recruit, mentor, and advise graduate students.
- Engage undergraduate students in research and other high-impact learning experiences.
- Provide academic advising to undergraduate students as assigned.
Research Responsibilities:
- Develop an internationally recognized, collaborative, and externally funded research program.
- Secure external research funding to support ongoing scholarship and innovation.
- Publish research findings in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
- Present research at regional, national, and international scientific conferences.
- Collaborate with industry-supported research programs within the department as appropriate.
Service Responsibilities:
- Serve on department, college, and university committees.
- Support student engagement through clubs, undergraduate research, and other extracurricular activities.
- Participate in professional society activities and related service initiatives.
We welcome collaborative, innovative candidates eager to contribute to impactful research, teaching, and engagement in a dynamic academic environment. If you are passionate about advancing the future of tree and forest genetics and bring expertise in areas such as bioinformatics, high-throughput phenotyping, or complementary disciplines that strengthen forest genetics/genomics, biotechnology, and tree improvement efforts, we encourage you to apply.
Other Responsibilities
Qualifications
Minimum Education and Experience
Ph.D. in Genetics, Forestry, Bioinformatics or a closely related field. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.
Other Required Qualifications:
- Deep understanding of forest genetics, genomics, tree breeding, quantitative genetics, and gene editing technologies.
- Computation and data skills, including proficiency in R or Python for statistical modeling and data visualization, and familiarity with generative AI.
- Ability to secure external funding.
- Strong communication and interdisciplinary collaboration skills.
- Proven background in quantitative methods applied to biological systems.
- Experience working with forests or other perennial/woody plant systems.
- Evidence of research impact through peer-reviewed publications and a clear potential for securing external research funding.
- Commitment to excellence in teaching and mentoring students.
Preferred Qualifications
- Minimum of 2 years postdoctoral experience with demonstrated expertise in one or more areas of forest genetics, including bioinformatics (e.g., genomic selection and large-scale omics data integration) and/or high-throughput phenotyping (e.g., remote sensing and image analysis).
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate with industry-supported breeding cooperatives, multidisciplinary university initiatives such as IConS, or multi-institutional research teams.
Required License(s) or Certification(s)
N/A.
Valid NC Driver's License required No
Commercial Driver's License required No
Recruitment Dates and Special Instructions
Job Open Date 05/08/2026
Anticipated Close Date 6/5/2026: if posting is active, we are still accepting and reviewing applications.
Special Instructions to Applicants
Please include a cover letter, CV and contact information for at least three professional references.
Position Details
Position Number 00007007
Position Type Tenured/Tenure-Track Faculty
Full Time Equivalent (FTE) (1.0 = 40 hours/week) 1.00
Appointment 9 Month Recurring
Mandatory Designation - Adverse Weather Non Mandatory - Adverse Weather
Mandatory Designation - Emergency Events Mandatory - Threats of Violence/Terrorism/Interpersonal Emergencies, Non Mandatory - Emergency Event
Department ID 150401 - Forestry & Environmental Resources Academic Research
EEO
NC State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal opportunities for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. The University encourages all qualified applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, to apply. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-513-0574 to speak with a representative of the Office of Equal Opportunity.
If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at (919) 515-2135 or workatncstate@ncsu.edu.
Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit.
NC State University participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding North Carolina State University OPT Eligible Jobs USA
Target research-heavy departments directly
NC State's colleges of Engineering, Agriculture and Life Sciences, and Sciences run active sponsored research programs that regularly bring on OPT students. Applying through departmental job boards, not just central HR, puts your application in front of hiring managers who already understand OPT timelines.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Your STEM OPT 24-month extension requires your employer to be enrolled in E-Verify. NC State participates as a federal contractor, but individual units or affiliated entities may operate separately, so verify the specific hiring department's E-Verify status with HR before signing anything.
Align your degree field to the posted role
USCIS requires your OPT employment to be directly related to your degree program. For roles at NC State, match your transcript field to the job description explicitly in your cover letter, especially for interdisciplinary positions where the connection isn't obvious to a non-specialist recruiter.
Negotiate your start date around EAD receipt
Your OPT EAD must be in hand before you begin work. USCIS processing can run two to three months, so submit your OPT application through your DSO as early as 90 days before your program end date and communicate your anticipated start window to NC State's hiring team upfront.
Research NC State's H-1B filing history on Migrate Mate
If your goal is long-term employment after OPT, check NC State's H-1B filing history by department and role type using Migrate Mate before accepting an offer. Understanding which units have sponsored H-1B in the past helps you assess your transition pathway before you're three years in.
Benchmark your salary against OFLC Wage Search data
Use the OFLC Wage Search to find the prevailing wage for your role and location before salary negotiations with NC State. University pay bands are often public, but knowing the DOL wage floor for your occupation level strengthens your position and ensures compliance if H-1B sponsorship follows.
North Carolina State University OPT Eligibility: Frequently Asked Questions
Does North Carolina State University sponsor OPT visas?
NC State doesn't sponsor OPT itself. OPT is work authorization USCIS grants directly to eligible F-1 students. NC State hires students who already hold an OPT EAD. The university's role is to confirm employment is related to your degree and, for STEM OPT, to participate in E-Verify and fulfill reporting obligations through your DSO.
Which departments at NC State typically hire OPT students?
Research-intensive colleges, including Engineering, Sciences, Agriculture and Life Sciences, and the Poole College of Management, are among the most active for OPT hires. IT and data analytics roles within NC State's central administration also bring on OPT students. Academic and lab-focused positions tend to align well with the degree-relatedness requirement USCIS enforces.
How do I apply for OPT jobs at North Carolina State University?
Start by searching NC State's official careers portal for positions that match your degree field. Apply directly to departmental openings where possible, since research labs and academic units often post separately from central HR. Confirm your OPT EAD is active or that your application timeline aligns with your anticipated EAD receipt date before your interview stage.
How do I know if NC State will support my STEM OPT extension?
STEM OPT requires your employer to be enrolled in E-Verify and to submit a formal training plan. NC State participates in E-Verify as an institution, but verify with the specific hiring department that the unit covering your role is enrolled. Your DSO processes the extension through USCIS, so loop them in early to confirm all requirements are met before your initial OPT expires.
Does NC State sponsor H-1B visas after OPT ends?
NC State does sponsor H-1B visas for qualifying employees, which makes it a viable long-term option for OPT students looking to transition. Sponsorship decisions are made at the departmental level and depend on budget, role criticality, and timing relative to the annual H-1B cap. Use Migrate Mate to review NC State's H-1B visa filing history by department before committing to a role with transition expectations.
How does North Carolina State University hire OPT students?
OPT is work authorization granted directly to F-1 students after graduation — no employer petition is required. North Carolina State University 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 North Carolina State University's individual postings on Migrate Mate to confirm OPT acceptance per role.