Stanford University OPT Eligible Jobs USA
Stanford University hires OPT students across research, engineering, data science, and administrative roles, making it a sought-after destination for F-1 graduates. Its size, interdisciplinary labs, and history of supporting international talent through OPT and into H-1B visa sponsorship make it a strong target for F-1 job seekers.
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INTRODUCTION
Stanford Law School seeks an enthusiastic and enterprising candidate to serve as a non-resident Research Fellow in its renowned Religious Liberty Clinic (the “RLC”). The RLC is the nation’s only full-time clinical program dedicated to teaching and training law students in and through litigation and advocacy for clients in support of their religious liberty. The RLC also plays a leading role in a movement of affiliated clinics at other top law schools across the country. The Fellow will support a funded research project in studying and presenting the RLC’s pedagogy, methodology, and work in broader witness to religious liberty as a universal value. The position will be filled as a one-year fixed term, with the possibility of renewal for up to an additional year at the Law School’s discretion.
The RLC launched in August 2012 and has since become a fixture at Stanford Law School. The Stanford clinical program is unique in that its students participate on a full-time basis; the clinic is the only course a student takes during their given term of enrollment. The RLC focuses on developing professional skills in a rich, dynamic, and human way. Its students learn and apply the law, theory, and practice of religious liberty, and they are taught to advise and litigate for clients with excellence, professionalism, and maturity. In seeking to represent clients of all faiths and build bridges among and across people of any or no religious tradition, the RLC advocates for its clients’ religious liberty as a universal value. From this success, the RLC has in turn inspired and helps lead a movement of clinical programs in law and religion at several other elite law schools. The RLC has been hailed by academics, judges, and faith leaders as a landmark achievement in legal education.
Now that its program of clinical education and an associated movement are established and flourishing, the RLC is looking to capture and tell its story through a research and scholarship project for which it seeks the support of a Research Fellow. Specifically, the Fellow will work with and support the RLC’s faculty director in studying, analyzing, and promoting the RLC’s vision, methods, and leadership. The Fellow’s immediate charge will involve empirical and non-empirical research—including constituent and field surveys, interviews, and data collection, as well as interdisciplinary review. From there, the Fellow will assist the RLC’s director in capturing, analyzing, and applying the developed research and its lessons for clinical and doctrinal legal education, the legal profession, the wider law, and society more broadly—through published scholarship or otherwise. Near the end of the term, the Fellow will likely also be expected to help plan and support a capstone conference.
This is a rare opportunity for a recent law-school graduate or particularly distinguished college graduate to conduct and support research in one of the nation’s premier law-school clinics at one of the world’s preeminent institutions for legal education, and to gain valuable professional experience in a dynamic environment while serving the public interest.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Among other duties described herein, the candidate will be expected to:
- Oversee and administer research activities for academic project, making recommendations that impact associated policies and programs, and coordinating and implementing project outputs.
- Collect and analyze data, create reports, review and explain trends to determine project effectiveness; formulate and evaluate alternative solutions and/or recommendations to achieve the goals of the project and program.
- Create and/or advise in the development of project methods and output. Make recommendations for program improvements.
- Write and edit content for proposals, peer-reviewed publications, and other project activities under the general direction of the RLC’s director. Summarize data for grant support.
- Represent the project or function as the associated key contact and subject-matter expert within the RLC and develop communications for internal and external constituencies. Organize and/or participate in outreach activities such as events, partnerships, and conferences. Lead facilitation of meetings.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
As noted above, the candidate should have at least a Bachelor’s degree, with two years of relevant experience or combined education, training, and relevant experience. A J.D. is preferred. Program administration and/or research experience may also be required.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
Among other knowledge, skills, and abilities described herein, the candidate should have demonstrated oral, written, and analytical skills, exhibiting fluency in the area of specialization required by the project.
Applicants should apply through http://stanfordcareers.stanford.edu/, noting job number 109153 and including the following information:
- A statement no longer than two pages describing the applicant’s: (i) qualifications and relevant experience; (ii) interest in religious liberty generally and the RLC in particular; and (iii) interest in and promise for the contemplated research project.
- A resume
- A list of three professional references
- A law-school transcript, or undergraduate or other transcript for a non-J.D. holder
Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
LOCATION
This role is open to candidates anywhere in the United States.
COMPENSATION
The compensation for this position will be based on the location of the successful candidate. The expected pay range for this position is $54,416 to $98,067 per annum.
Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of the salary or hourly wage the university reasonably expects to pay for a position upon hire. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location, and external market pay for comparable jobs.
At Stanford University, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive rewards package. The Cardinal at Work website provides detailed information on Stanford’s extensive range of benefits and rewards offered to employees. Specifics about the rewards package for this position may be discussed during the hiring process.
Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of the job.
Note: The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Stanford University OPT Eligible Jobs USA
Align your degree field precisely
Stanford hires OPT students into roles where your degree field directly matches the job description. Before applying, cross-check your major against the O*NET occupation profile for the role to confirm the field-of-study alignment that supports your OPT authorization and any STEM extension eligibility.
Target research labs and affiliated institutes
Stanford's research centers, from the Stanford AI Lab to the Woods Institute, hire OPT students at levels that go beyond typical university admin roles. Identify labs aligned with your field and reach out directly to principal investigators, who often hire independently of central HR postings.
Verify Stanford's E-Verify enrollment before accepting
STEM OPT's 24-month extension requires your employer to be enrolled in E-Verify. Stanford participates in E-Verify, but confirm this with your hiring contact before signing an offer, since specific departments or affiliated entities may operate under different employer identification numbers.
Start your OPT EAD application 90 days early
USCIS recommends applying for your OPT EAD up to 90 days before your program end date. A delayed EAD means a delayed start date at Stanford. Coordinate with your DSO early so your I-20 endorsement is ready and your application window doesn't compress.
Use Migrate Mate to find Stanford's H-1B filing history
Stanford consistently files H-1B petitions for employees across research, engineering, and professional roles. Use Migrate Mate to review Stanford's H-1B filing history by occupation, so you can identify which roles have a documented path from OPT to long-term sponsorship before you accept an offer.
Negotiate your OPT start date around project timelines
Stanford research and academic roles often begin on semester or grant cycles. If your OPT EAD start date doesn't align with a hiring cycle, ask whether a deferred start is possible. Using your full OPT window strategically protects your timeline if H-1B sponsorship becomes part of the plan.
Stanford University OPT Eligibility: Frequently Asked Questions
Does Stanford University sponsor OPT visas?
Stanford University doesn't sponsor OPT directly. OPT is work authorization that USCIS grants to F-1 students, not something employers file for. What Stanford does is hire students who already hold an OPT EAD and, in many cases, later sponsor those employees for H-1B status to extend their ability to work legally in the U.S.
Which roles and departments at Stanford University typically hire OPT students?
Stanford hires OPT students most actively in research, data science, engineering, computer science, and biomedical fields, often through its affiliated labs and institutes. Administrative and student affairs roles also hire OPT students. Roles tied to funded research grants tend to have the most flexibility and the clearest path toward subsequent H-1B sponsorship.
How do I confirm my Stanford role qualifies for the STEM OPT extension?
Your role must fall under a STEM-designated Classification of Instructional Programs code that matches your degree. Check your degree's CIP code against the Department of Homeland Security's STEM list, then verify with your DSO that your job description at Stanford aligns. Stanford's enrollment in E-Verify satisfies the employer-side requirement for the 24-month extension.
What is the typical timeline from OPT offer to first day at Stanford University?
Plan for at least four to six weeks between a verbal offer and your start date, accounting for background checks, onboarding paperwork, and any remaining OPT EAD processing time. Stanford's HR process is thorough. If your EAD hasn't arrived yet, your start date cannot precede the authorization date printed on the card, so apply to USCIS as early as your DSO allows.
How do I find open OPT roles at Stanford University and assess H-1B sponsorship likelihood?
Search Stanford's careers portal and filter by department or research area matching your field. To assess whether Stanford has historically sponsored H-1B visas for roles similar to the one you're targeting, use Migrate Mate to review Stanford's DOL Labor Condition Application filing history by occupation code, which gives you a concrete signal before you invest time in the application process.
How does Stanford University hire OPT students?
OPT is work authorization granted directly to F-1 students after graduation — no employer petition is required. Stanford 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 Stanford University's individual postings on Migrate Mate to confirm OPT acceptance per role.