CPT Research Jobs

Research roles on CPT span academic labs, think tanks, and private R&D teams. Your DSO must authorize each position as integral to your degree, so bring a detailed offer letter describing your research duties and how they connect to your program's learning objectives.

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Overview

Open Jobs332+
Work Type77% On-site
Top LocationSan Jose, CA
Most JobsRyder System

Showing 5 of 332+ Research jobs

Microsoft
Research Intern - Applied Speech Research
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Microsoft
Added 4mo ago
Research Intern - Applied Speech Research
Microsoft
Berkeley, California
$6,710 - $13k/mo
On-Site
Doctorate

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Carnegie Mellon University
Summer Research Intern
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Carnegie Mellon University
New 7h ago
Summer Research Intern
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Laboratory Research
Data Science & Analytics
Biotech & Life Sciences
On-Site
High School
5,001-10,000

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University Hospitals
Research Internship
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University Hospitals
Added 1d ago
Research Internship
University Hospitals
Cleveland, Ohio
Laboratory Research
Clinical Trials & Medical Research
Healthcare Administration
Administrative & Office Support
Clinical Trials
$15 - $20/hr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Cisco
AI Research Scientist
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Cisco
Added 3d ago
AI Research Scientist
Cisco
San Francisco, California
Software Engineering
Data Science & Analytics
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
ML (Machine Learning)
Data Science
Data Analytics
$44k - $185k/yr
Remote (US)
Doctorate
10,000+

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The University of Iowa
Research Intern
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The University of Iowa
Added 3d ago
Research Intern
The University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa
Laboratory Research
Clinical Trials & Medical Research
Biotech & Life Sciences
Healthcare Administration
Clinical Trials
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Research CPT: Frequently Asked Questions

Does a research role qualify for CPT authorization?

A research role qualifies if your DSO can document that the work is an integral part of your current curriculum, not just related to your field. That usually means linking the position's duties to a specific course, thesis, or dissertation requirement. Roles in academic labs, think tanks, government agencies, and private R&D departments have all been successfully authorized, provided the offer letter is specific enough for your DSO to make that connection.

Can I do CPT at a research institution that isn't affiliated with my university?

Yes, CPT doesn't require institutional affiliation between your employer and your school. What matters is whether your DSO can verify the academic connection on your end. A federal research agency, a private biotech lab, or an independent think tank all qualify as long as your offer letter describes research duties that map to your degree program's learning objectives and your DSO signs off.

How do I find research employers who are willing to authorize CPT?

Start on Migrate Mate, which filters research roles by employers with a documented history of hiring F-1 students. Beyond that, university career centers often maintain lists of labs and organizations that have hosted CPT students before. Prioritize employers who ask for your I-20 upfront or mention CPT in the job description, since they already understand the authorization process and won't treat it as a last-minute complication.

What happens to my CPT authorization if my research project ends early?

CPT is employer-specific and position-specific. If your research project wraps up before your authorized end date, you can't automatically transfer that authorization to a different employer or project. You'd need a new CPT authorization from your DSO for any subsequent role. Your I-20 end date for the original CPT remains unchanged, but working beyond the project without new authorization would violate your F-1 status.

Does full-time CPT in a research role affect my OPT eligibility?

Full-time CPT authorized for 12 months or more eliminates your post-completion OPT eligibility entirely. Part-time CPT, regardless of duration, doesn't affect OPT. If you're considering a full-time research placement that extends past 12 months, factor in the OPT trade-off before accepting. Many F-1 students in research-heavy programs intentionally keep individual CPT authorizations under 12 months or structure their work as part-time to preserve OPT.