CPT Research Intern Jobs

Research Intern roles on CPT give F-1 students hands-on lab, field, or data work that must connect directly to your degree program. Your DSO authorizes each position individually, so the employer's job description needs to match your curriculum before CPT begins. Part-time CPT (under 20 hours weekly) keeps your full-year OPT eligibility intact.

Find CPT Research Intern Jobs

Overview

Open Jobs198+
Work Type87% On-site
Top LocationSan Jose, CA
Most JobsTikTok

Showing 5 of 198+ Research Intern jobs

Xcel Energy
Load Research & Energy and Demand Forecasting Intern
We won't show you this job again
Xcel Energy
New 16h ago
Load Research & Energy and Demand Forecasting Intern
Xcel Energy
Denver, Colorado
Data Science & Analytics
Business Analysis
Data Science
Data Analytics
$19 - $24/hr
On-Site
Bachelor's

Have you applied for this role?

NVIDIA
PhD Research Intern
We won't show you this job again
NVIDIA
Added 1d ago
PhD Research Intern
NVIDIA
Santa Clara, California
Specialized Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Data Science & Analytics
Research & Academia
Engineering (Non-Software)
Data Science
$38 - $94/hr
On-Site
Doctorate
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

AMD
AI Research Intern
We won't show you this job again
AMD
Added 1d ago
AI Research Intern
AMD
Santa Clara, California
Software Engineering
Data Science & Analytics
Data Engineering
Cloud & DevOps
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
ML (Machine Learning)
Data Science
Hybrid
Doctorate
5,001-10,000

Have you applied for this role?

Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP
Legislative and Regulatory Research Intern
We won't show you this job again
Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP
Added 1d ago
Legislative and Regulatory Research Intern
Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP
Washington, Washington DC
Compliance & Legal
Legal Counsel
Paralegal & Legal Support
On-Site
None
501-1,000

Have you applied for this role?

McKinsey & Company
Economics Research Intern
We won't show you this job again
McKinsey & Company
Added 3d ago
Economics Research Intern
McKinsey & Company
San Jose, California
Data Science & Analytics
Research & Academia
Data Science
Data Analytics
On-Site
Bachelor's

Have you applied for this role?

See all 198+ Research Intern Jobs

Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Research Intern roles.

Get Access To All Jobs

See all 198+ CPT Research Intern Jobs

Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new CPT Research Intern Jobs.

Get Access To All Jobs

Research Intern CPT: Frequently Asked Questions

Does a research intern role qualify for CPT authorization?

It qualifies if the work is an integral part of your established curriculum, meaning the research duties must connect directly to your degree program, not just your general field of study. Your DSO makes the final determination, so you'll need the employer's written job description and, in many cases, a faculty sponsor or advisor who can confirm the academic connection before your I-20 is updated.

Can I do CPT as a research intern at a national lab or federal agency?

Yes, federal agencies and national labs hire F-1 students on CPT regularly, but hiring timelines run longer than the private sector, often eight to twelve weeks from application to start date. Some positions also require you to be enrolled in a specific number of credit hours linked to the internship. Confirm E-Verify enrollment and any security clearance requirements before applying, since clearance processes can extend beyond a single CPT term.

What happens to my CPT authorization if the research project changes mid-term?

CPT is authorized for a specific employer and a specific set of duties tied to your curriculum. If the project scope shifts significantly, your DSO may require a new authorization before you continue working in the revised role. Contact your DSO as soon as you know about the change, not after the fact, because working outside your authorized CPT terms puts your F-1 status at risk.

How do I find research intern roles where employers already understand CPT?

Search Migrate Mate to identify employers with a history of hiring F-1 students on CPT. Employers already familiar with the authorization process move faster through the offer and onboarding steps, which matters when your CPT window is tied to a specific academic term with a fixed start date.

Does part-time CPT as a research intern affect my STEM OPT extension later?

Part-time CPT, defined as fewer than 20 hours per week, has no effect on your OPT or STEM OPT eligibility regardless of how many terms you use it. Full-time CPT totaling 12 months or more eliminates OPT entirely, so if you're considering multiple full-time research terms across different semesters, track your cumulative hours carefully with your DSO.