CPT Research Specialist Jobs
Research Specialist jobs on CPT give F-1 students hands-on experience conducting studies, analyzing data, and contributing to academic or industry research projects. Your DSO must confirm the role directly integrates with your degree program. Positions span universities, think tanks, government agencies, and private labs.
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Get Access To All JobsClassification Title
Ast In
Classification Minimum Requirements
Candidates for these tenure ineligible specialty faculty positions must hold a master’s degree in a field of specialization unless the administrator of the unit determines that experience and/or training is equivalent to the educational requirements. Authorship or co-authorship of significant publications in the field of specialization may be regarded as evidence of qualifying experience and training.
Job Description
The Foreign, Comparative, and International Legal Research Specialist/Professor of Legal Research will be part of the Lawton Chiles Legal Information Center’s public services team with a focus on curating our extensive foreign, comparative, and international law collection along with developing instruction and programming relating to foreign, comparative, and international legal research. The ideal candidate would be interested in ensuring preservation of and greater access to our Caribbean and Latin American legal collections. This position will participate in a variety of LIC functions including providing reference services and faculty research support, classroom teaching, and other instructional activities at the University of Florida’s Fredric G. Levin College of Law. The Foreign, Comparative, and International Research Specialist/Professor of Legal Research reports to the Associate Director. Professors of Legal Research are full time 12-month non-tenure track law faculty members and receive competitive benefits including professional development funding to support attendance at academic conferences, vacation, sick, and holiday leave, medical and dental insurance, and retirement plans. The University of Florida’s Fredric G. Levin College of Law offers a defined promotion path for this position from Assistant-in-Law to Associate-in-Law to Senior Associate-in-Law with commensurate 9% salary increases with each promotion.
Essential Functions
- Curate the Lawton Chiles Legal Information Center’s foreign, comparative, and international law collection including collection development, preservation assessments, and development of online access to rare and unique materials, particularly materials from the Caribbean and Latin America.
- Develop instruction and programming related to foreign, comparative, and international legal research and serve as a local expert for faculty and students at the University of Florida’s Fredric G. Levin College of Law.
- Provide reference service to students and staff of the School of Law, the University community, members of the Bar and the public.
- Provide research and reference services to College of Law faculty through the library liaison program.
- Participate in teaching introductory legal research and/or advanced legal research courses at the University of Florida’s Fredric G. Levin College of Law.
- Complete other duties as assigned.
Expected Salary
$85,000-110,000 depending on experience
Required Qualifications
A JD from an ABA-accredited law school is required. Either a master's degree in Library or Information Science (MLS or equivalent degree) from an accredited program or current enrollment in an accredited program is required. Knowledge of legal research techniques, sources, and formats is required. Applicants must have a strong service orientation, be interested in foreign, comparative, and international law, and be able to contribute to continual efforts to improve the delivery of legal information. Applicants must be able to contribute positively to an active department that serves a diverse patron base. Applicants must have excellent oral and written communication skills, and should have experience working in a professional, team-based environment as well as independently.
Preferred
- Academic teaching experience
- One to three years professional experience in an academic law library
- Experience or documented interest in foreign, comparative, and/or international law
- One to three years of legal practice
- Working knowledge of Spanish, including legal terminology
Special Instructions To Applicants
In order to be considered, you must upload your cover letter, resume, and list of references. This position is 'open until filled'. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until a suitable pool of candidates is established.
Health Assessment Required: No
Classification Title
Ast In
Classification Minimum Requirements
Candidates for these tenure ineligible specialty faculty positions must hold a master’s degree in a field of specialization unless the administrator of the unit determines that experience and/or training is equivalent to the educational requirements. Authorship or co-authorship of significant publications in the field of specialization may be regarded as evidence of qualifying experience and training.
Job Description
The Foreign, Comparative, and International Legal Research Specialist/Professor of Legal Research will be part of the Lawton Chiles Legal Information Center’s public services team with a focus on curating our extensive foreign, comparative, and international law collection along with developing instruction and programming relating to foreign, comparative, and international legal research. The ideal candidate would be interested in ensuring preservation of and greater access to our Caribbean and Latin American legal collections. This position will participate in a variety of LIC functions including providing reference services and faculty research support, classroom teaching, and other instructional activities at the University of Florida’s Fredric G. Levin College of Law. The Foreign, Comparative, and International Research Specialist/Professor of Legal Research reports to the Associate Director. Professors of Legal Research are full time 12-month non-tenure track law faculty members and receive competitive benefits including professional development funding to support attendance at academic conferences, vacation, sick, and holiday leave, medical and dental insurance, and retirement plans. The University of Florida’s Fredric G. Levin College of Law offers a defined promotion path for this position from Assistant-in-Law to Associate-in-Law to Senior Associate-in-Law with commensurate 9% salary increases with each promotion.
Essential Functions
- Curate the Lawton Chiles Legal Information Center’s foreign, comparative, and international law collection including collection development, preservation assessments, and development of online access to rare and unique materials, particularly materials from the Caribbean and Latin America.
- Develop instruction and programming related to foreign, comparative, and international legal research and serve as a local expert for faculty and students at the University of Florida’s Fredric G. Levin College of Law.
- Provide reference service to students and staff of the School of Law, the University community, members of the Bar and the public.
- Provide research and reference services to College of Law faculty through the library liaison program.
- Participate in teaching introductory legal research and/or advanced legal research courses at the University of Florida’s Fredric G. Levin College of Law.
- Complete other duties as assigned.
Expected Salary
$85,000-110,000 depending on experience
Required Qualifications
A JD from an ABA-accredited law school is required. Either a master's degree in Library or Information Science (MLS or equivalent degree) from an accredited program or current enrollment in an accredited program is required. Knowledge of legal research techniques, sources, and formats is required. Applicants must have a strong service orientation, be interested in foreign, comparative, and international law, and be able to contribute to continual efforts to improve the delivery of legal information. Applicants must be able to contribute positively to an active department that serves a diverse patron base. Applicants must have excellent oral and written communication skills, and should have experience working in a professional, team-based environment as well as independently.
Preferred
- Academic teaching experience
- One to three years professional experience in an academic law library
- Experience or documented interest in foreign, comparative, and/or international law
- One to three years of legal practice
- Working knowledge of Spanish, including legal terminology
Special Instructions To Applicants
In order to be considered, you must upload your cover letter, resume, and list of references. This position is 'open until filled'. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until a suitable pool of candidates is established.
Health Assessment Required: No
See all CPT Research Specialist Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsResearch Specialist CPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Research Specialist role qualify for CPT authorization?
It qualifies if your school can document a direct connection between the work and your current degree requirements. That usually means the research topic aligns with your field of study, and the position appears in your program's practical training policy or a faculty-supervised internship credit. Volunteer or unpaid lab work doesn't automatically count unless your school formally integrates it.
Can I work as a Research Specialist for a professor outside my department?
Yes, but your DSO must confirm the role still connects to your enrolled curriculum. Cross-departmental research is common in interdisciplinary programs, and many schools accept it as long as you can cite specific courses or thesis requirements the work supports. Get written confirmation from your DSO before the position starts, not after.
How do I find Research Specialist employers who are familiar with CPT?
University research offices and federally funded labs hire CPT students regularly. You can also browse Research Specialist postings on Migrate Mate, which surfaces employers with documented DOL filing history in research-related occupations, giving you a faster signal of which organizations have experience with international student work authorization.
Does CPT for a Research Specialist role affect my OPT eligibility?
Part-time CPT used throughout your degree doesn't affect OPT. Full-time CPT used for 12 months or more eliminates your OPT eligibility entirely, which is a significant downstream consequence for research students who plan to pursue H-1B visa sponsorship after graduation. Track your cumulative full-time CPT hours carefully with your DSO.
What happens if my CPT research position shifts to a different project mid-authorization?
Your CPT authorization is tied to the specific employer and dates on your I-20 endorsement, not the individual project. If your duties change substantially or the project scope shifts to a different field, notify your DSO. A new authorization may be required. Continuing without updated documentation puts your F-1 status at risk.