H-1B Visa Research Intern Jobs
Research Intern roles can qualify for H-1B visa sponsorship when the position requires a bachelor's degree or higher in a directly related field, such as biology, computer science, or engineering. Many universities, federal contractors, and R&D-focused companies file H-1B petitions for research staff, including interns, making this a viable path for F-1 students approaching OPT expiration.
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Thinking about a career in public policy? Committed to improving the world we live in? Think Brookings - one of the most influential, most quoted and most trusted think tanks! Interns spend approximately 12 weeks working alongside leading experts in government and academia from all over the world. Brookings also offers students the opportunity to intern in departments such as communications, human resources and central operations management. The mission of the Internship Program is to provide students with a pre-professional learning experience that offers meaningful, practical work experience related to their field of study or career interest. Students engage in career exploration and development as well as learn new skills.
Interns will have the opportunity to attend meetings, think tank events, professional development workshops, and public Brookings events. In addition, interns will have the opportunity to network with other interns throughout the Institution.
This internship is an opportunity for undergraduate students in their junior or senior year and graduate students pursuing a master's degree with an interest in research and policy work on community & neighborhood development, asset framing, well-being, economic or fiscal policy, and wealth creation to apply principles and theory learned in the classroom in a professional environment. PhD students are not eligible for internships; please visit our Careers page for current open positions. This internship pays an hourly rate of $18.40, and applicants must be willing to commit to a minimum number of hours per week (no less than 20 to 30 hours per week, during regular business hours), with some flexibility around an academic course schedule.
This internship requires you to be located in the U.S. for the duration of the internship. This position is open to hybrid and/or remote applicants. Hybrid work combines regular in-person presence at our Washington, DC, office with the option of remote work. Work location cannot be in any of the following states: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Michigan, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington. Please only apply if you can live and work in states other than those listed above for the duration of the internship.
Responsibilities:
The Brookings AI and Emerging Technology (AIET) Initiative is seeking a research intern to contribute to work shaping the future of AI policy. AIET delivers actionable insights to decisionmakers through rigorous, interdisciplinary research and convenes diverse stakeholders to solve complex challenges and manage risk across the AI stack. AIET’s current research projects span agentic AI evaluations and policy frameworks, global AI governance, standards for AI measurement and evaluation, and more.
Interns will take on two types of work. First, interns provide project support across the AIET research portfolio. Duties may include:
- Assisting with research, drafting, editing, and/or proofreading of publications, briefing materials, or other written documents
- Reviewing, compiling, and synthesizing data to inform policy analysis
- Performing literature reviews
- Supporting event planning and execution
- Performing other administrative tasks
Second, interns will be assigned a self-directed research project in support of one of AIET’s core workstreams. The project will run the full length of the internship and culminate in a defined work product presented to senior AIET leadership. Interns will receive substantive guidance and feedback throughout the process.
Applicants should identify specific topics of interest in their cover letter. More information on the AIET Initiative, its vision and mission, and the substantive themes of its work can be found here.
Qualifications: Education/Knowledge/Skills
This internship is an opportunity for undergraduate students in their junior or senior year, recent college graduates, or master’s students working towards a degree in a relevant field (e.g., computer science, engineering, social science, public policy, etc.). Substantive knowledge of and demonstrated interest in AI governance, AI safety and evaluation, and emerging AI and technology policy, as well as experience with policy research and analysis at federal or state level, is a plus.
Applicants must have excellent communication, writing, and analytical skills; strong organizational skills; high attention to detail; experience working independently with little direction; and an ability work effectively and cooperatively in a diverse, team-based office environment. Coding skills are strongly preferred.
Overview:
Thinking about a career in public policy? Committed to improving the world we live in? Think Brookings - one of the most influential, most quoted and most trusted think tanks! Interns spend approximately 12 weeks working alongside leading experts in government and academia from all over the world. Brookings also offers students the opportunity to intern in departments such as communications, human resources and central operations management. The mission of the Internship Program is to provide students with a pre-professional learning experience that offers meaningful, practical work experience related to their field of study or career interest. Students engage in career exploration and development as well as learn new skills.
Interns will have the opportunity to attend meetings, think tank events, professional development workshops, and public Brookings events. In addition, interns will have the opportunity to network with other interns throughout the Institution.
This internship is an opportunity for undergraduate students in their junior or senior year and graduate students pursuing a master's degree with an interest in research and policy work on community & neighborhood development, asset framing, well-being, economic or fiscal policy, and wealth creation to apply principles and theory learned in the classroom in a professional environment. PhD students are not eligible for internships; please visit our Careers page for current open positions. This internship pays an hourly rate of $18.40, and applicants must be willing to commit to a minimum number of hours per week (no less than 20 to 30 hours per week, during regular business hours), with some flexibility around an academic course schedule.
This internship requires you to be located in the U.S. for the duration of the internship. This position is open to hybrid and/or remote applicants. Hybrid work combines regular in-person presence at our Washington, DC, office with the option of remote work. Work location cannot be in any of the following states: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Michigan, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington. Please only apply if you can live and work in states other than those listed above for the duration of the internship.
Responsibilities:
The Brookings AI and Emerging Technology (AIET) Initiative is seeking a research intern to contribute to work shaping the future of AI policy. AIET delivers actionable insights to decisionmakers through rigorous, interdisciplinary research and convenes diverse stakeholders to solve complex challenges and manage risk across the AI stack. AIET’s current research projects span agentic AI evaluations and policy frameworks, global AI governance, standards for AI measurement and evaluation, and more.
Interns will take on two types of work. First, interns provide project support across the AIET research portfolio. Duties may include:
- Assisting with research, drafting, editing, and/or proofreading of publications, briefing materials, or other written documents
- Reviewing, compiling, and synthesizing data to inform policy analysis
- Performing literature reviews
- Supporting event planning and execution
- Performing other administrative tasks
Second, interns will be assigned a self-directed research project in support of one of AIET’s core workstreams. The project will run the full length of the internship and culminate in a defined work product presented to senior AIET leadership. Interns will receive substantive guidance and feedback throughout the process.
Applicants should identify specific topics of interest in their cover letter. More information on the AIET Initiative, its vision and mission, and the substantive themes of its work can be found here.
Qualifications: Education/Knowledge/Skills
This internship is an opportunity for undergraduate students in their junior or senior year, recent college graduates, or master’s students working towards a degree in a relevant field (e.g., computer science, engineering, social science, public policy, etc.). Substantive knowledge of and demonstrated interest in AI governance, AI safety and evaluation, and emerging AI and technology policy, as well as experience with policy research and analysis at federal or state level, is a plus.
Applicants must have excellent communication, writing, and analytical skills; strong organizational skills; high attention to detail; experience working independently with little direction; and an ability work effectively and cooperatively in a diverse, team-based office environment. Coding skills are strongly preferred.
See all 359+ H-1B Visa Research Intern Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship as a Research Intern
Verify your role meets specialty occupation
Pull the O*NET profile for your specific research title and confirm it lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry requirement. Internships framed as "research assistant" or "lab technician" can fail H-1B adjudication if the degree requirement isn't explicit in the job description.
Target employers with cap-exempt status
Universities, affiliated research hospitals, and nonprofit research organizations attached to universities are cap-exempt H-1B filers. You can apply any time of year without waiting for the April lottery window, which is a practical advantage for research internship timelines.
Search LCA filings filtered by research roles
Use Migrate Mate to filter verified H-1B Labor Condition Application filings by research-related SOC codes. This surfaces employers who have actually sponsored roles like yours, not just companies that claim to be open to sponsorship.
Ask employers about concurrent H-1B filing
If you're on OPT and your internship converts to a full-time research role, confirm whether the employer will file a cap-subject H-1B in April for an October 1 start. Missing that filing window while on a short-term internship is a common authorization gap.
Check prevailing wage before negotiating your offer
Your employer's LCA must certify a wage at or above the DOL prevailing wage for your occupational category and location. Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up the Level I or Level II wage for your SOC code before your offer conversation.
Document academic credentials before the petition
USCIS frequently issues Requests for Evidence on research intern petitions where the degree field doesn't obviously match the role title. Have a credential evaluation and a letter from your academic adviser ready before your employer files Form I-129.
H-1B Visa Research Intern: Frequently Asked Questions
Can a research intern position qualify for H-1B sponsorship?
Yes, if the role requires a bachelor's degree or higher in a specific field directly related to the research area. The key is that the position itself must meet the specialty occupation definition. USCIS evaluates the job duties and degree requirement, not just the intern title, so a well-documented role description is critical for approval.
Which types of employers sponsor H-1B visas for research interns?
Universities, national laboratories, federally funded research centers, pharmaceutical companies, and technology firms with active R&D divisions are the most common H-1B sponsors for research roles. Cap-exempt employers like universities and affiliated nonprofits can file outside the annual lottery, which makes timing more flexible for internship-to-sponsorship transitions. Browse verified H-1B filers on Migrate Mate to identify which employers have filed for research-related roles in your field.
Does completing a research internship on OPT help with H-1B sponsorship?
It creates a direct path if the employer converts your internship to a full-time role and files an H-1B petition in the April registration window. Your time on OPT doesn't count toward your H-1B status, but it gives the employer evidence that you can perform the specialty occupation duties, which strengthens the petition if USCIS issues a Request for Evidence.
What happens if my research internship title doesn't match my degree field?
USCIS may issue a Request for Evidence questioning whether your degree qualifies you for the specific research role. A credential evaluation from a NACES-recognized agency and a letter from your thesis adviser or department head explaining the connection between your degree and the research duties are the two most effective responses to that kind of challenge.
Is the H-1B cap a problem for research intern sponsorship?
Only if your employer is a private company subject to the annual 85,000-slot cap and the lottery. Universities, affiliated research institutions, and nonprofit research organizations are cap-exempt and can file H-1B petitions at any point in the year. If your employer is cap-subject, timing your internship so the petition can be filed during the April registration period is the practical workaround.