OPT AI Researcher Jobs
AI Researcher roles qualify for OPT under computer science, data science, and related STEM degrees, making them eligible for the 24-month STEM OPT extension on top of the standard 12 months. Most employers filing H-1B visa sponsorship for this role do so through the annual lottery, so starting your job search early matters.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Working Title: AI & Research Services Librarian
Position Type: Administrative & Professional (Non-teaching Faculty)
Position Status: Full-Time
FLSA Status: Exempt: Not Eligible for Overtime
College/Division: JMU Libraries
Department: 100113 – Libraries
Pay Rate: Pay Range
Specify Range or Amount: $70,000 - $75,000
Beginning Review Date: 12/11/2026
About JMU:
Mission
We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.
Vision
To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.
Who We Are
Situated in the heart of Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is a vibrant community with a population of approximately 52,000. Harrisonburg is conveniently located approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA.
JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and supportive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 21,000 undergraduate and 1,800 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.
JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.
GENERAL INFORMATION
The AI & Research Services Librarian will shape how faculty, students, and research teams engage with artificial intelligence (AI) in research and scholarly communication. This position is designed to help researchers not only use AI, but use it responsibly, ethically, and effectively.
Reporting to the Associate Dean of Research & Scholarly Communications, this position will contribute to the development of AI research support services at JMU Libraries. In addition to providing consultation and instruction support to faculty, staff, and students engaging in research, this position will also support professional development in the Libraries.
This AI & Research Services Librarian will join a team focused on research infrastructure and open scholarship and be a close collaborator with liaison librarians and technologists within the Libraries. The successful candidate will contribute to the Libraries’ ongoing AI strategy and advise on the current AI landscape, particularly as it affects the research enterprise in higher education.
The Libraries welcomes applicants who can demonstrate a commitment to building equitable and welcoming environments. We are committed to encouraging dialogue, cultivating a sense of belonging, and celebrating a broad range of life experiences and perspectives.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
-
Provide consultations, training, and outreach to students and researchers on the application of AI, specifically generative AI and machine learning, in various research contexts.
-
Provide guidance on best practices for AI implementation, including algorithmic transparency and accountability, data privacy, and bias and harm mitigation.
-
Collaborate with Libraries colleagues on AI features or systems assessment and their impact on Libraries’ services, mission, or values.
-
Contribute to AI professional development programs for Libraries employees to ensure consistent knowledge about AI technologies and better support our users.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required:
-
Master's degree.
-
Direct experience with artificial intelligence systems, including generative AI and machine learning, including an understanding of how open and commercial models and agents work, and a critical appreciation for their strengths and limitations.
-
Demonstrated commitment to staying current with emerging trends and developments in AI, federal policies, and digital scholarship.
-
Familiarity with the ethical, legal, environmental, and social implications of AI, particularly in research contexts.
-
Demonstrated ability to teach or develop instructional materials including workshops, tutorials, or course-integrated sessions.
-
Excellent communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with a broad range of stakeholders and communicate complex technology concepts to non-expert audiences.
-
Demonstrated commitment to building environments that are accessible and welcoming.
Additional Considerations:
-
Degree in library or information science, computer science, or a related field.
-
Working knowledge of LLM evaluation, local model installs, guardrails, agent deployment, MCP, and RAG concepts to scope and review projects.
-
Experience with programming languages and tools commonly used in AI, such as Python, R, markdown, and agent/MCP interfaces.
ADDITIONAL POSTING INFORMATION
JMU’s Dual Career and Community Resources Program is available for candidates that will be relocating to the area.
JMU offers excellent benefits which include paid vacation, sick, parental, and community service leave in addition to 19 paid holidays a year; affordable health insurance; retirement through the Virginia Retirement System. We also offer a work-life balance and integration program that is designed to support and enhance the overall wellbeing of our employees and a tuition assistance program that allows employees to have tuition waived for undergraduate and graduate level courses taken at JMU.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.
E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.
EEO STATEMENT
James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.
We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.
Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: (540) 568-6991.
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION
If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at (540) 568-3597 or jobs@jmu.edu. You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.
INTRODUCTION
Working Title: AI & Research Services Librarian
Position Type: Administrative & Professional (Non-teaching Faculty)
Position Status: Full-Time
FLSA Status: Exempt: Not Eligible for Overtime
College/Division: JMU Libraries
Department: 100113 – Libraries
Pay Rate: Pay Range
Specify Range or Amount: $70,000 - $75,000
Beginning Review Date: 12/11/2026
About JMU:
Mission
We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.
Vision
To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.
Who We Are
Situated in the heart of Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is a vibrant community with a population of approximately 52,000. Harrisonburg is conveniently located approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA.
JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and supportive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 21,000 undergraduate and 1,800 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.
JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.
GENERAL INFORMATION
The AI & Research Services Librarian will shape how faculty, students, and research teams engage with artificial intelligence (AI) in research and scholarly communication. This position is designed to help researchers not only use AI, but use it responsibly, ethically, and effectively.
Reporting to the Associate Dean of Research & Scholarly Communications, this position will contribute to the development of AI research support services at JMU Libraries. In addition to providing consultation and instruction support to faculty, staff, and students engaging in research, this position will also support professional development in the Libraries.
This AI & Research Services Librarian will join a team focused on research infrastructure and open scholarship and be a close collaborator with liaison librarians and technologists within the Libraries. The successful candidate will contribute to the Libraries’ ongoing AI strategy and advise on the current AI landscape, particularly as it affects the research enterprise in higher education.
The Libraries welcomes applicants who can demonstrate a commitment to building equitable and welcoming environments. We are committed to encouraging dialogue, cultivating a sense of belonging, and celebrating a broad range of life experiences and perspectives.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
-
Provide consultations, training, and outreach to students and researchers on the application of AI, specifically generative AI and machine learning, in various research contexts.
-
Provide guidance on best practices for AI implementation, including algorithmic transparency and accountability, data privacy, and bias and harm mitigation.
-
Collaborate with Libraries colleagues on AI features or systems assessment and their impact on Libraries’ services, mission, or values.
-
Contribute to AI professional development programs for Libraries employees to ensure consistent knowledge about AI technologies and better support our users.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required:
-
Master's degree.
-
Direct experience with artificial intelligence systems, including generative AI and machine learning, including an understanding of how open and commercial models and agents work, and a critical appreciation for their strengths and limitations.
-
Demonstrated commitment to staying current with emerging trends and developments in AI, federal policies, and digital scholarship.
-
Familiarity with the ethical, legal, environmental, and social implications of AI, particularly in research contexts.
-
Demonstrated ability to teach or develop instructional materials including workshops, tutorials, or course-integrated sessions.
-
Excellent communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with a broad range of stakeholders and communicate complex technology concepts to non-expert audiences.
-
Demonstrated commitment to building environments that are accessible and welcoming.
Additional Considerations:
-
Degree in library or information science, computer science, or a related field.
-
Working knowledge of LLM evaluation, local model installs, guardrails, agent deployment, MCP, and RAG concepts to scope and review projects.
-
Experience with programming languages and tools commonly used in AI, such as Python, R, markdown, and agent/MCP interfaces.
ADDITIONAL POSTING INFORMATION
JMU’s Dual Career and Community Resources Program is available for candidates that will be relocating to the area.
JMU offers excellent benefits which include paid vacation, sick, parental, and community service leave in addition to 19 paid holidays a year; affordable health insurance; retirement through the Virginia Retirement System. We also offer a work-life balance and integration program that is designed to support and enhance the overall wellbeing of our employees and a tuition assistance program that allows employees to have tuition waived for undergraduate and graduate level courses taken at JMU.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.
E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.
EEO STATEMENT
James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.
We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.
Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: (540) 568-6991.
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION
If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at (540) 568-3597 or jobs@jmu.edu. You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.
See all 344+ OPT AI Researcher Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT AI Researcher Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in AI Researcher
Target STEM-designated programs
Confirm your degree program has an approved STEM CIP code before applying. AI Researcher roles typically qualify under computer science or electrical engineering, giving you up to 36 months of total OPT work authorization to find long-term sponsorship.
Prioritize H-1B cap-exempt employers
Universities, nonprofit research institutions, and government-affiliated labs are exempt from the H-1B visa annual lottery. AI Researcher roles at these organizations offer a more reliable path to visa sponsorship without depending on a roughly 20 percent selection rate.
Document your research contributions clearly
USCIS requires H-1B specialty occupation evidence. Keep a running list of published papers, patents, conference presentations, and technical reports. Strong documentation of original research significantly strengthens your employer's sponsorship petition for an AI Researcher position.
Apply well before your OPT start date
AI Researcher hiring cycles at research labs and tech companies often run three to six months. Starting your search at least six months before your OPT expires gives employers enough time to onboard you and initiate H-1B sponsorship before your authorization lapses.
Distinguish applied AI from fundamental research on your resume
Employers and immigration attorneys need to classify your role accurately for visa purposes. Clearly separate research contributions from engineering work. Pure research roles carry stronger specialty occupation arguments, which can make H-1B or O-1A sponsorship considerably more straightforward.
Explore the O-1A visa as an alternative
AI Researchers with published papers, peer review experience, or recognized awards may qualify for the O-1A extraordinary ability visa. Unlike H-1B, there is no lottery and no annual cap, making it a viable path if your research profile is sufficiently strong.
AI Researcher OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do AI Researcher jobs qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, AI Researcher roles almost always qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, provided your degree program has an approved STEM CIP code in fields like computer science, electrical engineering, or data science. This extends your total OPT authorization to 36 months. You must work for an E-Verify enrolled employer and file Form I-983 training plans with your DSO to maintain STEM OPT status.
How do I find AI Researcher employers that sponsor OPT and H-1B?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically for OPT-eligible and visa-sponsoring employers, so you can search AI Researcher roles without guessing which companies will support your authorization. Research labs at major technology companies, national laboratories, and university AI institutes are historically strong H-1B sponsors for this role. Checking Department of Labor LCA disclosure data for your target employer's past filings also confirms sponsorship history.
Does an AI Researcher role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
AI Researcher positions generally meet the H-1B specialty occupation standard because they normally require at minimum a bachelor's degree in a specific technical field like computer science or machine learning. Roles involving original research, model development, or novel algorithm design carry particularly strong arguments. Your employer's immigration attorney will document how the position's duties require this level of specialized knowledge, so maintaining clear records of your research contributions matters.
Can I work as a self-employed AI Researcher on OPT?
Self-employment on OPT is permitted under certain conditions, but it's complex. You must demonstrate a legitimate employer-employee relationship or show that you are actively working in your field through an incorporated entity. For STEM OPT, self-employment is not allowed since the extension requires an E-Verify enrolled employer and a formal training plan. Consulting your DSO before pursuing self-employment is strongly recommended.
What happens to my OPT if my AI Researcher position is eliminated during a layoff?
If you lose your AI Researcher position while on OPT, you enter a 60-day grace period during which you must find new employment, transfer to a different immigration status, or depart the United States. For STEM OPT, the same 60-day window applies. Unemployment cannot exceed 90 days on standard OPT or 150 days total across standard and STEM OPT combined. Notifying your DSO immediately after job loss is required to stay in compliance.