Clinical Research Jobs for OPT Students
Clinical Research jobs on OPT typically fall under STEM-designated programs in life sciences, public health, or biomedical fields, making them eligible for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Most roles are full-time positions at hospitals, CROs, pharmaceutical companies, and research universities that regularly sponsor international candidates.
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Get Access To All JobsWHY UT SOUTHWESTERN?
With over 75 years of excellence in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, UT Southwestern is committed to excellence, innovation, teamwork, and compassion. As a world-renowned medical and research center, we strive to provide the best possible care, resources, and benefits for our valued employees. Ranked as the number 1 hospital in Dallas-Fort Worth according to U.S. News & World Report, we invest in you with opportunities for career growth and development to align with your future goals. Our highly competitive benefits package offers healthcare, PTO and paid holidays, on-site childcare, wage, merit increases and so much more. We invite you to be a part of the UT Southwestern team where you'll discover a culture of teamwork, professionalism, and a rewarding career!
JOB SUMMARY
Works under the direction of an Investigator(s) with general supervision, to primarily provide ongoing data management for local and national research studies. May coordinate observational (non-treatment) studies.
This position will support PI's in completing patient recruitment and enrollment, compile regulatory documents, complete necessary study start-up activities, coordinate study procedures, monitor protocol and adverse events reported for patient safety, and ensure studies remain fiscally responsible by providing necessary information for Sponsor billing.
BENEFITS
UT Southwestern is proud to offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. Our benefits are designed to support your overall wellbeing, and include:
- PPO medical plan, available day one at no cost for full-time employee-only coverage
- 100% coverage for preventive healthcare - no copay
- Paid Time Off, available day one
- Retirement Programs through the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS)
- Paid Parental Leave Benefit
- Wellness programs
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Qualified Employer
Learn more about these and other UTSW employee benefits!
EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION
Required
Education
High School Diploma or GED
Preferred
Education
Bachelor's degree
Licenses and Certifications
(BLS) BASIC LIFE SUPPORT may be required based on research study protocols or affiliate location requirements.
(CPRAED) CPR AED may be required based on affiliate location requirements
JOB DUTIES
- Enters data into case report forms or other data collection system based on research study. Assists with maintenance of study level documentation.
- Assists with data queries and possible edits for accuracy.
- Compiles data for regulatory requirements and/or deadlines for local or sponsor submissions.
- Maintains existing databases and ensures data integrity.
- Understands visit schedules, criteria and protocol requirements for routine and low complexity trials (e.g., questionnaire, data registry, scripted); schedules research visits.
- Assists research staff by completing research protocol related tasks.
- Assists with preparing annual reports and/or modifications to institutional review board (IRB). This may include reportable events (UPIRSO).
- Reviews and abstracts information from medical records including eligibility criteria.
- Recruits and enrolls patients in research study that may include consenting patients after training and with supervision.
- Assists with ordering and maintaining research supplies following university/department procedures, ensuring that equipment is in good working order.
- With adequate training and supervision, assists with collecting and processing specimens following established procedures/protocols.
- Assists in preparing studies for closeout (e.g. packing files, documenting files for storage, shipping extra supplies back to sponsor).
- With adequate training/credentialing and supervision, performs study procedures such as phlebotomy, vital signs, and EKG's needed for research study. Based on research study, other procedures/equipment/services may be required.
- Duties performed may include one or more of the following core functions: a) Directly interacting with or caring for patients; b) Directly interacting with or caring for human-subjects research participants; c) Regularly maintaining, modifying, releasing or similarly affecting patient records (including patient financial records); or d) Regularly maintaining, modifying, releasing or similarly affecting human-subjects research records.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
SECURITY AND EEO STATEMENT
Security
This position is security-sensitive and subject to Texas Education Code 51.215, which authorizes UT Southwestern to obtain criminal history record information.
EEO
UT Southwestern Medical Center is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community. As an equal opportunity employer, UT Southwestern prohibits unlawful discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or veteran status.
WHY UT SOUTHWESTERN?
With over 75 years of excellence in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, UT Southwestern is committed to excellence, innovation, teamwork, and compassion. As a world-renowned medical and research center, we strive to provide the best possible care, resources, and benefits for our valued employees. Ranked as the number 1 hospital in Dallas-Fort Worth according to U.S. News & World Report, we invest in you with opportunities for career growth and development to align with your future goals. Our highly competitive benefits package offers healthcare, PTO and paid holidays, on-site childcare, wage, merit increases and so much more. We invite you to be a part of the UT Southwestern team where you'll discover a culture of teamwork, professionalism, and a rewarding career!
JOB SUMMARY
Works under the direction of an Investigator(s) with general supervision, to primarily provide ongoing data management for local and national research studies. May coordinate observational (non-treatment) studies.
This position will support PI's in completing patient recruitment and enrollment, compile regulatory documents, complete necessary study start-up activities, coordinate study procedures, monitor protocol and adverse events reported for patient safety, and ensure studies remain fiscally responsible by providing necessary information for Sponsor billing.
BENEFITS
UT Southwestern is proud to offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. Our benefits are designed to support your overall wellbeing, and include:
- PPO medical plan, available day one at no cost for full-time employee-only coverage
- 100% coverage for preventive healthcare - no copay
- Paid Time Off, available day one
- Retirement Programs through the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS)
- Paid Parental Leave Benefit
- Wellness programs
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Qualified Employer
Learn more about these and other UTSW employee benefits!
EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION
Required
Education
High School Diploma or GED
Preferred
Education
Bachelor's degree
Licenses and Certifications
(BLS) BASIC LIFE SUPPORT may be required based on research study protocols or affiliate location requirements.
(CPRAED) CPR AED may be required based on affiliate location requirements
JOB DUTIES
- Enters data into case report forms or other data collection system based on research study. Assists with maintenance of study level documentation.
- Assists with data queries and possible edits for accuracy.
- Compiles data for regulatory requirements and/or deadlines for local or sponsor submissions.
- Maintains existing databases and ensures data integrity.
- Understands visit schedules, criteria and protocol requirements for routine and low complexity trials (e.g., questionnaire, data registry, scripted); schedules research visits.
- Assists research staff by completing research protocol related tasks.
- Assists with preparing annual reports and/or modifications to institutional review board (IRB). This may include reportable events (UPIRSO).
- Reviews and abstracts information from medical records including eligibility criteria.
- Recruits and enrolls patients in research study that may include consenting patients after training and with supervision.
- Assists with ordering and maintaining research supplies following university/department procedures, ensuring that equipment is in good working order.
- With adequate training and supervision, assists with collecting and processing specimens following established procedures/protocols.
- Assists in preparing studies for closeout (e.g. packing files, documenting files for storage, shipping extra supplies back to sponsor).
- With adequate training/credentialing and supervision, performs study procedures such as phlebotomy, vital signs, and EKG's needed for research study. Based on research study, other procedures/equipment/services may be required.
- Duties performed may include one or more of the following core functions: a) Directly interacting with or caring for patients; b) Directly interacting with or caring for human-subjects research participants; c) Regularly maintaining, modifying, releasing or similarly affecting patient records (including patient financial records); or d) Regularly maintaining, modifying, releasing or similarly affecting human-subjects research records.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
SECURITY AND EEO STATEMENT
Security
This position is security-sensitive and subject to Texas Education Code 51.215, which authorizes UT Southwestern to obtain criminal history record information.
EEO
UT Southwestern Medical Center is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community. As an equal opportunity employer, UT Southwestern prohibits unlawful discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or veteran status.
How to Get Visa Sponsorship in Clinical Research
Target STEM OPT-eligible employers first
Focus your search on pharmaceutical companies, contract research organizations, and academic medical centers. These employers hire at scale, have established immigration infrastructure, and are far more likely to support your OPT and future H-1B sponsorship than smaller clinical sites.
Confirm your degree qualifies for STEM OPT
Clinical Research roles typically align with degrees in biology, public health, biomedical sciences, or health informatics. Verify your CIP code qualifies before applying, since the 24-month STEM extension is one of your strongest negotiating points with employers considering international candidates.
Lead with regulatory and protocol experience
Hiring managers in clinical research prioritize FDA regulations, GCP training, and protocol familiarity. Certifications like ACRP or SOCRA signal seriousness and reduce employer concerns about training investment, which matters when they are also weighing your OPT timeline.
Address your OPT timeline proactively
Bring up your OPT status early in conversations rather than waiting for the offer stage. Explaining that you have two to three years of authorized work time and are STEM-eligible removes uncertainty and signals that you have already thought through the logistics on their behalf.
Build relationships at research sites before applying
Many CRC and CRA positions fill through internal referrals. Volunteering, research assistant roles, or informational conversations with site coordinators during school can position you as a known candidate before a posting goes live, which helps significantly when OPT is a factor.
Understand the E-Verify requirement for STEM OPT
STEM OPT employers must be enrolled in E-Verify, a federal electronic employment verification system. Before accepting any offer, confirm the organization is E-Verify compliant. This requirement applies regardless of company size, and non-compliant employers cannot legally employ STEM OPT students.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Clinical Research Coordinator or CRA on OPT?
Yes. Clinical Research Coordinator and Clinical Research Associate roles qualify for F-1 OPT work authorization when the position is directly related to your field of study. Most CRC and CRA positions align with life sciences, public health, or biomedical degrees. If your degree is STEM-designated, you may also qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension after your initial 12 months.
Do clinical research employers typically sponsor OPT students for H-1B?
Large pharmaceutical companies, CROs like IQVIA, Covance, and PPD, and academic medical centers routinely sponsor H-1B visas for clinical research staff. Smaller community clinical sites and independent research practices are less consistent. Searching on Migrate Mate lets you filter specifically for employers who have sponsored OPT and H-1B candidates, which narrows your list significantly.
Does clinical research qualify as a STEM field for the OPT extension?
It depends on your specific degree and its CIP code, not the job title itself. Degrees in biology, biomedical sciences, public health, health informatics, and related fields are typically STEM-designated. Clinical psychology, social work, and some health administration degrees are not. Check your program's CIP code against the official STEM OPT designated degree program list maintained by DHS before assuming you qualify.
What happens to my OPT if a clinical trial ends and I lose my position?
F-1 OPT allows up to 90 days of unemployment, or 150 days if you have an approved STEM extension. If a contract or trial-based position ends, that unemployment period begins immediately. You can accept a new qualifying clinical research role to stop the clock. Document your employment periods carefully, since cumulative unemployment beyond the limit can result in loss of status.
Can I work as an independent contractor or on a per-site basis in clinical research on OPT?
OPT permits self-employment and contract work, but it must be in a qualifying role directly related to your degree, average at least 20 hours per week, and you must be actively engaged rather than receiving passive income. Per-site contract CRA work can qualify, but you should document each engagement carefully and consult your DSO to confirm each arrangement meets OPT compliance requirements.
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