OPT Clinical Research Associate Jobs
Clinical Research Associate jobs are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with life sciences degrees, and many sponsors actively recruit international candidates for CRA roles. STEM OPT extension eligibility depends on your specific degree field, so confirm your classification with your DSO before applying.
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Work Schedule
Standard (Mon-Fri)
Environmental Conditions
Office
Job Description
Join Us as a Senior Clinical Research Associate (Level I/II) – Make an Impact at the Forefront of Innovation
We have successfully supported the top 50 pharmaceutical companies and more than 750 biotechs, spanning 2,700 clinical trials across 100+ countries in the last 5 years.
As part of our global team, you’ll have the opportunity to perform and coordinate all aspects of the clinical monitoring and site management process. As a Senior Clinical Research Associate (Level I), you'll conduct remote or on-site visits to assess protocol and regulatory compliance and manage required documentation. You will manage procedures and guidelines from different sponsors and/or monitoring environments (i.e., FSO, FSP, Government, etc.). Acting as a site processes specialist, you will ensure that the trial is conducted in accordance with the approved protocol, ICH-GCP guidelines, applicable regulations, and SOPs to guarantee subjects' rights, well-being, and data reliability. You will ensure audit readiness and develop collaborative relationships with investigational sites. Detailed tasks and responsibilities assigned to your role are outlined in the task matrix.
What You’ll Do:
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Monitors investigator sites with a risk-based monitoring approach applies root cause analysis (RCA), critical thinking and problem-solving skills to identify site processes failure and corrective/preventive actions to bring the site into compliance and decrease risks. Ensures data accuracy through SDR, SDV and CRF review as applicable through on-site and remote monitoring activities. Assess investigational product through physical inventory and records review. Documents observations in reports and letters in a timely manner using approved business writing standards. Escalates observed deficiencies and issues to clinical management expeditiously and follow all issues through to resolution. May need to maintain regular contact between monitoring visits with investigative sites to confirm that the protocol is being followed, that previously identified issues are being resolved and that the data is being recorded in a timely manner. Conducts monitoring tasks in accordance with the approved monitoring plan. Participates in the investigator payment process. Ensures a shared responsibility with other project team members on issues/findings resolution. Investigates and follows-up on findings as applicable.
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Provides trial status tracking and progress update reports to the Clinical Team Manager (CTM) as required. Ensures study systems are updated per agreed study conventions (e.g. Clinical Trial Management System, CTMS). Performs QC check of reports generated from CTMS system where required.
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Participates in investigator meetings as necessary. Identifies potential investigators in collaboration with the client company to ensure the acceptability of qualified investigative sites. Initiates clinical trial sites according to the relevant procedures to ensure compliance with the protocol and regulatory and ICH GCP obligations, making recommendations where warranted. Ensures trial close out and retrieval of trial materials.
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Ensures that required essential documents are complete and in place, according to ICH-GCP and applicable regulations. Conducts on-site file reviews as per project specifications.
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Contributes to the project team by assisting in preparation of project publications/tools, and sharing ideas/suggestions with team members. Performs additional study tasks as assigned by CTM (e.g. trip report review, newsletter creation, lead CRA team calls etc).
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Facilitates effective communication between investigative sites, the client company and the PPD project team through written, oral and/or electronic contacts.
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Responds to company, client and applicable regulatory requirements/audits/inspections.
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Maintains & completes administrative tasks such as expense reports and timesheets in a timely manner.
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Contributes to other project work and initiatives for process improvement, as required.
Education and Experience Requirements:
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Bachelor's degree in a life sciences related field or a Registered Nursing certification or equivalent and relevant formal academic / vocational qualification.
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Previous experience that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the job (comparable to 2+ years as a clinical research monitor).
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Valid driver's license where applicable.
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In some cases an equivalency, consisting of a combination of appropriate education, training and/or directly related experience, will be considered sufficient for an individual to meet the requirements of the role.
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Multiple Options available in either Medical Devices OR Oncology.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
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Effective clinical monitoring skills.
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Demonstrated understanding of medical/therapeutic area knowledge and medical terminology.
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Excellent understanding and demonstrated application of ICH GCPs, applicable regulations and procedural documents.
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Well-developed critical thinking skills, including but not limited to critical mindset, in-depth investigation for appropriate root cause analysis and problem solving.
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Ability to manage Risk Based Monitoring concepts and processes.
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Effective oral and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with medical personnel.
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Ability to maintain customer focus through the utilization of good listening skills, attention to detail and the ability to perceive customers’ underlying issues.
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Effective interpersonal skills.
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Strong attention to detail.
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Effective organizational and time management skills.
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Ability to remain flexible and adaptable in a wide range of scenarios.
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Ability to work in a team or independently as required.
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Good computer skills: proficient knowledge of Microsoft Office and the ability to learn appropriate software.
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Good English language and grammar skills.
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Good presentation skills.
Working Conditions and Environment:
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Work is performed in an office/laboratory/clinical/and/or home office environment with exposure to electrical office equipment.
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Frequent drives to site locations. Frequent travel, generally 60-80% but more for some individuals.
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May also include extended overnight stays.
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Exposure to biological fluids with potential exposure to infectious organisms.
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Personal protective equipment required such as protective eyewear, garments and gloves.
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Exposure to fluctuating and/or extreme temperatures on rare occasions.
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Must be able to comply with specific sponsor/client/site requirements, even if not required by Thermo Fisher Scientific (e.g., disclosure of vaccination status, or other personal information). On some occasions, this information may be required to be provided directly to sponsor/client/site.
Compensation and Benefits
The salary range estimated for this position based in Indiana is $88,600.00–$144,900.00. This position may also be eligible to receive a variable annual bonus based on company, team, and/or individual performance results in accordance with company policy. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards package that our U.S. colleagues and their families can count on, which includes:
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A choice of national medical and dental plans, and a national vision plan, including health incentive programs.
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Employee assistance and family support programs, including commuter benefits and tuition reimbursement.
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At least 120 hours paid time off (PTO), 10 paid holidays annually, paid parental leave (3 weeks for bonding and 8 weeks for caregiver leave), accident and life insurance, and short- and long-term disability in accordance with company policy.
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Retirement and savings programs, such as our competitive 401(k) U.S. retirement savings plan.
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Employees’ Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) offers eligible colleagues the opportunity to purchase company stock at a discount.
See all 822+ OPT Clinical Research Associate Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Clinical Research Associate
Target CROs before pharmaceutical companies
Contract research organizations like IQVIA, Covance, and Syneos Health hire CRAs at scale and have established international sponsorship processes. They often have more openings and faster hiring timelines than in-house pharma teams.
Confirm your STEM OPT eligibility early
CRA roles typically require degrees in life sciences, public health, or biomedical fields. Verify with your DSO whether your specific program qualifies for the 24-month STEM extension before you apply, not after you receive an offer.
Highlight GCP certification on your resume
Good Clinical Practice certification signals readiness to employers and reduces onboarding costs. Candidates who are already GCP-certified are easier to sponsor because employers see a lower training investment relative to the visa overhead.
Be upfront about your OPT end date
CRA hiring cycles can run three to six months. Disclosing your authorization timeline early lets employers assess whether sponsorship is feasible before both parties invest heavily in the interview process. Surprises late in the process hurt everyone.
Prioritize roles with travel requirements
Site-monitoring CRA positions require frequent domestic travel, which limits the local candidate pool and makes employers more willing to sponsor. Remote or hybrid-only CRA postings tend to attract more applicants and face less pressure to sponsor.
Ask specifically about H-1B sponsorship history
During interviews, ask whether the company has sponsored CRAs on H-1B visas before, not just whether they sponsor generally. A company with a track record of CRA sponsorship will have legal infrastructure already in place to move quickly.
Clinical Research Associate OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Clinical Research Associate jobs qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree, not the job title. CRA roles themselves are not automatically STEM-designated. If your degree is in a STEM-classified field such as biology, biochemistry, public health, or biomedical engineering, you may qualify for the 24-month extension. Confirm your program's CIP code with your DSO before factoring the extension into your job search timeline.
How much time on OPT is enough to realistically get sponsored as a CRA?
Most CRA hiring processes take two to four months, and H-1B petitions must be filed by April 1 for an October 1 start. If you have less than eight months of OPT remaining when you begin applying, your window is tight. Candidates with STEM OPT extensions are in a much stronger position since they have enough runway for sponsorship without cap-gap risk.
Which types of employers are most likely to sponsor CRAs on OPT?
Large contract research organizations are the most consistent sponsors because they hire CRAs in volume and have existing legal processes for H-1B filings. Mid-to-large pharmaceutical companies also sponsor regularly. Small biotech startups and independent site management organizations are less likely to have the legal infrastructure or budget to support sponsorship. You can filter for sponsoring employers on Migrate Mate.
Can I work as a CRA while on OPT if the role requires frequent travel?
Yes. Domestic travel does not affect your OPT authorization as long as you remain employed with your authorized employer and your work is directly related to your degree field. International travel is more complex: re-entering the U.S. requires a valid visa stamp, a current EAD, and a valid I-20 with a recent travel signature from your DSO.
What should I include in my application to improve my chances of OPT sponsorship as a CRA?
Lead with your degree field and graduation date so employers can immediately assess your authorization timeline. Include any GCP certification, clinical research experience, and therapeutic area exposure prominently. A concise note clarifying that you are authorized to work on OPT and are seeking H-1B sponsorship removes ambiguity and signals professionalism rather than avoidance.