OPT Clinical Research Scientist Jobs
Clinical Research Scientist roles are among the more OPT-friendly positions in biotech and pharma, sponsors regularly file H-1B visa petitions for research staff, and STEM OPT extension applies to most life sciences degree holders. Clinical trials work aligns well with the 24-month STEM extension window.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
The laboratory of Dr. Kai Zhou at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging seeks a hands-on mass spectrometry scientist or postdoctoral researcher to establish and operate a structural mass spectrometry platform. We welcome candidates with expertise in native mass spectrometry, crosslinking mass spectrometry, HDX-MS, or intact-protein/top-down analysis. Our laboratory investigates how protein structure, interactions, and assembly change with aging and disease. Projects include intrinsically disordered proteins (IDR/IDPs), protein complexes, and ribosomes. The successful candidate will take substantial ownership of instrument operation, method development, data quality, and biological interpretation. The role offers opportunities to develop new workflows and pursue scientific questions in collaboration with protein biochemists, structural biologists, and computational researchers.
LOCATION
Location: Novato, CA (on-site)
Responsibilities
- Establish, optimize, and run structural-MS workflows, including low-flow LC for bottom-up proteomics and crosslinking, and a separate LC workflow for intact-protein and native MS analysis
- Develop native-MS and/or crosslinking-MS methods to characterize protein-complex composition, stoichiometry, interactions, and structural changes. Explore intact-complex analysis and complex-down MS workflows where experimentally feasible
- Prepare and evaluate samples, including buffer exchange, desalting, crosslinking, digestion, and enrichment as appropriate; optimize native SEC or rapid online buffer exchange while assessing sample integrity and complex stability
- Optimize ionization, ion transmission, precursor isolation, and fragmentation for heterogeneous proteins and assemblies; assess instrument performance, troubleshoot problems, and coordinate maintenance and training with vendor specialists
- Establish quality-control standards, reproducible protocols, and reliable workflows for increasing sample throughput, including automated or unattended acquisition, batch QC, carryover checks, and reproducible switching between native and denaturing analyses
- Analyze and interpret spectra with appropriate controls, uncertainty assessment, and validation; distinguish solution-state interactions from source-induced dissociation or adducts and assess crosslink identifications and proteoform/PTM assignments as appropriate
- Maintain clear experimental records and organize raw data, analysis files, and protocols
- Collaborate on experimental design, train colleagues, and contribute to publications and consortium deliverables
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Required
- PhD in analytical chemistry, biochemistry, biophysics, structural biology, or a related discipline. Experienced master’s-level applicants with substantial independent instrument-operation and method-development experience may be considered for an appropriate staff appointment
- Demonstrated hands-on operation of a high-resolution mass spectrometer, including acquisition-method setup, performance assessment, and troubleshooting
- Substantial practical expertise in at least one of the following: native MS, crosslinking MS, HDX-MS, or intact-protein/top-down MS
- Experience connecting sample preparation, acquisition settings, data analysis, and experimental controls to reliable conclusions
- Strong scientific reasoning, careful documentation, and the ability to work independently and collaboratively
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Native electrospray, native MS, intact-protein/top-down or complex-down analysis, or multistage fragmentation
- Crosslinker selection, reaction optimization, enrichment, crosslinked-peptide identification, and false-discovery-rate assessment
- Recombinant protein purification, sample-integrity assessment, and troubleshooting aggregation or heterogeneity
- Analysis of disordered proteins, heterogeneous assemblies, or ribonucleoprotein complexes
- Workflow automation, quantitative analysis, or scripting for reproducible data processing; familiarity with crosslinking or proteoform-analysis software. Experience supporting complementary bottom-up proteomics or metabolomics applications is also welcome
Candidates need not have experience in every listed technique. We value demonstrated depth, ownership, and the ability to learn complementary approaches.
COMPENSATION, BENEFITS & ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- Annual salary range: $75,920 - $85,500, commensurate with qualifications and experience
- Generous benefits package including health insurance, paid parental leave, vacation/sick, and 401(k) with 5% employer match
- Visa sponsorship (J visa) is available for this position
ABOUT THE BUCK INSTITUTE
Our success will ultimately change healthcare. At the Buck, we aim to end the threat of age-related diseases for this and future generations by bringing together the most capable and passionate scientists from a broad range of disciplines to identify and impede how we age. We are an independent, non-profit institution located in Marin County, CA, with the goal of increasing human healthspan, or the healthy years of life. Globally recognized as the pioneer and leader in efforts to target aging—the number one risk factor for diseases including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, cancer, macular degeneration, heart disease, and diabetes—the Buck seeks to help people live better longer. We are an equal-opportunity employer and strive to create an atmosphere where diversity of identity, experience, and background is welcomed, valued, and supported. Candidates who contribute to this diversity are strongly encouraged to apply.
TO APPLY
- Please submit a CV, a brief cover letter, and contact information for three references
- Postdoctoral applicants, please include your completed or expected PhD date
- In your cover letter, describe one representative MS project and specify:
+ The instrument and techniques you used
+ Which sample-preparation, acquisition, troubleshooting, and analysis steps you personally performed
+ A technical problem you solved and how you verified the solution
+ Your scientific contribution and the resulting publication, method, dataset, or operational improvement
INTRODUCTION
The laboratory of Dr. Kai Zhou at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging seeks a hands-on mass spectrometry scientist or postdoctoral researcher to establish and operate a structural mass spectrometry platform. We welcome candidates with expertise in native mass spectrometry, crosslinking mass spectrometry, HDX-MS, or intact-protein/top-down analysis. Our laboratory investigates how protein structure, interactions, and assembly change with aging and disease. Projects include intrinsically disordered proteins (IDR/IDPs), protein complexes, and ribosomes. The successful candidate will take substantial ownership of instrument operation, method development, data quality, and biological interpretation. The role offers opportunities to develop new workflows and pursue scientific questions in collaboration with protein biochemists, structural biologists, and computational researchers.
LOCATION
Location: Novato, CA (on-site)
Responsibilities
- Establish, optimize, and run structural-MS workflows, including low-flow LC for bottom-up proteomics and crosslinking, and a separate LC workflow for intact-protein and native MS analysis
- Develop native-MS and/or crosslinking-MS methods to characterize protein-complex composition, stoichiometry, interactions, and structural changes. Explore intact-complex analysis and complex-down MS workflows where experimentally feasible
- Prepare and evaluate samples, including buffer exchange, desalting, crosslinking, digestion, and enrichment as appropriate; optimize native SEC or rapid online buffer exchange while assessing sample integrity and complex stability
- Optimize ionization, ion transmission, precursor isolation, and fragmentation for heterogeneous proteins and assemblies; assess instrument performance, troubleshoot problems, and coordinate maintenance and training with vendor specialists
- Establish quality-control standards, reproducible protocols, and reliable workflows for increasing sample throughput, including automated or unattended acquisition, batch QC, carryover checks, and reproducible switching between native and denaturing analyses
- Analyze and interpret spectra with appropriate controls, uncertainty assessment, and validation; distinguish solution-state interactions from source-induced dissociation or adducts and assess crosslink identifications and proteoform/PTM assignments as appropriate
- Maintain clear experimental records and organize raw data, analysis files, and protocols
- Collaborate on experimental design, train colleagues, and contribute to publications and consortium deliverables
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Required
- PhD in analytical chemistry, biochemistry, biophysics, structural biology, or a related discipline. Experienced master’s-level applicants with substantial independent instrument-operation and method-development experience may be considered for an appropriate staff appointment
- Demonstrated hands-on operation of a high-resolution mass spectrometer, including acquisition-method setup, performance assessment, and troubleshooting
- Substantial practical expertise in at least one of the following: native MS, crosslinking MS, HDX-MS, or intact-protein/top-down MS
- Experience connecting sample preparation, acquisition settings, data analysis, and experimental controls to reliable conclusions
- Strong scientific reasoning, careful documentation, and the ability to work independently and collaboratively
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Native electrospray, native MS, intact-protein/top-down or complex-down analysis, or multistage fragmentation
- Crosslinker selection, reaction optimization, enrichment, crosslinked-peptide identification, and false-discovery-rate assessment
- Recombinant protein purification, sample-integrity assessment, and troubleshooting aggregation or heterogeneity
- Analysis of disordered proteins, heterogeneous assemblies, or ribonucleoprotein complexes
- Workflow automation, quantitative analysis, or scripting for reproducible data processing; familiarity with crosslinking or proteoform-analysis software. Experience supporting complementary bottom-up proteomics or metabolomics applications is also welcome
Candidates need not have experience in every listed technique. We value demonstrated depth, ownership, and the ability to learn complementary approaches.
COMPENSATION, BENEFITS & ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- Annual salary range: $75,920 - $85,500, commensurate with qualifications and experience
- Generous benefits package including health insurance, paid parental leave, vacation/sick, and 401(k) with 5% employer match
- Visa sponsorship (J visa) is available for this position
ABOUT THE BUCK INSTITUTE
Our success will ultimately change healthcare. At the Buck, we aim to end the threat of age-related diseases for this and future generations by bringing together the most capable and passionate scientists from a broad range of disciplines to identify and impede how we age. We are an independent, non-profit institution located in Marin County, CA, with the goal of increasing human healthspan, or the healthy years of life. Globally recognized as the pioneer and leader in efforts to target aging—the number one risk factor for diseases including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, cancer, macular degeneration, heart disease, and diabetes—the Buck seeks to help people live better longer. We are an equal-opportunity employer and strive to create an atmosphere where diversity of identity, experience, and background is welcomed, valued, and supported. Candidates who contribute to this diversity are strongly encouraged to apply.
TO APPLY
- Please submit a CV, a brief cover letter, and contact information for three references
- Postdoctoral applicants, please include your completed or expected PhD date
- In your cover letter, describe one representative MS project and specify:
+ The instrument and techniques you used
+ Which sample-preparation, acquisition, troubleshooting, and analysis steps you personally performed
+ A technical problem you solved and how you verified the solution
+ Your scientific contribution and the resulting publication, method, dataset, or operational improvement
See all 252+ OPT Clinical Research Scientist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Clinical Research Scientist Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Clinical Research Scientist
Target STEM OPT-eligible degree fields
Clinical Research Scientist roles typically require degrees in life sciences, biology, or pharmacology, all STEM-designated fields. Confirm your specific CIP code qualifies for the 24-month STEM OPT extension before applying, as this significantly extends your authorized work period.
Prioritize contract research organizations
Contract research organizations like ICON, Syneos, and Labcorp Drug Development routinely hire international researchers and have established visa sponsorship processes. They handle high clinical trial volume, which means consistent demand for research scientists regardless of economic conditions.
Quantify your protocol and GCP experience
Employers sponsoring OPT students want proof of specialized knowledge that justifies the process. Document specific clinical protocols you've worked on, Good Clinical Practice certifications, and any regulatory submission experience. Generic research experience is less compelling than trial-specific credentials.
Apply before your OPT start date
Many biotech and pharma employers will not extend offers to candidates without active OPT authorization. Submit your I-765 early, ideally 90 days before program completion, so your EAD card arrives before you begin interviewing for full-time positions.
Network through IRB and regulatory communities
Clinical research is a relationship-driven field. Connecting with IRB coordinators, clinical operations managers, and regulatory affairs professionals at academic medical centers often surfaces unadvertised roles at institutions that regularly support international research staff.
Understand the H-1B timeline before OPT ends
H-1B visa registration opens in March for an October 1 start. Plan your OPT and STEM extension dates against this calendar. STEM OPT holders with an October-capped petition can often bridge the gap with an automatic cap-gap extension through program end.
Clinical Research Scientist OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Clinical Research Scientist role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree, not your job title. If your qualifying degree is in a STEM-designated field, such as biology, biochemistry, pharmacology, or biomedical science, you can apply for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Your employer must also be enrolled in E-Verify, which most pharmaceutical and biotech companies already are. Confirm your CIP code on the DHS STEM OPT list before applying.
Do biotech and pharma companies typically sponsor OPT students for Clinical Research Scientist positions?
Many do, particularly large pharmaceutical companies and contract research organizations with established international hiring pipelines. Sponsorship is less common at smaller biotechs with limited HR infrastructure. Migrate Mate filters job listings by sponsorship willingness, so you can focus your search on employers who have actually sponsored research scientists rather than guessing from a company's careers page.
Can I work as a Clinical Research Scientist at an academic medical center on OPT?
Yes. Academic medical centers are among the most OPT-friendly employers in clinical research because they're accustomed to hiring international researchers and fellows. Many are also enrolled in E-Verify, which is required for the STEM OPT extension. Roles tied to federally funded trials may involve additional compliance checks, but that's unrelated to your OPT authorization.
What counts as a qualifying training experience for STEM OPT reporting requirements in this role?
Your STEM OPT training must directly relate to your qualifying STEM degree. For a Clinical Research Scientist, this means work involving data analysis, protocol development, regulatory documentation, or trial monitoring that connects to your degree in the life sciences. You and your employer complete a formal training plan on Form I-983, which DSO submits. The job must use the theoretical knowledge from your degree, not just general lab or coordination work.
What happens to my OPT authorization if my clinical trial contract ends early?
If your employment ends before your OPT authorization expires, you have a 60-day grace period to find new employment, transfer to a new program, or depart the United States. You cannot work during the grace period. If you're on STEM OPT, the same 60-day rule applies, but your DSO must be notified within five days of the job ending and will update SEVIS accordingly.