OPT Curator Jobs
Curator roles at museums, galleries, and cultural institutions can qualify for OPT authorization when the position requires a degree in art history, museum studies, or a related field. Your 12-month OPT clock starts on your EAD start date, and STEM extension isn't available for this SOC code, so employer timeline alignment matters from day one.
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A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline your skills and related experience.
Job Summary
The Social Environment and Health Program (SEH) within the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research (ISR), is home to the National Neighborhood Data Archive (NaNDA), a national, longitudinal open repository of contextual data in the United States. Under the supervision of the Principal Investigators (Grace Noppert & Philippa Clarke), the Research Data Curator & Analyst will curate and publish the neighborhood-level datasets that make up the National Neighborhood Data Archive, and will support their construction. The position prepares NaNDA datasets for public release through the University of Michigan's Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR), writes the documentation researchers rely on to interpret and reuse them, applies the archive's quality-control standards to assigned datasets, and supports the user community through direct assistance and dissemination. The Research Data Curator & Analyst will contribute to the construction of tract-, county-, and ZCTA-level contextual measures, and will carry geographic crosswalk processing across census vintages following NaNDA's established curation standards, naming conventions, and documentation architecture. For more information, please see https://nanda.isr.umich.edu/.
Responsibilities
Data Curation & Archive Operations (50%)
- Prepare NaNDA datasets for deposit across the ICPSR holdings: file preparation, metadata and keyword creation, DOI requests, and publication, following established NaNDA and ICPSR conventions.
- Run and revise NaNDA's curation code for assigned datasets; apply quality-control standards including expected-observation checks and geographic-identifier integrity.
- Draft codebooks, data dictionaries, and user guides supporting data reuse, carrying them through editorial review to publication.
- Analyze datasets and documentation for inconsistencies, missingness, and usability problems; recommend process improvements to the deposit workflow.
- Produce reproducible, handoff-ready processing documentation for assigned datasets so that data creation and curation stay auditable.
- Maintain organized research outputs and version records on shared network drives.
Dataset Construction & Geospatial Support (25%)
- Carry geographic crosswalk processing across the 2010 and 2020 census vintages, including boundary transitions such as the Connecticut county-to-planning-region restructuring.
- Contribute to the construction and updating of tract-, county-, and ZCTA-level contextual measures from administrative, commercial, and government sources, working to specifications set with the Geospatial Analyst and project investigators.
- Support geocoding and spatial-linkage workflows (ArcGIS, Python) connecting address-level source data to census geographies, including the automated quality-assurance checks applied to linked output.
- Bring methodological and scope questions arising in construction to the curation lead and PIs.
User Support, Dissemination & Coordination (25%)
- Respond to user requests for assistance and route substantive methodological questions to the appropriate team member or to NaNDA Office Hours.
- Produce dissemination content on the established NaNDA schedule (dataset announcements, newsletters, social media posts, and website updates), meeting WCAG 2.1 Level AA accessibility standards.
- Represent NaNDA at conferences and workshops, including booth staffing and webinar support.
- Contribute to papers on data curation, management, and dissemination practice, and to grant reports and proposals.
- Train and check the work of student and temporary staff on assigned curation and documentation tasks.
- Participate in team meetings; track and report progress on assigned datasets.
Required Qualifications
- Master's degree in library and information science or similar degree.
- Four or more years of related professional experience.
- Experience working with large datasets in Stata, R, Python, or SQL.
- Experience preparing data and documentation for deposit in a research data repository.
- Experience with census geographies, geographic crosswalk workflows, and address-to-tract spatial linkage (ArcGIS or similar).
- Demonstrated ability to write documentation for a research audience.
- Familiarity with digital accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1 AA).
- Ability to work successfully in a team.
- Highly organized and detail oriented.
Desired Qualifications
- Experience handling restricted or identifiable data under confidentiality requirements.
- Experience training or checking the work of student staff.
Modes of Work
Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.
Work Locations
This position will be on-site at the University of Michigan offices in Ann Arbor, with flexible scheduling and remote opportunities made available within our overall Center policies. If relocation is required, we will allow for reasonable time and flexibility to make necessary arrangements.
Additional Information
The Institute for Social Research (ISR) at the University of Michigan seeks to create a community of respect and authentic collaboration by recruiting and retaining individuals that represent a variety of voices as a reflection of our commitment to serve the people of Michigan, to maintain the excellence of the university, and to ground our research in varied disciplines, perspectives, and ways of knowing and learning.
Benefits at the University of Michigan
In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, U-M offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family, and plan for a secure future. Benefits include generous time off; retirement plan with two-for-one matching contributions after the first year; many choices for comprehensive health insurance; life insurance; long-term disability coverage; and flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses. Learn more about U-M benefits.
Background Screening
The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third-party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Application Deadline
Institute for Social Research job openings are posted for a minimum of fourteen (14) calendar days. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.
U-M EEO Statement
The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.
Job Opening ID
283347
Working Title
Research Data Curator & Analyst
Job Title
Research Area Specialist Inter
Work Location
Ann Arbor Campus
Ann Arbor, MI
Modes of Work
Hybrid
Full/Part Time
Full-Time
Regular/Temporary
Regular
FLSA Status
Exempt
Organizational Group
Inst Soc Research
Department
SRC-Social Envir & Health
Posting Begin/End Date
9/22/2026 - 10/06/2026
Salary
$68,000.00 - $78,000.00
Career Interest
Research
How to Apply
A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline your skills and related experience.
Job Summary
The Social Environment and Health Program (SEH) within the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research (ISR), is home to the National Neighborhood Data Archive (NaNDA), a national, longitudinal open repository of contextual data in the United States. Under the supervision of the Principal Investigators (Grace Noppert & Philippa Clarke), the Research Data Curator & Analyst will curate and publish the neighborhood-level datasets that make up the National Neighborhood Data Archive, and will support their construction. The position prepares NaNDA datasets for public release through the University of Michigan's Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR), writes the documentation researchers rely on to interpret and reuse them, applies the archive's quality-control standards to assigned datasets, and supports the user community through direct assistance and dissemination. The Research Data Curator & Analyst will contribute to the construction of tract-, county-, and ZCTA-level contextual measures, and will carry geographic crosswalk processing across census vintages following NaNDA's established curation standards, naming conventions, and documentation architecture. For more information, please see https://nanda.isr.umich.edu/.
Responsibilities
Data Curation & Archive Operations (50%)
- Prepare NaNDA datasets for deposit across the ICPSR holdings: file preparation, metadata and keyword creation, DOI requests, and publication, following established NaNDA and ICPSR conventions.
- Run and revise NaNDA's curation code for assigned datasets; apply quality-control standards including expected-observation checks and geographic-identifier integrity.
- Draft codebooks, data dictionaries, and user guides supporting data reuse, carrying them through editorial review to publication.
- Analyze datasets and documentation for inconsistencies, missingness, and usability problems; recommend process improvements to the deposit workflow.
- Produce reproducible, handoff-ready processing documentation for assigned datasets so that data creation and curation stay auditable.
- Maintain organized research outputs and version records on shared network drives.
Dataset Construction & Geospatial Support (25%)
- Carry geographic crosswalk processing across the 2010 and 2020 census vintages, including boundary transitions such as the Connecticut county-to-planning-region restructuring.
- Contribute to the construction and updating of tract-, county-, and ZCTA-level contextual measures from administrative, commercial, and government sources, working to specifications set with the Geospatial Analyst and project investigators.
- Support geocoding and spatial-linkage workflows (ArcGIS, Python) connecting address-level source data to census geographies, including the automated quality-assurance checks applied to linked output.
- Bring methodological and scope questions arising in construction to the curation lead and PIs.
User Support, Dissemination & Coordination (25%)
- Respond to user requests for assistance and route substantive methodological questions to the appropriate team member or to NaNDA Office Hours.
- Produce dissemination content on the established NaNDA schedule (dataset announcements, newsletters, social media posts, and website updates), meeting WCAG 2.1 Level AA accessibility standards.
- Represent NaNDA at conferences and workshops, including booth staffing and webinar support.
- Contribute to papers on data curation, management, and dissemination practice, and to grant reports and proposals.
- Train and check the work of student and temporary staff on assigned curation and documentation tasks.
- Participate in team meetings; track and report progress on assigned datasets.
Required Qualifications
- Master's degree in library and information science or similar degree.
- Four or more years of related professional experience.
- Experience working with large datasets in Stata, R, Python, or SQL.
- Experience preparing data and documentation for deposit in a research data repository.
- Experience with census geographies, geographic crosswalk workflows, and address-to-tract spatial linkage (ArcGIS or similar).
- Demonstrated ability to write documentation for a research audience.
- Familiarity with digital accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1 AA).
- Ability to work successfully in a team.
- Highly organized and detail oriented.
Desired Qualifications
- Experience handling restricted or identifiable data under confidentiality requirements.
- Experience training or checking the work of student staff.
Modes of Work
Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.
Work Locations
This position will be on-site at the University of Michigan offices in Ann Arbor, with flexible scheduling and remote opportunities made available within our overall Center policies. If relocation is required, we will allow for reasonable time and flexibility to make necessary arrangements.
Additional Information
The Institute for Social Research (ISR) at the University of Michigan seeks to create a community of respect and authentic collaboration by recruiting and retaining individuals that represent a variety of voices as a reflection of our commitment to serve the people of Michigan, to maintain the excellence of the university, and to ground our research in varied disciplines, perspectives, and ways of knowing and learning.
Benefits at the University of Michigan
In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, U-M offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family, and plan for a secure future. Benefits include generous time off; retirement plan with two-for-one matching contributions after the first year; many choices for comprehensive health insurance; life insurance; long-term disability coverage; and flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses. Learn more about U-M benefits.
Background Screening
The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third-party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Application Deadline
Institute for Social Research job openings are posted for a minimum of fourteen (14) calendar days. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.
U-M EEO Statement
The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.
Job Opening ID
283347
Working Title
Research Data Curator & Analyst
Job Title
Research Area Specialist Inter
Work Location
Ann Arbor Campus
Ann Arbor, MI
Modes of Work
Hybrid
Full/Part Time
Full-Time
Regular/Temporary
Regular
FLSA Status
Exempt
Organizational Group
Inst Soc Research
Department
SRC-Social Envir & Health
Posting Begin/End Date
9/22/2026 - 10/06/2026
Salary
$68,000.00 - $78,000.00
Career Interest
Research
See all OPT Curator Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Curator
Verify your role meets specialty occupation standards
Pull the O*NET profile for Curators (SOC 25-4012) and confirm your job offer requires a bachelor's degree or higher in a specific field. A posting that lists any degree as acceptable weakens your H-1B visa petition later.
Target institutions with active LCA filing history
Museums, university art collections, and federal cultural agencies file LCAs through DOL before sponsoring work visas. Prioritize employers whose past filings show curator or collections-related job titles, not just broad administrative categories.
Document your practicum and fellowship hours carefully
Many curator roles grow out of unpaid or stipend-based museum internships. USCIS requires that your OPT employment is directly related to your degree, so keep written records showing how each position connects to your coursework and field of study.
Ask HR about E-Verify enrollment before accepting an offer
Your OPT EAD is valid for employment at any qualifying employer, but confirming E-Verify participation early prevents delays at onboarding. Federal and state-funded institutions are often already enrolled, while smaller private galleries may not be.
File your H-1B petition paperwork through Migrate Mate
When your employer agrees to sponsor, use Migrate Mate to handle the LCA and H-1B filing process. The cap-gap rule protects your status if your OPT expires between April 1 and October 1, but only if your petition is filed on time.
Use the OFLC Wage Search to negotiate from a position of fact
Before your offer conversation, look up the prevailing wage for Curators in your city using the OFLC Wage Search. Employers filing an LCA must meet that wage floor, so knowing the Level I and Level II figures prevents low-ball offers that DOL would reject anyway.
Curator OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Curator job qualify for OPT work authorization?
Yes, if the role requires a degree in art history, museum studies, archaeology, or a closely related field. USCIS requires that your OPT employment be directly related to your major area of study. A curator position at a museum or gallery that specifies a relevant degree requirement satisfies this standard. General administrative or visitor-services roles at the same institution would not.
Can I extend my OPT as a Curator through the STEM extension?
No. The Curator SOC code (25-4012) is not on the STEM Designated Degree Program List, so the 24-month STEM OPT extension is not available for this role. Your OPT authorization runs for 12 months. Planning your H-1B sponsorship timeline from your first day of employment is critical, since you have no extension buffer in this occupation.
Which types of employers are most likely to sponsor curators for H-1B visas?
Federal agencies like the Smithsonian Institution are cap-exempt and can file H-1B petitions year-round without waiting for the annual lottery. University art museums affiliated with nonprofit colleges or universities are also often cap-exempt. Private museums and commercial galleries are cap-subject, meaning your petition enters the April lottery and your OPT must bridge any gap until October 1. Browse curator roles with sponsorship history on Migrate Mate.
What counts as qualifying OPT employment for a Curator on F-1 status?
USCIS requires that your work be directly related to your degree, at least 20 hours per week, and paid or unpaid in a way consistent with the position type. For curators, this typically means collections management, exhibition development, research, or acquisitions work tied to your field of study. Reporting through your DSO in SEVIS within 10 days of starting is required regardless of employer type.
How do I find Curator jobs where the employer is open to OPT and future sponsorship?
Search for curator openings on Migrate Mate, which filters roles by visa sponsorship history so you can focus on institutions that have filed LCAs or H-1B petitions for similar positions before. During interviews, ask specifically about the institution's experience with H-1B sponsorship for curatorial staff, not just whether they sponsor visas in general, since policies often vary by department.