OPT Professor Jobs
Professor roles on OPT require employers to file an H-1B visa or offer a cap-exempt position, since most tenure-track and full-time faculty jobs qualify as specialty occupations. Your 12-month OPT window (or 24-month STEM extension if your field qualifies) shapes which positions and timelines are realistic.
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Description
Title: Lecturer (Aeronautical Science)
Position Number: LECTURER
Hiring Unit: College of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resource Management (CAFNRM)
Location: UH Hilo
Date Posted: August 7, 2026
Closing Date: Continuous
Salary Information: Applicable Minimum for the Academic Year
Temporary/Permanent: Temporary
Other Conditions: Lecturer applicant pool for Academic Year 2026-2027. Positions are part-time, temporary, non-tenure, and contingent upon course offerings, sufficient student enrollment, position clearance and availability of funding. Must be available to teach courses during the day, evening, weekend, and/or via distance learning, as needed.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Teach assigned courses in the appropriate discipline. Course offerings are for the following:
- AERS 101 Private Pilot Operations
- AERS 260 Aircraft Systems & Instruments
- AERS 470 Airline Operations
- Other related courses as needed (lecture and/or lab)
- Prepare course schedule, syllabus, and reports related to teaching and student progress.
- Work under the supervision of discipline chairperson.
- Maintain minimum of one office hour per week for each course taught.
- Commitment to principles of higher education and philosophy is essential.
- Possible evening, weekend, and off-campus assignments, and also distance learning assignments for courses taught via the Internet. (For some teaching fields, openings may only be available for classes offered off-campus or taught online).
- Other related tasks and/or duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
- Master's degree from an accredited college or university.
- Minimum of 4 years of experience as a FAA Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), and Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) may be required for some courses.
- Possession of current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) CFI and ATP licenses may be required for some courses.
- Demonstrated ability to teach at the college level including hands-on courses.
- Demonstrated experience in program management and community outreach.
Desirable Qualifications
- Demonstrated ability to work with diverse student populations.
To Apply:
A complete application must include:
- Cover letter explaining how qualifications are met
- A current Curriculum Vitae/Resume
- Names and contact information (telephone number and email addresses) of at least three professional references
- Transcript(s) showing degrees and course work appropriate to the position (copies are acceptable; however, original official transcripts will be required prior to employment).
Please do not include any self-identifying photos. Please redact references to Social Security number and birth date on transcript copies. Copy of diplomas will NOT be accepted. Documents issued from an institution outside the United States of America require a course-by-course analysis with an equivalency statement from an agency having membership with the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc., verifying the degree equivalency to that of an accredited institution within the USA. Expense of the evaluation shall be borne by the applicant. All requested documents/information become the property of the University. All minimum qualifications must be met by the closing date. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Failure to submit all required documents and reference information shall deem an application to be incomplete.
Note: If you have not applied for a position before using NeoGov, you will need to create an account.
Inquiries: Roberto Rodriguez III, roberto6@hawaii.edu
Please indicate which course(s) or discipline(s) you are inquiring about.
EEO, Clery Act, ADA
The University of Hawai'i is an Equal Opportunity Institution and is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination in employment, including on the basis of veteran and disability status. For more information, visit: https://www.hawaii.edu/offices/eeo/policies/
Employment is contingent on satisfying employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986; reference checks of previous employers; and for certain positions, criminal history record checks.
In accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, annual campus crime statistics for the University of Hawai'i may be viewed at: https://www.hawaii.edu/titleix/help/campus-security/, or a paper copy may be obtained upon request from the respective UH Campus Security or Administrative Services Office.
Accommodation Request: The University of Hawai'i complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the EEO coordinator directly. Determination on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. For further information, please refer to the following link: https://www.hawaii.edu/offices/eeo/accommodation-request/
Equal Opportunity Employer / Veterans / Disabled
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Professor
Target cap-exempt institutions first
Universities and nonprofit research institutions are cap-exempt H-1B visa employers, meaning they can sponsor you outside the lottery. This significantly improves your chances of securing long-term status after OPT without waiting for a favorable lottery result.
Apply during your first OPT year
Most faculty hiring cycles run from September through February for positions starting the following fall. Beginning your search in your first OPT year gives you time to line up a sponsoring offer before your authorization expires or requires extension.
Confirm your STEM extension eligibility early
STEM OPT adds 24 months if your degree is in a qualifying field. Many STEM-adjacent academic disciplines qualify, including biology, chemistry, computer science, and economics. Verify your CIP code with your DSO before assuming you're eligible.
Understand the specialty occupation standard
Professor roles almost universally qualify as specialty occupations because they require at minimum a master's or doctoral degree in a specific field. Your degree field must directly align with the subject you'll be teaching or researching for sponsorship to hold.
Ask about the hiring timeline before applying
Faculty search committees move slowly, often six to twelve months from application to offer. Knowing your OPT expiration date helps you assess whether the timeline is realistic and whether you need to negotiate a deferred start or rely on cap-gap protection.
Highlight research funding and grants in applications
Departments hiring on OPT weigh sponsorship costs against value. Candidates who arrive with external funding, active grants, or strong publication records reduce the perceived financial risk and make it easier for hiring committees to approve sponsorship internally.
Professor OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Professor on OPT?
Yes. Professor roles qualify as specialty occupations and are eligible for OPT work authorization. Your position must directly relate to your degree field. Adjunct, visiting, and tenure-track appointments all count, provided the role requires the level of education your degree represents and your employer is willing to sponsor you for continued status afterward.
Do universities sponsor H-1B visas for Professors?
Most do, and universities have a structural advantage: they are cap-exempt H-1B employers. That means they can file an H-1B petition at any time of year without entering the lottery. This makes academic employers significantly more accessible for OPT students than private-sector companies subject to the annual 85,000-cap selection process.
How do I find Professor jobs that sponsor OPT students?
Migrate Mate is the recommended platform for finding Professor roles with employers who sponsor OPT students. Academic job boards list postings broadly, but Migrate Mate filters specifically for sponsorship-willing employers, saving you the time of researching each institution's immigration history individually. Focus your search on research universities and federally funded research centers.
Does my degree field need to match the subject I'd be teaching?
Yes, and this matters for both OPT authorization and future H-1B sponsorship. USCIS requires that the role constitute a specialty occupation, meaning there must be a direct relationship between your degree field and the position. A PhD in economics teaching finance courses will generally satisfy this. A degree in literature supporting a computer science appointment typically will not.
What happens if my OPT expires before the faculty hiring process is complete?
Faculty searches routinely take longer than a single academic year. If your OPT expires mid-process, your options include applying for a STEM extension if eligible, entering cap-gap protection if your employer filed an H-1B before your OPT expired, or negotiating a deferred start date. Work closely with your DSO to understand which bridge applies to your situation.