OPT Research Assistant Professor Jobs
Research Assistant Professor roles are among the strongest fits for F-1 OPT students with advanced degrees, since most universities already sponsor H-1B visa and O-1 visas. STEM OPT extension applies if your degree is in a qualifying field, giving you up to three years of work authorization to establish yourself in academic research.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
NYU’s Washington, DC Academic Center is seeking a local, part-time lecturer to teach a four credit undergraduate course, “Private Influence in Public Policy,” to teach every Spring starting Spring 2027.
The Spring semester runs mid-January 20 to mid-May. Classes meet once a week, for 2 hours and forty minutes. In addition to the time required for course preparation, classroom instruction, and assessment, the instructor is required to hold a minimum of one set 60-minute office hour per instruction day, during which the instructor will be available to meet with students.
The instructor role includes all preparation, delivery, and grading. Using Washington, DC as a learning tool (e.g., a guest speaker, an excursion) is an expectation for the course. Courses are to be intellectually challenging in content, and rigorous student assessment is required. We are especially interested in qualified candidates who share NYU Washington, DC’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and who can contribute to the diversity of intellectual life at our site.
Course Description
In this course, we will examine the role of private influence in public policy from a variety of theoretical and empirical perspectives. Course topics will include in-depth analysis of mechanisms of influence (e.g., selection of sympathetic incumbents, the provision of incentives for public officials, and the provision of information), objects of influence (voter choices, legislative behavior, bureaucratic decisions), collective action, and organizational maintenance. Special attention will be paid to overcoming the challenges associated with demonstrating influence empirically.
ABOUT NYU AND NYU WASHINGTON, DC
Founded in 1831, New York University is the largest private university in the United States. The University has degree-granting campuses in New York, Abu Dhabi, and Shanghai and operates 12 global academic centers, along with research programs in more than 25 countries. NYU Washington, DC is one of NYU’s global academic centers where students can participate in study away while earning credits towards their degree.
All part-time instructors are expected to have a PhD or a terminal degree in the area of their teaching (advanced ABD doctoral candidates may also apply). Qualified applicants will ideally have 2-3 years of experience teaching at the university level. In some instances, significant professional expertise and experience in a relevant field will be considered a suitable qualification. The salary will be based on equivalent and appropriate part-time faculty rates for the course and location.
All applications must be made online through Interfolio at apply.interfolio.com/193304. Applications must include a cover letter and an updated CV. In the cover letter, please highlight any relevant experience you have in teaching. Please also let us know if you are interested in teaching one specific semester, both semesters, and/or the summer term.
Consideration for applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Applications will be reviewed jointly by NYU Washington, DC and NYU New York. The salary will be based on equivalent and appropriate rates for the course. Terms and conditions will be discussed with the successful applicant.
Please direct any questions to Kimberly Cheng, Assistant Director for Academic Affairs, at kac780@nyu.edu.
APPLICATION PROCESS
This institution is using Interfolio's Faculty Search to conduct this search. Applicants to this position receive a free Dossier account and can send all application materials, including confidential letters of recommendation, free of charge.
For people in the EU, click here for information on your privacy rights under GDPR: www.nyu.edu/it/gdpr
NYU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to a policy of equal treatment and opportunity in every aspect of its recruitment and hiring process without regard to age, alienage, caregiver status, childbirth, citizenship status, color, creed, disability, domestic violence victim status, ethnicity, familial status, gender and/or gender identity or expression, marital status, military status, national origin, parental status, partnership status, predisposing genetic characteristics, pregnancy, race, religion, reproductive health decision making, sex, sexual orientation, unemployment status, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis. All interested persons are encouraged to apply for vacant positions at all levels.
Sustainability Statement
NYU aims to be among the greenest urban campuses in the country and carbon neutral by 2040. Learn more at nyu.edu/sustainability.
INTRODUCTION
NYU’s Washington, DC Academic Center is seeking a local, part-time lecturer to teach a four credit undergraduate course, “Private Influence in Public Policy,” to teach every Spring starting Spring 2027.
The Spring semester runs mid-January 20 to mid-May. Classes meet once a week, for 2 hours and forty minutes. In addition to the time required for course preparation, classroom instruction, and assessment, the instructor is required to hold a minimum of one set 60-minute office hour per instruction day, during which the instructor will be available to meet with students.
The instructor role includes all preparation, delivery, and grading. Using Washington, DC as a learning tool (e.g., a guest speaker, an excursion) is an expectation for the course. Courses are to be intellectually challenging in content, and rigorous student assessment is required. We are especially interested in qualified candidates who share NYU Washington, DC’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and who can contribute to the diversity of intellectual life at our site.
Course Description
In this course, we will examine the role of private influence in public policy from a variety of theoretical and empirical perspectives. Course topics will include in-depth analysis of mechanisms of influence (e.g., selection of sympathetic incumbents, the provision of incentives for public officials, and the provision of information), objects of influence (voter choices, legislative behavior, bureaucratic decisions), collective action, and organizational maintenance. Special attention will be paid to overcoming the challenges associated with demonstrating influence empirically.
ABOUT NYU AND NYU WASHINGTON, DC
Founded in 1831, New York University is the largest private university in the United States. The University has degree-granting campuses in New York, Abu Dhabi, and Shanghai and operates 12 global academic centers, along with research programs in more than 25 countries. NYU Washington, DC is one of NYU’s global academic centers where students can participate in study away while earning credits towards their degree.
All part-time instructors are expected to have a PhD or a terminal degree in the area of their teaching (advanced ABD doctoral candidates may also apply). Qualified applicants will ideally have 2-3 years of experience teaching at the university level. In some instances, significant professional expertise and experience in a relevant field will be considered a suitable qualification. The salary will be based on equivalent and appropriate part-time faculty rates for the course and location.
All applications must be made online through Interfolio at apply.interfolio.com/193304. Applications must include a cover letter and an updated CV. In the cover letter, please highlight any relevant experience you have in teaching. Please also let us know if you are interested in teaching one specific semester, both semesters, and/or the summer term.
Consideration for applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Applications will be reviewed jointly by NYU Washington, DC and NYU New York. The salary will be based on equivalent and appropriate rates for the course. Terms and conditions will be discussed with the successful applicant.
Please direct any questions to Kimberly Cheng, Assistant Director for Academic Affairs, at kac780@nyu.edu.
APPLICATION PROCESS
This institution is using Interfolio's Faculty Search to conduct this search. Applicants to this position receive a free Dossier account and can send all application materials, including confidential letters of recommendation, free of charge.
For people in the EU, click here for information on your privacy rights under GDPR: www.nyu.edu/it/gdpr
NYU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to a policy of equal treatment and opportunity in every aspect of its recruitment and hiring process without regard to age, alienage, caregiver status, childbirth, citizenship status, color, creed, disability, domestic violence victim status, ethnicity, familial status, gender and/or gender identity or expression, marital status, military status, national origin, parental status, partnership status, predisposing genetic characteristics, pregnancy, race, religion, reproductive health decision making, sex, sexual orientation, unemployment status, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis. All interested persons are encouraged to apply for vacant positions at all levels.
Sustainability Statement
NYU aims to be among the greenest urban campuses in the country and carbon neutral by 2040. Learn more at nyu.edu/sustainability.
See all 4,451+ OPT Research Assistant Professor Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Research Assistant Professor
Target research-intensive universities first
R1 and R2 Carnegie-classified universities file the most H-1B visa petitions for academic researchers. These institutions have established immigration infrastructure, making the transition from OPT to sponsored status significantly smoother than at smaller colleges.
Align your OPT employment with your degree field
For STEM OPT extension eligibility, your Research Assistant Professor role must be directly related to your degree. Document this connection clearly in your DSO reporting, since USCIS scrutinizes academic positions for field alignment during extension applications.
Confirm your employer has a STEM-designated program
STEM OPT extensions require your employer to be E-Verify enrolled. Most major universities already are, but confirm before accepting an offer. Your DSO must also approve the extension before your current EAD expires to maintain work authorization.
Frame your research funding as job security
Hiring departments worry that OPT timelines won't align with grant cycles. Present your current grant funding or fellowship duration upfront, showing you can contribute meaningfully within the authorization window before the department commits to sponsorship.
Build relationships with your department's HR immigration specialist
Large universities have dedicated immigration coordinators who process faculty visa petitions routinely. Identifying and meeting this person early helps you understand the internal sponsorship timeline and signals that you're planning ahead rather than creating last-minute urgency.
Use your publication record as a sponsorship argument
For O-1A or EB-1A pathways, peer-reviewed publications, citations, and conference presentations serve as direct evidence of extraordinary ability. Departments are more willing to sponsor researchers whose credentials already support a strong visa petition case.
Research Assistant Professor OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Research Assistant Professor role qualify for STEM OPT extension?
Yes, if your degree is in a STEM-designated field that matches the research focus of the position. The role must be a paid, bona fide employment relationship with at least 20 hours per week. Unpaid visiting appointments or purely adjunct teaching roles typically do not meet OPT employment requirements, so confirm the terms with your DSO before accepting.
Will universities typically sponsor Research Assistant Professors for H-1B visas?
Most R1 and R2 universities sponsor Research Assistant Professors for H-1B visas regularly, especially when the hire is tied to a funded research project. Universities are cap-exempt employers, meaning they can file H-1B petitions at any time of year without waiting for the annual lottery. This is a meaningful advantage over industry roles, where cap-subject lottery odds add significant uncertainty.
Can I work as a Research Assistant Professor while on OPT if I'm still completing my dissertation?
No. OPT requires that you have already completed or are completing your degree program. You cannot begin post-completion OPT until after your program end date, and your Research Assistant Professor employment must start after your EAD is valid. If you're still ABD and want to work, discuss whether the role qualifies under pre-completion OPT with your DSO.
Where can I find Research Assistant Professor jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT and international students, so the jobs listed there are filtered for visa sponsorship openness. Searching Migrate Mate for Research Assistant Professor roles saves time compared to sorting through postings that don't address work authorization at all.
Does a Research Assistant Professor role count as qualifying employment for an EB-1A or EB-2 NIW green card?
Yes. Research faculty positions are among the most commonly cited roles in successful EB-1A extraordinary ability and EB-2 National Interest Waiver petitions. Your publications, citations, grant funding, peer review activity, and contributions to your field all serve as direct evidence. Many researchers begin building their green card case while on OPT, since the record you establish during this period forms the foundation of the petition.