OPT Research Coordinator Jobs
Research Coordinator roles are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students, particularly those with degrees in life sciences, public health, social sciences, or psychology. Most positions qualify under STEM OPT extension eligibility when the degree field aligns. Your 12-month OPT window is enough to establish yourself in a lab or study team.
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The Senior Clinical Research Coordinator plays a critical role in the overall operational management of clinical research/trial/study activities from design, set up, conduct, through closeout. The ideal candidate is an experienced professional or leader who has direct responsibility for the implementation of research activities for one or more studies which may include multicenter clinical trials (both NIH and industry-sponsored), local investigator-initiated clinical trials, and/or programmatic clinical research activities. Recognize and perform necessary project management tasks and prioritizes work to reach scheduled goals. The Senior Clinical Research Coordinator is a technical leader responsible for ensuring the study protocol and procedures have been completed accurately, safely, and in a timely manner. This position may supervise and train others on projects as necessary. Work with PIs, departments, sponsors, institutions, and other entities as needed to support and provide guidance on the administration of the compliance, financial, personnel and other related aspects of studies.
Annual salary range: $92,988.23 - $149,588.73
Pay range: $82,705.68 - $133,068.24 a year
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
- Minimum of 4+ years of experience in a clinical research setting.
- Interpersonal skills to effectively communicate information in a timely, professional manner and establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with students, staff, faculty, external collaborators and administration and to work as a member of a team.
- Ability to effectively communicate to and interact with patients in a compassionate and kind manner.
- Ability to set priorities and complete ongoing tasks with competing deadlines, with frequent interruptions, to meet the programmatic and department needs, while complying with applicable University policies and federal and state regulations.
- Analytical skills to assess clinical research protocols and regulatory requirements, define problems, formulate logical solutions, develop alternative solutions, make recommendations, and initiate corrective actions.
- Close attention to detail to ensure accuracy in a fast-paced, fluctuating workload environment.
- Organization skills to create and maintain administrative and regulatory files effectively as well as independently balance the various tasks to ensure deadlines are met.
- Demonstrated proficiency with Adobe and Microsoft suite software, especially Excel, to perform daily tasks efficiently and accurately.
- A learning and professional growth mentality so that new software tools, systems, and processes can be adopted quickly and efficiently.
- Knowledge of and experience working with a variety of local and external IRBs, scientific review and other research committees, national cooperative group sponsors, industry sponsors, federal and foundation funding organizations, etc.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills to effectively establish rapport, building collaborative relationships, and communicate complex concepts and ideas in an easy-to-understand manner.
- Ability to handle confidential information with judgement and discretion.
- High degree of concentration and focus in a work environment that contains distracting stimuli, competing deadlines, and work delegated by more than one individual.
- Availability to work in more than one environment, travelling to various clinic sites, meetings, conferences, etc.
- Strong knowledge of and experience working with a variety of local and external IRBs, scientific review and other research committees, national cooperative group sponsors, industry sponsors, federal and foundation funding organizations, etc.
- Strong knowledge of clinical research concepts, policies and procedures, and human safety protection regulations and laws.
- Ability to think creatively to develop solutions affecting the full team.
- Experience with FDA processes and procedures.
- Sufficient experience and knowledge of clinical trials budgeting processes to manage the preparation of clinical trials budgets.
PREFERRED:
- Bachelor’s Degree in related area and/or equivalent combination of education and experience. Advanced degree preferred.
Description
The Senior Clinical Research Coordinator plays a critical role in the overall operational management of clinical research/trial/study activities from design, set up, conduct, through closeout. The ideal candidate is an experienced professional or leader who has direct responsibility for the implementation of research activities for one or more studies which may include multicenter clinical trials (both NIH and industry-sponsored), local investigator-initiated clinical trials, and/or programmatic clinical research activities. Recognize and perform necessary project management tasks and prioritizes work to reach scheduled goals. The Senior Clinical Research Coordinator is a technical leader responsible for ensuring the study protocol and procedures have been completed accurately, safely, and in a timely manner. This position may supervise and train others on projects as necessary. Work with PIs, departments, sponsors, institutions, and other entities as needed to support and provide guidance on the administration of the compliance, financial, personnel and other related aspects of studies.
Annual salary range: $92,988.23 - $149,588.73
Pay range: $82,705.68 - $133,068.24 a year
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
- Minimum of 4+ years of experience in a clinical research setting.
- Interpersonal skills to effectively communicate information in a timely, professional manner and establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with students, staff, faculty, external collaborators and administration and to work as a member of a team.
- Ability to effectively communicate to and interact with patients in a compassionate and kind manner.
- Ability to set priorities and complete ongoing tasks with competing deadlines, with frequent interruptions, to meet the programmatic and department needs, while complying with applicable University policies and federal and state regulations.
- Analytical skills to assess clinical research protocols and regulatory requirements, define problems, formulate logical solutions, develop alternative solutions, make recommendations, and initiate corrective actions.
- Close attention to detail to ensure accuracy in a fast-paced, fluctuating workload environment.
- Organization skills to create and maintain administrative and regulatory files effectively as well as independently balance the various tasks to ensure deadlines are met.
- Demonstrated proficiency with Adobe and Microsoft suite software, especially Excel, to perform daily tasks efficiently and accurately.
- A learning and professional growth mentality so that new software tools, systems, and processes can be adopted quickly and efficiently.
- Knowledge of and experience working with a variety of local and external IRBs, scientific review and other research committees, national cooperative group sponsors, industry sponsors, federal and foundation funding organizations, etc.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills to effectively establish rapport, building collaborative relationships, and communicate complex concepts and ideas in an easy-to-understand manner.
- Ability to handle confidential information with judgement and discretion.
- High degree of concentration and focus in a work environment that contains distracting stimuli, competing deadlines, and work delegated by more than one individual.
- Availability to work in more than one environment, travelling to various clinic sites, meetings, conferences, etc.
- Strong knowledge of and experience working with a variety of local and external IRBs, scientific review and other research committees, national cooperative group sponsors, industry sponsors, federal and foundation funding organizations, etc.
- Strong knowledge of clinical research concepts, policies and procedures, and human safety protection regulations and laws.
- Ability to think creatively to develop solutions affecting the full team.
- Experience with FDA processes and procedures.
- Sufficient experience and knowledge of clinical trials budgeting processes to manage the preparation of clinical trials budgets.
PREFERRED:
- Bachelor’s Degree in related area and/or equivalent combination of education and experience. Advanced degree preferred.
See all 1,349+ OPT Research Coordinator Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Research Coordinator
Target universities and academic medical centers first
Universities and hospital-affiliated research institutions hire Research Coordinators regularly and have established processes for OPT work authorization. Their HR teams understand F-1 status better than most private employers, which reduces friction during onboarding.
Confirm your degree qualifies for STEM OPT extension
If your degree is in biology, public health, psychology, or a related field, you likely qualify for the 24-month STEM extension. Confirm your CIP code with your DSO before applying, so you can communicate this to employers confidently during interviews.
Lead with your research methods skills, not your visa status
Employers prioritize candidates who can manage IRB protocols, coordinate participant recruitment, and maintain data integrity. Demonstrating technical competency in REDCap, SPSS, or clinical trial software positions you as a strong hire before visa conversations begin.
Apply early relative to your OPT start date
Research Coordinator roles often have multi-week onboarding requirements tied to IRB training and protocol certifications. Starting your job search 60 to 90 days before your OPT authorization begins gives employers enough runway to complete hiring paperwork.
Get your EAD card details ready before you apply
Many research institutions require work authorization documentation before extending an offer. Have your EAD card number, expiration date, and I-20 readily available. Some federal grant-funded positions also require confirming your authorization category upfront.
Look for NIH, NSF, or federally funded study teams
Grant-funded research programs often have dedicated HR support familiar with international hiring. Principal investigators at federally funded labs are more likely to have sponsored international staff before, making them less hesitant about OPT timelines and future H-1B visa pathways.
Research Coordinator OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Research Coordinator on F-1 OPT?
Yes. Research Coordinator roles qualify for F-1 OPT as long as the position is directly related to your degree field. A public health graduate coordinating clinical studies or a psychology graduate managing behavioral research trials both meet the practical training requirement. Your DSO can confirm the connection between your specific role and your degree.
Do Research Coordinator jobs qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Many do, depending on your degree. If you hold a degree in biology, neuroscience, public health, epidemiology, or another STEM-designated field, and your Research Coordinator role involves scientific or technical work, you may qualify for the 24-month STEM extension. Check whether your degree's CIP code appears on the official STEM OPT designated degree program list maintained by DHS.
How do I find Research Coordinator jobs that are open to OPT students?
Browse Research Coordinator listings on Migrate Mate, which filters specifically for employers open to OPT and visa sponsorship. University job portals and academic medical center career pages are also worth checking directly, as these institutions hire Research Coordinators frequently and are generally familiar with F-1 work authorization requirements.
Will Research Coordinator employers sponsor an H-1B visa after OPT ends?
It depends on the employer. Universities and large hospital systems with established international hiring programs are more likely to support H-1B sponsorship than small private research firms. Research Coordinator positions typically qualify as specialty occupations under H-1B if the role requires a degree in a specific scientific or health-related field, which strengthens the sponsorship case.
What should I do if my OPT expires before a new position starts?
If you're between jobs, you have a 60-day unemployment grace period from your last day of employment, not from your OPT start date. You cannot work during this window, but you can continue your job search. If your OPT end date is approaching, talk to your DSO immediately about STEM extension filing timelines or other status options before the authorization lapses.