OPT Research Technician Jobs
Research Technician roles are among the most OPT-friendly positions in academia and industry, with labs and research institutions routinely sponsoring STEM OPT extensions. Your 12-month OPT period begins immediately, and most qualifying positions involve hands-on lab work, data collection, or experimental support that aligns directly with STEM degree requirements.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Baptist Health is the region's largest not-for-profit healthcare organization, with 12 hospitals, over 29,000 employees, 4,500 physicians and 200 outpatient centers, urgent care facilities and physician practices across Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward and Palm Beach counties. With internationally renowned centers of excellence in cancer, cardiovascular care, orthopedics and sports medicine, and neurosciences, Baptist Health is supported by philanthropy and driven by its faith-based mission of medical excellence. For 26 years, we've been named one of Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For, and in the 2025-2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Hospital Rankings, Baptist Health was the most awarded healthcare system in South Florida, earning 63 high-performing honors.
What truly sets us apart is our people. At Baptist Health, we create personal connections with our colleagues that go beyond the workplace, and we form meaningful relationships with patients and their families that extend beyond delivering care. Many of us have walked in our patients' shoes ourselves and that shared experience fuels our commitment to compassion and quality. Our culture is rooted in purpose, and every team member plays a part in making a positive impact – because when it comes to caring for people, we're all in.
At Baptist Health, we’re committed to supporting our employees at every stage of their journey, both personally and professionally. Our approach is rooted in a “grow our own” philosophy, designed to help our team members build meaningful, long-term careers with us, supported by benefits that make a real difference, including:
- Career growth and development opportunities, with clear pathways and ongoing support
- Comprehensive health and wellness resources that go beyond traditional benefits
- A wellness program that can help employees eliminate their medical plan deductible, reducing out-of-pocket healthcare costs
- Tuition reimbursement to support continued learning and advancement
- And so much more
Together, these benefits and others reflect our commitment to caring for our people, so they can build fulfilling careers with us while making a meaningful impact every day.
DESCRIPTION:
The Research Laboratory Associate is responsible for conducting special laboratory procedures for clinical trials, bio banking activities and bio specimen research pilot projects. She/he performs high complexity laboratory techniques for research purposes including, but not limited to routine isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, flow cytometry and DNA/RNA isolation. Estimated pay range for this position is $29.41 - $38.23 / hour depending on experience.
QUALIFICATIONS
Degrees:
- Bachelors.
Additional Qualifications:
- Bachelors degree in Biological Sciences.
- Proficient in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell (PBMC) separation from human blood samples, cell culture techniques, cell purification (including immune cells) and functional assays.
- Experience in bench research laboratory setting.
- Advanced skills in tissue culture, molecular biology methods and immune assays.
- Strong ability to work independently, efficiently and productively in a fast-paced and diverse team environment.
- Proficiency with standard office and scientific software's, i.e. Power Point, Excel, Graphpad Prism, etc.
Minimum Required Experience: 2 Years
EOE, including disability/vets
INTRODUCTION
Baptist Health is the region's largest not-for-profit healthcare organization, with 12 hospitals, over 29,000 employees, 4,500 physicians and 200 outpatient centers, urgent care facilities and physician practices across Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward and Palm Beach counties. With internationally renowned centers of excellence in cancer, cardiovascular care, orthopedics and sports medicine, and neurosciences, Baptist Health is supported by philanthropy and driven by its faith-based mission of medical excellence. For 26 years, we've been named one of Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For, and in the 2025-2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Hospital Rankings, Baptist Health was the most awarded healthcare system in South Florida, earning 63 high-performing honors.
What truly sets us apart is our people. At Baptist Health, we create personal connections with our colleagues that go beyond the workplace, and we form meaningful relationships with patients and their families that extend beyond delivering care. Many of us have walked in our patients' shoes ourselves and that shared experience fuels our commitment to compassion and quality. Our culture is rooted in purpose, and every team member plays a part in making a positive impact – because when it comes to caring for people, we're all in.
At Baptist Health, we’re committed to supporting our employees at every stage of their journey, both personally and professionally. Our approach is rooted in a “grow our own” philosophy, designed to help our team members build meaningful, long-term careers with us, supported by benefits that make a real difference, including:
- Career growth and development opportunities, with clear pathways and ongoing support
- Comprehensive health and wellness resources that go beyond traditional benefits
- A wellness program that can help employees eliminate their medical plan deductible, reducing out-of-pocket healthcare costs
- Tuition reimbursement to support continued learning and advancement
- And so much more
Together, these benefits and others reflect our commitment to caring for our people, so they can build fulfilling careers with us while making a meaningful impact every day.
DESCRIPTION:
The Research Laboratory Associate is responsible for conducting special laboratory procedures for clinical trials, bio banking activities and bio specimen research pilot projects. She/he performs high complexity laboratory techniques for research purposes including, but not limited to routine isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, flow cytometry and DNA/RNA isolation. Estimated pay range for this position is $29.41 - $38.23 / hour depending on experience.
QUALIFICATIONS
Degrees:
- Bachelors.
Additional Qualifications:
- Bachelors degree in Biological Sciences.
- Proficient in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell (PBMC) separation from human blood samples, cell culture techniques, cell purification (including immune cells) and functional assays.
- Experience in bench research laboratory setting.
- Advanced skills in tissue culture, molecular biology methods and immune assays.
- Strong ability to work independently, efficiently and productively in a fast-paced and diverse team environment.
- Proficiency with standard office and scientific software's, i.e. Power Point, Excel, Graphpad Prism, etc.
Minimum Required Experience: 2 Years
EOE, including disability/vets
See all 995+ OPT Research Technician Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Research Technician
Target STEM-designated programs first
Research Technician roles at universities, hospitals, and biotech firms frequently qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Confirm your degree is on the STEM designated degree program list before applying to maximize your authorized work period.
Align your application to your degree field
USCIS requires OPT employment to be directly related to your major. A biology graduate applying to a chemistry lab should explicitly connect coursework and lab techniques to the posted role requirements in both the resume and cover letter.
Ask about E-Verify enrollment early
STEM OPT extension employers must be enrolled in E-Verify. Before investing time in the interview process, confirm the hiring lab or department participates. Academic departments and federal research facilities almost always qualify.
Document your OPT start date before accepting offers
Your OPT authorization card must show an active period before your first day. Notify HR of your EAD card's start date and keep a copy on file. Starting work even one day before that date violates your status.
Prioritize institutions with established OPT pipelines
Universities, national labs, and large biotech companies hire international researchers regularly and have HR teams familiar with OPT paperwork. Smaller private labs may offer great research experience but lack the administrative infrastructure to process your authorization smoothly.
Maintain a work log to support STEM OPT reporting
STEM OPT requires a formal training plan and 6-month employer evaluations. Keep records of your experiments, methods, and responsibilities from day one. This documentation makes the evaluation process straightforward and protects you if your DSO is ever audited.
Research Technician OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Research Technician job qualify for OPT work authorization?
Yes, as long as the position is directly related to your degree field. A biochemistry graduate working in a molecular biology lab qualifies. A computer science graduate in a computational genomics role qualifies. The connection must be substantive, not incidental. Your DSO can help you confirm eligibility before you accept an offer.
Can I work as a Research Technician on STEM OPT extension?
Yes, provided the employer is enrolled in E-Verify and the role relates to your STEM degree. Universities, biotech companies, pharmaceutical research divisions, and federal agencies like the NIH and CDC regularly hire on STEM OPT. You can browse Research Technician roles currently open to OPT students on Migrate Mate.
How many hours per week can I work as a Research Technician on OPT?
During your authorized OPT period, you must work at least 20 hours per week to maintain valid status. Full-time positions are common in research settings and present no issue. Part-time arrangements are permitted but must consistently meet the 20-hour minimum. Unpaid volunteer research positions can count, but only if they meet that threshold.
What happens to my OPT if my research grant funding runs out?
If your employment ends, your 90-day unemployment clock starts. You have 90 cumulative days of unemployment during standard OPT and an additional 60 days during a STEM extension. Use that window to apply for new positions immediately. Grant-funded labs often have irregular funding cycles, so it is worth asking about funding stability before accepting a role.
Do Research Technician jobs typically lead to H-1B sponsorship?
It depends on the employer type. Universities and research hospitals can sponsor H-1B visa petitions and are sometimes cap-exempt, meaning they can file year-round without the lottery. Private biotech and pharmaceutical companies are subject to the annual cap and lottery. Asking about long-term sponsorship intent during the offer stage is reasonable and expected in research hiring.