STEM OPT Clinical Research Jobs
Clinical Research roles in biostatistics, pharmacovigilance, data management, and regulatory affairs qualify for STEM OPT because they map to STEM CIP codes in biological sciences, computer science, and statistics. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and your 24-month extension gives you three full years of post-graduation authorization to build a research career in the U.S.
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Get Access To All JobsLocation: Chicago, Illinois
Business Unit: Rush Medical Center
Hospital: Rush University Medical Center
Department: Pediatric Neurology Research
Work Type: Full Time (Total FTE between 0.9 and 1.0)
Shift: Shift 1
Work Schedule: 8 Hr (8:00:00 AM - 4:30:00 PM)
Pay Range: $23.12 - $32.66 per hour
Rush salaries are determined by many factors including, but not limited to, education, job-related experience and skills, as well as internal equity and industry specific market data. The pay range for each role reflects Rush’s anticipated wage or salary reasonably expected to be offered for the position. Offers may vary depending on the circumstances of each case.
SUMMARY
The Clinical Research Coordinator I (CRC I) supports the conduct of clinical research studies across a range of disciplines. Receives direction from principal investigator, supervisor, or other staff involved in research protocol(s). Responsibilities include participant recruitment and interaction, study data collection and entry, maintenance of study and regulatory documentation, sponsor communication, and adherence to study protocols and policies. The CRC I executes defined study tasks with guidance, ensuring operational compliance, accurate data entry, and participant safety. Exemplifies the Rush mission, vision and values and acts in accordance with Rush policies and procedures.
REQUIRED JOB QUALIFICATIONS:
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree
Experience:
- 0-2 years of experience in a research study or other relevant experience
OR
Experience (in lieu of a degree)
- Two (2) years’ total experience, where 1 year is supporting or coordinating research studies
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:
- Time Management – Ability to meet deadlines and manage assigned study tasks.
- Problem-Solving – Ability to troubleshoot routine field issues and use discretion to escalate appropriately when unplanned events arise.
- Attention to Detail – Strong attention to accuracy in data collection and documentation.
- Participant Relations – Ability to build rapport, navigate sensitive topics, and maintain participant confidentiality.
- Communication Skills – Effective verbal and written communication skills with participants and internal study teams.
- Team Collaboration – Ability to collaborate within multi-disciplinary team settings and follow established workflows.
- Flexibility – Availability to work evenings, overnight shifts, or weekends if required by study protocols.
- Travel Readiness – Availability for local travel as necessary.
- Other duties as assigned.
PREFERRED JOB QUALIFICATIONS:
Experience:
- Two (2) or more years prior experience in clinical research or related field
Responsibilities:
- Recruits, consents, screens, schedules, tracks and provides study updates to study participants throughout the conduct of the study.
- Collects and enters data into study case report forms and/or electronic data capture system and responds to queries in a timely manner.
- Assists in preparing simple data summaries, reports, or charts to support study documentation and reporting requirements.
- Maintains accurate and complete procedural documentation including study participant and site level documentation in compliance with institutional, local, state and federal guidelines and regulations related to clinical research.
- Verifies data against 100% of source documentation for accuracy before entry into case report forms and electronic data capture systems to ensure timeliness and audit readiness.
- May collect, process and ship potentially biohazardous specimens.
- Administers structured tests and questionnaires according to research study protocols. May utilize study-related technology and equipment as part of assessment procedures.
- Provide ongoing study status updates and responds to questions from PI, Administrator, department stakeholders, Sponsor and Compliance throughout the conduct of the study.
- Maintains study flow by communicating promptly with study participants and coordinating with study team members as directed.
- Participate in auditing and monitoring visits. Gather and communicate unanticipated problems (protocol deviations, adverse events, and serious adverse events).
- Work with PI(s), sponsor, compliance, clinical staff and/or manager to identify and improve routine processes as it relates to the conduct of the research study.
- Other duties as assigned.
Rush is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Business Unit: Rush Medical Center
Hospital: Rush University Medical Center
Department: Pediatric Neurology Research
Work Type: Full Time (Total FTE between 0.9 and 1.0)
Shift: Shift 1
Work Schedule: 8 Hr (8:00:00 AM - 4:30:00 PM)
Pay Range: $23.12 - $32.66 per hour
Rush salaries are determined by many factors including, but not limited to, education, job-related experience and skills, as well as internal equity and industry specific market data. The pay range for each role reflects Rush’s anticipated wage or salary reasonably expected to be offered for the position. Offers may vary depending on the circumstances of each case.
SUMMARY
The Clinical Research Coordinator I (CRC I) supports the conduct of clinical research studies across a range of disciplines. Receives direction from principal investigator, supervisor, or other staff involved in research protocol(s). Responsibilities include participant recruitment and interaction, study data collection and entry, maintenance of study and regulatory documentation, sponsor communication, and adherence to study protocols and policies. The CRC I executes defined study tasks with guidance, ensuring operational compliance, accurate data entry, and participant safety. Exemplifies the Rush mission, vision and values and acts in accordance with Rush policies and procedures.
REQUIRED JOB QUALIFICATIONS:
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree
Experience:
- 0-2 years of experience in a research study or other relevant experience
OR
Experience (in lieu of a degree)
- Two (2) years’ total experience, where 1 year is supporting or coordinating research studies
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:
- Time Management – Ability to meet deadlines and manage assigned study tasks.
- Problem-Solving – Ability to troubleshoot routine field issues and use discretion to escalate appropriately when unplanned events arise.
- Attention to Detail – Strong attention to accuracy in data collection and documentation.
- Participant Relations – Ability to build rapport, navigate sensitive topics, and maintain participant confidentiality.
- Communication Skills – Effective verbal and written communication skills with participants and internal study teams.
- Team Collaboration – Ability to collaborate within multi-disciplinary team settings and follow established workflows.
- Flexibility – Availability to work evenings, overnight shifts, or weekends if required by study protocols.
- Travel Readiness – Availability for local travel as necessary.
- Other duties as assigned.
PREFERRED JOB QUALIFICATIONS:
Experience:
- Two (2) or more years prior experience in clinical research or related field
Responsibilities:
- Recruits, consents, screens, schedules, tracks and provides study updates to study participants throughout the conduct of the study.
- Collects and enters data into study case report forms and/or electronic data capture system and responds to queries in a timely manner.
- Assists in preparing simple data summaries, reports, or charts to support study documentation and reporting requirements.
- Maintains accurate and complete procedural documentation including study participant and site level documentation in compliance with institutional, local, state and federal guidelines and regulations related to clinical research.
- Verifies data against 100% of source documentation for accuracy before entry into case report forms and electronic data capture systems to ensure timeliness and audit readiness.
- May collect, process and ship potentially biohazardous specimens.
- Administers structured tests and questionnaires according to research study protocols. May utilize study-related technology and equipment as part of assessment procedures.
- Provide ongoing study status updates and responds to questions from PI, Administrator, department stakeholders, Sponsor and Compliance throughout the conduct of the study.
- Maintains study flow by communicating promptly with study participants and coordinating with study team members as directed.
- Participate in auditing and monitoring visits. Gather and communicate unanticipated problems (protocol deviations, adverse events, and serious adverse events).
- Work with PI(s), sponsor, compliance, clinical staff and/or manager to identify and improve routine processes as it relates to the conduct of the research study.
- Other duties as assigned.
Rush is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.
See all 2,101+ STEM OPT Clinical Research Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new STEM OPT Clinical Research Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization in Clinical Research
Verify your CIP code matches clinical research
Check your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code against the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List. Degrees in biological sciences, biostatistics, public health sciences, and computer science commonly support clinical research roles. Your DSO confirms the match before you apply.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Every employer hiring you on STEM OPT must be enrolled in E-Verify. Ask recruiters directly or search the E-Verify employer search tool during your job hunt, not after you receive an offer. Sites, CROs, and sponsors each count as separate employers and must enroll independently.
Target clinical research organizations and sponsors actively filing LCAs
Pharmaceutical companies, contract research organizations, and academic medical centers regularly file Labor Condition Applications for clinical roles. Use the OFLC Wage Search to identify which organizations have recent LCA activity for research coordinator, biostatistician, and regulatory affairs titles in your target location.
Use Migrate Mate to find employers already sponsoring STEM OPT roles
Filter your clinical research job search on Migrate Mate to surface employers with verified E-Verify enrollment and active LCA filing history. This removes the guesswork of cold-applying to organizations that have never sponsored international students in research roles.
Build your I-983 training plan around concrete research deliverables
USCIS requires your I-983 to describe how the job provides practical training in your STEM field. For clinical research, list specific competencies: protocol design, data integrity monitoring, adverse event reporting, or statistical analysis. Vague descriptions of 'general research duties' draw DSO scrutiny and delay approval.
Time your H-1B cap-gap transition around clinical trial cycles
If your employer files an H-1B visa petition before your OPT expires, cap-gap extends your authorization through September 30. Clinical trials often run on multi-year timelines, so coordinate your transition with your study team to avoid gaps during critical data collection or closeout phases.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which STEM degrees qualify for the OPT extension in clinical research roles?
Degrees on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List that commonly support clinical research positions include biological sciences, biostatistics, public health sciences, computer science, and health informatics. Your specific CIP code must appear on the list, and your DSO verifies the match before authorizing the extension. Check your transcript for the exact program name and confirm with your international student office.
Does every site or organization involved in my clinical trial need to be enrolled in E-Verify?
Your direct employer of record must be enrolled in E-Verify. If you are hired by a contract research organization and assigned to a sponsor site, it is the CRO's E-Verify enrollment that matters, not the sponsor's. If you move to a new employer, including a different CRO or a hospital system, that organization must independently be enrolled in E-Verify before your STEM OPT authorization applies to that position.
What should my I-983 training plan include for a clinical research role?
Your I-983 must connect your daily job duties to your STEM field of study. For clinical research, that means documenting specific skills like protocol adherence, adverse event coding, biostatistical analysis, regulatory submission preparation, or clinical data management. Generic language about supporting a research team is not sufficient. Your employer's supervisor signs the form and takes responsibility for the training relationship, so both parties should review it carefully before submission.
How does cap-gap protection work if my employer files an H-1B petition during my clinical research position?
If your employer files a timely H-1B cap-subject petition before your OPT EAD expires, cap-gap automatically extends your work authorization through September 30 of that year. If USCIS selects and approves your petition, your status changes to H-1B on October 1. During the cap-gap period you can continue working in your clinical research role without interruption. USCIS publishes cap-gap guidance that explains which receipt notices serve as proof of continued authorization.
Where can I find clinical research employers that sponsor STEM OPT students?
Migrate Mate filters clinical research jobs by employers with active E-Verify enrollment and LCA filing history, so you can identify organizations that have already hired international students in research roles. You can also cross-reference employer names against the OFLC Wage Search to see which companies have filed Labor Condition Applications for clinical coordinator, biostatistician, or regulatory affairs positions in your target city.