STEM OPT Lab Assistant Jobs
Lab Assistant roles in research, clinical, and industrial settings qualify for STEM OPT when your degree falls under an eligible CIP code. The 24-month STEM OPT extension brings your total work authorization to 36 months, and your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify before you can file.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
This position prepares (sets-up, maintains, and takes down) the lab for student activities in chemistry and physics; cleans and organizes labs; maintains lab safety; prepares lab reagents, maintains equipment, and assists students in the Physical Science Center; maintains inventory; makes sure that the lab professors and students have an easy transition into the lab space; and ensures that the setup is well maintained to prevent variations in between the labs in terms of reagents and setup.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Reports To: Physical Science Lab Supervisor
What position(s) reports to this position? None
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Associate Degree in Chemistry, Physics, or a related field
Equivalency/Substitution: 60 credit hours toward a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry, Physics, or a related field
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES
Knowledge:
- Safety procedures for storing, handling, and disposing of hazardous materials
- Laboratory equipment, materials, procedures, and theoretical concepts
Skills:
- Dealing with human relations issues
- Using basic algebra, trigonometry, etc. to solve elementary chemistry and physics problems (i.e., molarity, normality, percentages by weight or volume, etc.)
- Communicating verbally
Abilities:
- Observe and detect signs of hazards and obstacles that may cause injury to students and staff in the Science Lab
PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORKING CONDITIONS
Medium work: This position requires the person to occasionally exert up to 50 pounds of force and frequently exert up to 20 pounds of force and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to grasp, lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.
Additionally, the following physical abilities are required:
This position requires the person to have visual ability, corrected, to observe and detect signs of hazards and obstacles that may cause injury to students and staff in the science lab.
This position requires the person to lift and/or carry equipment weighing 60 pounds with or without the use of auxiliary aids.
Work is performed in a relatively safe and secure work environment.
Exposed to human blood, other potentially infectious material, and chemical hazards.
Work is performed in a dynamic environment that requires sensitivity to change and responsiveness to changing goals, priorities, and needs.
Work is performed using a flexible work schedule including daytime, evening, and Saturday hours and also including up to three nights per week as assigned.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Physics, or a related field.
REQUIRED TRAINING
Quarterly compliance training as assigned by institution
WORK HOURS
40 hours a week including nights and weekends as needed. Typical hours of operation for PSC are Monday through Thursday; 7:00am to 10:00pm, with some hours Friday and Saturday. Schedules are arranged per semester.
DEPARTMENT
Physical Science Lab
JOB OPEN DATE
01/16/2026
JOB CLOSE DATE
Open Until Filled
HR CONTACT
Beth Holmes
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS
Applicants are to thoroughly complete the online application and attach the following required documents: cover letter, resume, and copy of transcript that confers highest degree or shows the completion of 60 credit hours toward a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry, Physics, or a related field.
Applicants who do not attach the required documents will not be considered for the position.
For application assistance, please contact Human Resources at (405) 682-7542, Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM.
INTRODUCTION
This position prepares (sets-up, maintains, and takes down) the lab for student activities in chemistry and physics; cleans and organizes labs; maintains lab safety; prepares lab reagents, maintains equipment, and assists students in the Physical Science Center; maintains inventory; makes sure that the lab professors and students have an easy transition into the lab space; and ensures that the setup is well maintained to prevent variations in between the labs in terms of reagents and setup.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Reports To: Physical Science Lab Supervisor
What position(s) reports to this position? None
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Associate Degree in Chemistry, Physics, or a related field
Equivalency/Substitution: 60 credit hours toward a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry, Physics, or a related field
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES
Knowledge:
- Safety procedures for storing, handling, and disposing of hazardous materials
- Laboratory equipment, materials, procedures, and theoretical concepts
Skills:
- Dealing with human relations issues
- Using basic algebra, trigonometry, etc. to solve elementary chemistry and physics problems (i.e., molarity, normality, percentages by weight or volume, etc.)
- Communicating verbally
Abilities:
- Observe and detect signs of hazards and obstacles that may cause injury to students and staff in the Science Lab
PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORKING CONDITIONS
Medium work: This position requires the person to occasionally exert up to 50 pounds of force and frequently exert up to 20 pounds of force and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to grasp, lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.
Additionally, the following physical abilities are required:
This position requires the person to have visual ability, corrected, to observe and detect signs of hazards and obstacles that may cause injury to students and staff in the science lab.
This position requires the person to lift and/or carry equipment weighing 60 pounds with or without the use of auxiliary aids.
Work is performed in a relatively safe and secure work environment.
Exposed to human blood, other potentially infectious material, and chemical hazards.
Work is performed in a dynamic environment that requires sensitivity to change and responsiveness to changing goals, priorities, and needs.
Work is performed using a flexible work schedule including daytime, evening, and Saturday hours and also including up to three nights per week as assigned.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Physics, or a related field.
REQUIRED TRAINING
Quarterly compliance training as assigned by institution
WORK HOURS
40 hours a week including nights and weekends as needed. Typical hours of operation for PSC are Monday through Thursday; 7:00am to 10:00pm, with some hours Friday and Saturday. Schedules are arranged per semester.
DEPARTMENT
Physical Science Lab
JOB OPEN DATE
01/16/2026
JOB CLOSE DATE
Open Until Filled
HR CONTACT
Beth Holmes
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS
Applicants are to thoroughly complete the online application and attach the following required documents: cover letter, resume, and copy of transcript that confers highest degree or shows the completion of 60 credit hours toward a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry, Physics, or a related field.
Applicants who do not attach the required documents will not be considered for the position.
For application assistance, please contact Human Resources at (405) 682-7542, Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM.
See all STEM OPT Lab Assistant Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Lab Assistant
Verify your CIP code before applying
Check that your degree's CIP code appears on the STEM Designated Degree Program List before targeting Lab Assistant roles. Degrees in biology, chemistry, biochemistry, and clinical laboratory science commonly qualify, but your DSO confirms the match on your I-20.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment during interviews
Ask hiring managers directly whether the lab is enrolled in E-Verify before accepting an offer. Labs at universities, hospitals, and contract research organizations sometimes operate under separate legal entities, so check the specific hiring entity, not just the parent institution.
Document lab duties to satisfy the I-983 training plan
Your I-983 must show a direct connection between your daily lab tasks and your STEM degree. List specific techniques you'll use, such as PCR, cell culture, or spectroscopy, and map each to a learning objective your DSO and employer supervisor both sign off on.
Use OFLC Wage Search to benchmark offers
STEM OPT training plans require that your compensation meets USCIS standards for similarly situated workers. Pull the prevailing wage for Lab Assistant roles in your metro area using OFLC Wage Search before evaluating any offer, so you can flag underpayment early.
Target employers through Migrate Mate's E-Verify filter
Search Lab Assistant openings on Migrate Mate, which filters for E-Verify-enrolled employers, so you're only reviewing roles where STEM OPT is structurally possible. This saves time you'd otherwise spend vetting each lab's compliance status manually.
Start the STEM OPT extension 90 days before OPT expires
File your STEM OPT extension application with USCIS no earlier than 90 days before your initial OPT EAD expires. Your DSO must update your SEVIS record first, so build in at least two weeks for that step before you submit anything.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Lab Assistant role qualify for STEM OPT?
A Lab Assistant position qualifies for STEM OPT when your degree's CIP code is on the STEM Designated Degree Program List and the role directly uses that STEM knowledge. Degrees in biology, chemistry, biochemistry, environmental science, and clinical laboratory science routinely support Lab Assistant I-983 training plans. Your DSO confirms eligibility by cross-referencing your I-20 CIP code against the official SEVP list before approving the extension request.
What E-Verify requirement applies to my Lab Assistant employer?
Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify before you can work under STEM OPT, and enrollment must cover the specific site where you'll work. A hospital system or university may be enrolled at the parent level, but if your lab operates as a subsidiary or separate cost center, confirm that entity specifically appears in E-Verify. You can verify enrollment status through the E-Verify employer search tool before accepting any offer.
What does an I-983 training plan need to include for a Lab Assistant?
Your I-983 must describe how your Lab Assistant duties connect to your STEM degree's field of study and include measurable learning objectives. For lab roles, this means listing specific techniques or instruments you'll use, such as ELISA, HPLC, or microscopy, and explaining how each builds on your academic training. Both your employer supervisor and your DSO sign the form, and you must update it whenever your duties, supervisor, or employer changes.
How do cap-gap rules protect me if my H-1B is selected while I'm working as a Lab Assistant?
If your H-1B visa petition is filed before your STEM OPT EAD expires and your registration is selected, cap-gap automatically extends your work authorization through September 30 of that fiscal year. You can continue working in your Lab Assistant role during this period without interruption. USCIS issues a cap-gap extension automatically when your employer files the I-129, so no separate filing is required on your part.
Where can I find Lab Assistant jobs that accept STEM OPT students?
Migrate Mate lists Lab Assistant openings filtered for E-Verify-enrolled employers, which is the first compliance requirement for STEM OPT eligibility. Filtering by E-Verify status upfront removes roles where authorization issues would surface later in the hiring process. You can also cross-reference the O*NET profile for Lab Assistant to understand how your degree field maps to the occupation before applying.