STEM OPT Psychology Jobs
Psychology graduates with STEM degrees can use the 24-month STEM OPT extension to build careers in research, behavioral analysis, and data-driven clinical roles. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and your degree's CIP code must qualify under the STEM designation list to activate the extension.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
The VCU Department of Psychology seeks a full-time Project Coordinator to support an applied research program focused on the measurement, implementation, and improvement of evidence-based practices in school and community settings serving children and youth.
Unit: College of Humanities and Sciences
Department: Psychology
Department Summary:
We are a community of students and faculty passionate about psychology as a scientific discipline, and we use and practically apply our discoveries to improve the lives of individuals and communities. We welcome students to contribute to our research labs and community-based partnerships as part of their learning experiences and work toward their degree.
Duties & Responsibilities:
The Project Coordinator will be primarily responsible for coordinating the day-to-day execution of PRISM - an IES federally funded measurement project “Developing and Validating a Technically Sound and Feasible Self-report Measure of Teachers’ Delivery of Common Practice Elements”, with opportunities to collaborate on additional projects within the broader research program, including intervention research in community mental health settings.
This position is well-suited for candidates who enjoy managing complex projects, working closely with schools and research participants, and overseeing high-quality data collection and management processes.
The Project Coordinator will support this work under the mentorship of Bryce D. McLeod, PhD and Kevin Sutherland, PhD, and is set to begin Summer 2026. Dr. McLeod's research centers on the evaluation, implementation, and sustainment of evidence-based programs and practices for youth in school settings. The primary project is designed to iteratively refine and validate a pragmatic teacher-report measure designed to support the implementation and sustainment of prevention programs in elementary schools.
This position is funded for one year, with the possibility of continuation contingent upon the award of additional grants. Employees acknowledge that this is a grant-funded position and that continued employment is dependent on the availability of such funding.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Coordinate day-to-day implementation of research projects and monitor study timelines and milestones
- Manage IRB submissions, modifications, and compliance
- Support recruitment, enrollment, and retention of teacher participants, including school visits and participant communication and compensation
- Oversee and participate in data collection and data management processes both online (Qualtrics) and in person (live classroom observations), and conduct qualitative interviews with teacher participants
- Train and supervise observational coding staff, including monitoring coding quality and reliability
- Supervise undergraduate research assistants supporting data entry and related tasks
- Contribute to lab operations and collaborative activities, including research meetings and dissemination efforts
This position operates out of VCU’s Monroe Park Campus and may offer flexibility for some remote work. This position requires frequent travel to local school sites in the Greater Richmond area. The candidate must have reliable transportation to and from school sites.
The VCU job series for this position is Lab/Research Technician in the Research and Innovation job family. For more information, please see VCU Human Resources’ Job Family and Salary Ranges here.
Note: This position is restricted and continuation is dependent upon grant funding.
QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum Qualifications
- An undergraduate or master's degree in psychology, education, or related field
- Keen attention to detail
- Experience working with data and statistical databases (REDCap, SPSS, Qualtrics)
- The ability to handle multiple responsibilities including daily tasks and planning for longer-term projects
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- The ability to work autonomously and within the structure of a large research team
- Demonstrated experience to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism, and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from various backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a member of VCU
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience managing large research projects preferred
Salary Range: $37,000 - $42,000
Benefits:
All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.
FLSA Exemption Status: Non-Exempt
Restricted Position: Yes
ORP Eligible: No
Flexible Work Arrangement: Hybrid
University Job Title: 3405B - Lab/Research Technician Base
LOCATION
Location: 907 Floyd Avenue, VCU Main Campus, Virginia, United States, 23284
INTRODUCTION
The VCU Department of Psychology seeks a full-time Project Coordinator to support an applied research program focused on the measurement, implementation, and improvement of evidence-based practices in school and community settings serving children and youth.
Unit: College of Humanities and Sciences
Department: Psychology
Department Summary:
We are a community of students and faculty passionate about psychology as a scientific discipline, and we use and practically apply our discoveries to improve the lives of individuals and communities. We welcome students to contribute to our research labs and community-based partnerships as part of their learning experiences and work toward their degree.
Duties & Responsibilities:
The Project Coordinator will be primarily responsible for coordinating the day-to-day execution of PRISM - an IES federally funded measurement project “Developing and Validating a Technically Sound and Feasible Self-report Measure of Teachers’ Delivery of Common Practice Elements”, with opportunities to collaborate on additional projects within the broader research program, including intervention research in community mental health settings.
This position is well-suited for candidates who enjoy managing complex projects, working closely with schools and research participants, and overseeing high-quality data collection and management processes.
The Project Coordinator will support this work under the mentorship of Bryce D. McLeod, PhD and Kevin Sutherland, PhD, and is set to begin Summer 2026. Dr. McLeod's research centers on the evaluation, implementation, and sustainment of evidence-based programs and practices for youth in school settings. The primary project is designed to iteratively refine and validate a pragmatic teacher-report measure designed to support the implementation and sustainment of prevention programs in elementary schools.
This position is funded for one year, with the possibility of continuation contingent upon the award of additional grants. Employees acknowledge that this is a grant-funded position and that continued employment is dependent on the availability of such funding.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Coordinate day-to-day implementation of research projects and monitor study timelines and milestones
- Manage IRB submissions, modifications, and compliance
- Support recruitment, enrollment, and retention of teacher participants, including school visits and participant communication and compensation
- Oversee and participate in data collection and data management processes both online (Qualtrics) and in person (live classroom observations), and conduct qualitative interviews with teacher participants
- Train and supervise observational coding staff, including monitoring coding quality and reliability
- Supervise undergraduate research assistants supporting data entry and related tasks
- Contribute to lab operations and collaborative activities, including research meetings and dissemination efforts
This position operates out of VCU’s Monroe Park Campus and may offer flexibility for some remote work. This position requires frequent travel to local school sites in the Greater Richmond area. The candidate must have reliable transportation to and from school sites.
The VCU job series for this position is Lab/Research Technician in the Research and Innovation job family. For more information, please see VCU Human Resources’ Job Family and Salary Ranges here.
Note: This position is restricted and continuation is dependent upon grant funding.
QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum Qualifications
- An undergraduate or master's degree in psychology, education, or related field
- Keen attention to detail
- Experience working with data and statistical databases (REDCap, SPSS, Qualtrics)
- The ability to handle multiple responsibilities including daily tasks and planning for longer-term projects
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- The ability to work autonomously and within the structure of a large research team
- Demonstrated experience to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism, and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from various backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a member of VCU
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience managing large research projects preferred
Salary Range: $37,000 - $42,000
Benefits:
All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.
FLSA Exemption Status: Non-Exempt
Restricted Position: Yes
ORP Eligible: No
Flexible Work Arrangement: Hybrid
University Job Title: 3405B - Lab/Research Technician Base
LOCATION
Location: 907 Floyd Avenue, VCU Main Campus, Virginia, United States, 23284
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization in Psychology
Verify your CIP code qualifies first
Not all psychology degrees carry a STEM-designated CIP code. Check your transcript against the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program list before applying. Quantitative psychology, cognitive science, and neuroscience-track programs are most likely to qualify.
Target research institutions with E-Verify enrollment
University research centers, federal contractors, and NIH-funded labs are required or strongly incentivized to maintain E-Verify enrollment. Prioritize these employers early so you don't reach the offer stage with a non-compliant organization.
Frame your I-983 around measurable training goals
DSOs and ICE require your I-983 training plan to connect psychology coursework directly to job duties. Map specific STEM skills, like statistical modeling or experimental design, to named workplace deliverables so your plan survives a compliance review.
Confirm E-Verify status before signing an offer
Ask your recruiter for the E-Verify company ID or search the E-Verify employer search tool directly. A verbal assurance isn't enough. Employers who enroll after your start date cannot retroactively satisfy the STEM OPT requirement.
Use Migrate Mate to surface employers with STEM OPT history
Search Migrate Mate to find psychology employers who have previously hired STEM OPT students. Filtering by role type and E-Verify status saves the manual research of checking each employer individually before investing time in their application process.
File your STEM OPT extension application 90 days early
USCIS recommends submitting your I-765 extension request up to 90 days before your initial OPT expires. Psychology research roles often have slow hiring cycles, so starting the USCIS process early protects your authorization window during offer negotiations.
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Find Psychology JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Does a psychology degree qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree's CIP code. Psychology programs designated under codes like 30.1701 (behavioral sciences) or 42.2706 (cognitive psychology) appear on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program list. General clinical psychology degrees often do not qualify. Check your diploma and transcript against the current DHS list and confirm the CIP code with your DSO before assuming eligibility.
What E-Verify requirement applies to my psychology employer?
Any employer who hires you on STEM OPT must be actively enrolled in E-Verify at the time you begin work. Enrollment after your start date does not satisfy the requirement. You can verify an employer's status using the E-Verify employer search function. Roles at university-affiliated research centers or federal contractors are often safe bets since enrollment is typically mandated for them independently.
How do I structure an I-983 training plan for a psychology role?
Your I-983 must connect your STEM degree coursework to specific on-the-job training objectives. For psychology roles, list concrete skills being developed, such as psychometric assessment, behavioral data analysis, or experimental protocol design. Each goal should tie to a named workplace task and a measurable outcome. Vague plans citing general professional development are routinely flagged during DSO or ICE compliance reviews.
Does the cap-gap rule protect me if I'm in a psychology role and my H-1B is pending?
Yes. If your employer files an H-1B petition on your behalf before your OPT expires, the cap-gap rule automatically extends your work authorization through September 30 of that fiscal year. Your STEM OPT status remains valid during this window as long as you stay in the same position and your employer remains E-Verify enrolled. USCIS issues updated I-20 documentation through your DSO to reflect the extension.
Where can I find psychology employers who hire STEM OPT students?
Migrate Mate lists psychology roles from employers with verified STEM OPT hiring history. Filtering by role type and E-Verify enrollment status helps you avoid wasting applications on employers who can't legally hire you. Research institutions, behavioral health analytics firms, and government-contracted assessment organizations are among the most consistent sources of STEM OPT-compatible psychology positions.
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