STEM OPT Research Jobs
Research roles at universities, national labs, and biotech firms regularly hire STEM OPT students with degrees in life sciences, engineering, computer science, and related fields. Your 24-month STEM OPT extension applies here, provided your employer is enrolled in E-Verify and your role directly uses your STEM degree.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
NYU’s Center for Social Media, AI, and Politics is an academic research institute dedicated to studying how the digital information environment impacts politics, policy, and democracy. Our work is centered around three core goals: (1) conducting rigorous research; (2) advancing evidence-based public policy; (3) training the next generation of scholars.
We are seeking a full-time Researcher (Research Operations Associate) to support the Center and its ongoing research projects. The Researcher will perform a number of key coordination functions for the Lab and its diverse research agenda, therefore, strong project management skills are a must.
Responsibilities
Responsibilities will include:
- Manage CSMAP’s pool of Research Assistants
- Coordinate weekly lab meetings - including sourcing research abstracts and presentation materials, communicating with CSMAP lab members, and facilitating the lab presentation schedule
- Assist on IRB applications, Data Use Agreements, and applications for federal research grants
- Support lab operations through research reimbursements and procurement
- Support public facing components of lab maintaining website, providing point of contact for public outreach, and facilitating public presentation of lab research
- Maintain and update lab member’s COI statements and co-author lists
- Assist with the facilitation of lab events and presentations
Strong applications will be able to demonstrate excellent project management skills and an interest in or experience with data-driven social science.
CSMAP consists of four core faculty members, as well as research scientists, engineers, administrative staff, PhD students in both Political Science and Data Science, affiliated faculty both at NYU and other institutions, and undergraduates. The lab maintains a broad research agenda with many projects occurring simultaneously.
LOCATION
This position is based in New York and the selected candidate will be expected to work onsite as of their effective start date.
COMPENSATION
In compliance with NYC’s Pay Transparency Act, the annual base salary range for this position is $68,000 - $73,000. New York University considers factors such as (but not limited to) the specific grant funding and the terms of the research grant when extending an offer.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in social science (e.g. political science, sociology, psychology, economics, statistics), or a similar business or liberal arts program
Required skills and experience:
- Excellent project management skills
- Time management and prioritization
- Ability to work both as part of a team and independently
- Ability to manage or willingness to learn multiple systems across the university infrastructure
- Strong interpersonal, collaboration, and communication skills
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Preferred knowledge and experience:
- Interest in data-driven social science research
- Experience in project management or in social science research
To apply, please upload your resume. We also offer the option to upload a short cover letter explaining why you're interested in CSMAP and anything else you'd like us to know. Feel free to contact us at csmap@nyu.edu with questions.
NYU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to a policy of equal treatment and opportunity in every aspect of its recruitment and hiring process without regard to age, alienage, caregiver status, childbirth, citizenship status, color, creed, disability, domestic violence victim status, ethnicity, familial status, gender and/or gender identity or expression, marital status, military status, national origin, parental status, partnership status, predisposing genetic characteristics, pregnancy, race, religion, reproductive health decision making, sex, sexual orientation, unemployment status, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis. All interested persons are encouraged to apply for vacant positions at all levels.
Sustainability Statement
NYU aims to be among the greenest urban campuses in the country and carbon neutral by 2040. Learn more at nyu.edu/sustainability.
INTRODUCTION
NYU’s Center for Social Media, AI, and Politics is an academic research institute dedicated to studying how the digital information environment impacts politics, policy, and democracy. Our work is centered around three core goals: (1) conducting rigorous research; (2) advancing evidence-based public policy; (3) training the next generation of scholars.
We are seeking a full-time Researcher (Research Operations Associate) to support the Center and its ongoing research projects. The Researcher will perform a number of key coordination functions for the Lab and its diverse research agenda, therefore, strong project management skills are a must.
Responsibilities
Responsibilities will include:
- Manage CSMAP’s pool of Research Assistants
- Coordinate weekly lab meetings - including sourcing research abstracts and presentation materials, communicating with CSMAP lab members, and facilitating the lab presentation schedule
- Assist on IRB applications, Data Use Agreements, and applications for federal research grants
- Support lab operations through research reimbursements and procurement
- Support public facing components of lab maintaining website, providing point of contact for public outreach, and facilitating public presentation of lab research
- Maintain and update lab member’s COI statements and co-author lists
- Assist with the facilitation of lab events and presentations
Strong applications will be able to demonstrate excellent project management skills and an interest in or experience with data-driven social science.
CSMAP consists of four core faculty members, as well as research scientists, engineers, administrative staff, PhD students in both Political Science and Data Science, affiliated faculty both at NYU and other institutions, and undergraduates. The lab maintains a broad research agenda with many projects occurring simultaneously.
LOCATION
This position is based in New York and the selected candidate will be expected to work onsite as of their effective start date.
COMPENSATION
In compliance with NYC’s Pay Transparency Act, the annual base salary range for this position is $68,000 - $73,000. New York University considers factors such as (but not limited to) the specific grant funding and the terms of the research grant when extending an offer.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in social science (e.g. political science, sociology, psychology, economics, statistics), or a similar business or liberal arts program
Required skills and experience:
- Excellent project management skills
- Time management and prioritization
- Ability to work both as part of a team and independently
- Ability to manage or willingness to learn multiple systems across the university infrastructure
- Strong interpersonal, collaboration, and communication skills
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Preferred knowledge and experience:
- Interest in data-driven social science research
- Experience in project management or in social science research
To apply, please upload your resume. We also offer the option to upload a short cover letter explaining why you're interested in CSMAP and anything else you'd like us to know. Feel free to contact us at csmap@nyu.edu with questions.
NYU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to a policy of equal treatment and opportunity in every aspect of its recruitment and hiring process without regard to age, alienage, caregiver status, childbirth, citizenship status, color, creed, disability, domestic violence victim status, ethnicity, familial status, gender and/or gender identity or expression, marital status, military status, national origin, parental status, partnership status, predisposing genetic characteristics, pregnancy, race, religion, reproductive health decision making, sex, sexual orientation, unemployment status, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis. All interested persons are encouraged to apply for vacant positions at all levels.
Sustainability Statement
NYU aims to be among the greenest urban campuses in the country and carbon neutral by 2040. Learn more at nyu.edu/sustainability.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization in Research
Verify your degree's CIP code eligibility
Cross-check your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code against the USCIS STEM OPT designated degree list before applying. Research roles often require a direct field match, and a misaligned CIP code can disqualify your extension even if your title fits.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Ask the hiring manager or HR team to confirm active E-Verify participation before you sign anything. Federal contractors and university research labs are common employers here, but enrollment status can lapse, so verify it directly rather than assuming.
Target federally funded research institutions first
National labs, NIH-funded university departments, and NSF grant recipients are required to use E-Verify as federal contractors. Prioritizing these employers removes one layer of uncertainty from your STEM OPT extension eligibility from the start.
Use Migrate Mate to filter for E-Verify research employers
Search Research roles on Migrate Mate to surface employers with verified E-Verify enrollment and active STEM OPT hiring history. Filtering by employer verification status saves you from chasing postings at organizations that can't support your extension.
Build your I-983 training plan around your research duties
Your I-983 must map specific research tasks to your STEM degree's learning objectives. Work with your DSO and PI to document how bench work, data analysis, or field research directly applies your coursework, since vague descriptions are a common cause of SEVIS complications.
Track your cap-gap window if transitioning to H-1B
If your employer files an H-1B visa petition on your behalf before your OPT expires, cap-gap protection extends your work authorization through September 30. Confirm with USCIS that your petition was received and your EAD reflects the cap-gap period before continuing to work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all research employers qualify for STEM OPT?
No. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify to qualify as a STEM OPT training site, regardless of their size or sector. University research departments, private biotech firms, and government contractors all need active E-Verify participation. Ask HR to confirm enrollment status before you accept an offer, since a lapsed enrollment invalidates your extension.
Which STEM degrees qualify for OPT extension in research roles?
Your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code must appear on the USCIS STEM OPT designated degree list. Degrees in biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, and data science typically qualify. The match is made at the degree level, not the job title, so confirm your specific CIP code with your DSO before applying to research positions.
What goes into an I-983 training plan for a research role?
Your I-983 must describe how the research work directly applies and develops the knowledge from your STEM degree. For research positions, this means documenting specific methodologies, equipment, or analytical techniques you'll use and connecting each to learning objectives. Both you and your supervisor sign it, and your DSO must review it before USCIS processes your extension application.
Can I work at a university lab or national lab on STEM OPT?
Yes, provided the institution is enrolled in E-Verify. Federal grant recipients and national labs operated under DOE or NIH contracts are typically required to participate in E-Verify, making them common STEM OPT employers. Confirm active enrollment with HR rather than assuming institutional status guarantees compliance.
How do I find research jobs that support STEM OPT?
Search Migrate Mate to browse research positions at employers with confirmed E-Verify enrollment and a history of hiring STEM OPT students. Filtering by OPT-supporting employers at the start saves significant time compared to screening postings individually. Once you identify a role, verify E-Verify status directly with the employer's HR team before applying.