STEM OPT Research Assistant Jobs
Research Assistant roles at universities, government labs, and private R&D firms regularly hire STEM OPT students. Your 24-month STEM OPT extension applies if your degree CIP code aligns with the role, and every employer must be enrolled in E-Verify before your training plan is approved.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
NYU Grossman School of Medicine is one of the nation's top-ranked medical schools. For 175 years, NYU Grossman School of Medicine has trained thousands of physicians and scientists who have helped to shape the course of medical history and enrich the lives of countless people. An integral part of NYU Langone Health, the Grossman School of Medicine at its core is committed to improving the human condition through medical education, scientific research, and direct patient care. At NYU Langone Health, equity and inclusion are fundamental values. We strive to be a place where our exceptionally talented faculty, staff, and students of all identities can thrive. We embrace inclusion and individual skills, ideas, and knowledge.
Position Summary
We have an exciting opportunity to join our team as an Assistant Research Technician. The newly established Fels lab in the Department of Microbiology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine is seeking an Assistant Research Technician to support a research program broadly focused on virus-host interactions. Duties include viral propagation, maintenance of mammalian and amoeba cell lines, and protein expression and purification.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Participates and performs other related duties as required.
- Lab Duties - Basic lab duties under general supervision as well as more advanced duties under direct supervision. Performs routine technical tasks, and is expected to help with the routine processing of clinical samples from research protocols.
- Assists in Developing Procedures - Assists in implementing new procedures and protocols to support experiments. Participates actively in developing, recommending and implementing new approved procedures, or modifications to existing protocols and procedures. Maintains and updates technical knowledge.
- Communication/Relationship with Others - Cooperates, communicates and relates well to all levels of Medical Center. Listens carefully to others in order to respond appropriately, answer questions or obtain needed information. Communicates ideas, problems, suggestions, and messages in a timely and effective manner. Maintains the confidentiality of all research information. Effective oral and written communication skills.
- Judgment/Decision-Making - Is able to recognize problems as they occur; and through the application of appropriate policy/procedure, determine and/or recommends the appropriate solution. Seeks guidance as necessary for the performance of duties asks appropriate questions when in doubt and utilizes reference sources/materials to ensure accuracy. Advises appropriate personnel of situations/problems requiring intervention or follow-up attention.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
This is an entry level trainee position with no experience necessary and a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Life Sciences or a related field is preferred. Strong written and verbal communication skills are required.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor's of Science Degree in Life Sciences or a related field preferred. Previous tissue culture experience is preferred but not required.
Qualified candidates must be able to effectively communicate with all levels of the organization.
NYU Grossman School of Medicine provides its staff with far more than just a place to work. Rather, we are an institution you can be proud of, an institution where you'll feel good about devoting your time and your talents. At NYU Langone Health, we are committed to supporting our workforce and their loved ones with a comprehensive benefits and wellness package. Our offerings provide a robust support system for any stage of life, whether it's developing your career, starting a family, or saving for retirement. The support employees receive goes beyond a standard benefit offering, where employees have access to financial security benefits, a generous time-off program and employee resources groups for peer support. Additionally, all employees have access to our holistic employee wellness program, which focuses on seven key areas of well-being: physical, mental, nutritional, sleep, social, financial, and preventive care. The benefits and wellness package is designed to allow you to focus on what truly matters. Join us and experience the extensive resources and services designed to enhance your overall quality of life for you and your family.
NYU Grossman School of Medicine is an equal opportunity employer and committed to inclusion in all aspects of recruiting and employment. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration. We require applications to be completed online.
View Know Your Rights: Workplace discrimination is illegal.
NYU Langone Health provides a salary range to comply with the New York state Law on Salary Transparency in Job Advertisements. The salary range for the role is $48,749.40 - $55,650.00 Annually. Actual salaries depend on a variety of factors, including experience, specialty, education, and hospital need. The salary range or contractual rate listed does not include bonuses/incentive, differential pay or other forms of compensation or benefits.
INTRODUCTION
NYU Grossman School of Medicine is one of the nation's top-ranked medical schools. For 175 years, NYU Grossman School of Medicine has trained thousands of physicians and scientists who have helped to shape the course of medical history and enrich the lives of countless people. An integral part of NYU Langone Health, the Grossman School of Medicine at its core is committed to improving the human condition through medical education, scientific research, and direct patient care. At NYU Langone Health, equity and inclusion are fundamental values. We strive to be a place where our exceptionally talented faculty, staff, and students of all identities can thrive. We embrace inclusion and individual skills, ideas, and knowledge.
Position Summary
We have an exciting opportunity to join our team as an Assistant Research Technician. The newly established Fels lab in the Department of Microbiology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine is seeking an Assistant Research Technician to support a research program broadly focused on virus-host interactions. Duties include viral propagation, maintenance of mammalian and amoeba cell lines, and protein expression and purification.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Participates and performs other related duties as required.
- Lab Duties - Basic lab duties under general supervision as well as more advanced duties under direct supervision. Performs routine technical tasks, and is expected to help with the routine processing of clinical samples from research protocols.
- Assists in Developing Procedures - Assists in implementing new procedures and protocols to support experiments. Participates actively in developing, recommending and implementing new approved procedures, or modifications to existing protocols and procedures. Maintains and updates technical knowledge.
- Communication/Relationship with Others - Cooperates, communicates and relates well to all levels of Medical Center. Listens carefully to others in order to respond appropriately, answer questions or obtain needed information. Communicates ideas, problems, suggestions, and messages in a timely and effective manner. Maintains the confidentiality of all research information. Effective oral and written communication skills.
- Judgment/Decision-Making - Is able to recognize problems as they occur; and through the application of appropriate policy/procedure, determine and/or recommends the appropriate solution. Seeks guidance as necessary for the performance of duties asks appropriate questions when in doubt and utilizes reference sources/materials to ensure accuracy. Advises appropriate personnel of situations/problems requiring intervention or follow-up attention.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
This is an entry level trainee position with no experience necessary and a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Life Sciences or a related field is preferred. Strong written and verbal communication skills are required.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor's of Science Degree in Life Sciences or a related field preferred. Previous tissue culture experience is preferred but not required.
Qualified candidates must be able to effectively communicate with all levels of the organization.
NYU Grossman School of Medicine provides its staff with far more than just a place to work. Rather, we are an institution you can be proud of, an institution where you'll feel good about devoting your time and your talents. At NYU Langone Health, we are committed to supporting our workforce and their loved ones with a comprehensive benefits and wellness package. Our offerings provide a robust support system for any stage of life, whether it's developing your career, starting a family, or saving for retirement. The support employees receive goes beyond a standard benefit offering, where employees have access to financial security benefits, a generous time-off program and employee resources groups for peer support. Additionally, all employees have access to our holistic employee wellness program, which focuses on seven key areas of well-being: physical, mental, nutritional, sleep, social, financial, and preventive care. The benefits and wellness package is designed to allow you to focus on what truly matters. Join us and experience the extensive resources and services designed to enhance your overall quality of life for you and your family.
NYU Grossman School of Medicine is an equal opportunity employer and committed to inclusion in all aspects of recruiting and employment. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration. We require applications to be completed online.
View Know Your Rights: Workplace discrimination is illegal.
NYU Langone Health provides a salary range to comply with the New York state Law on Salary Transparency in Job Advertisements. The salary range for the role is $48,749.40 - $55,650.00 Annually. Actual salaries depend on a variety of factors, including experience, specialty, education, and hospital need. The salary range or contractual rate listed does not include bonuses/incentive, differential pay or other forms of compensation or benefits.
See all 578+ STEM OPT Research Assistant Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new STEM OPT Research Assistant Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Research Assistant
Verify your CIP code before applying
Pull your degree's CIP code from your I-20 and cross-reference it against USCIS's STEM Designated Degree Program List. A mismatch between your listed degree field and the research role's discipline is the most common reason DSOs reject STEM OPT extension requests.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Ask hiring managers for their E-Verify Company ID or search the E-Verify employer search portal directly. Research labs inside universities sometimes operate under a parent institution's enrollment, so clarify which legal entity is actually signing your I-983.
Target federal grant-funded labs for faster onboarding
NIH- and NSF-funded research positions at universities and nonprofit institutes almost always maintain active E-Verify enrollment because federal contracting requires it. Filtering your search by grant-funded employers cuts the E-Verify verification step down significantly.
Build your I-983 training plan around specific research tasks
USCIS requires your I-983 to list concrete learning objectives tied to your STEM degree. For Research Assistant roles, map each lab task, data analysis method, or instrumentation skill directly to a degree competency rather than submitting a generic job description.
Search Migrate Mate to find Research Assistant roles at E-Verify employers
Filter by STEM OPT on Migrate Mate to surface Research Assistant openings at employers already enrolled in E-Verify. This saves you from applying to positions where the sponsorship infrastructure isn't in place, which is a common source of offer-letter delays.
Use cap-gap protection if your OPT expires during H-1B transition
If you're moving from STEM OPT toward H-1B visa sponsorship and your EAD expires between April 1 and October 1, cap-gap automatically extends your work authorization. Confirm your employer's I-129 was filed before your EAD end date so your research role doesn't have a gap in authorization.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Research Assistant jobs qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, if your degree's CIP code appears on USCIS's STEM Designated Degree Program List and the Research Assistant role requires you to apply knowledge from that field. Life sciences, computer science, engineering, and physical science degrees commonly qualify. Your DSO confirms the match when you apply for the 24-month extension through your school's SEVIS record. Roles that are purely administrative, even at research institutions, typically don't qualify.
How do I know if a research employer is enrolled in E-Verify?
Ask the hiring manager or HR contact for the employer's E-Verify Company ID before accepting an offer. You can also search the E-Verify employer search tool by employer name. For university-based Research Assistant positions, confirm whether the specific department or lab is covered under the university's master E-Verify account, since some satellite locations enroll separately. Your I-983 training plan cannot be approved without confirmed E-Verify enrollment.
What goes into an I-983 training plan for a Research Assistant role?
Your I-983 must describe how each research duty connects to your STEM degree's learning outcomes. List specific tasks such as data collection protocols, statistical analysis methods, or laboratory techniques, and tie each one to a competency from your degree program. USCIS reviews these plans for substance, so a generic job description copied from the posting won't satisfy the requirement. Your employer signs the form alongside your DSO, and you must update it if your duties change significantly.
What happens to my STEM OPT if my Research Assistant contract ends between April and September during an H-1B year?
Cap-gap protection extends your STEM OPT work authorization automatically if your employer filed an H-1B petition on your behalf before your EAD expiration date and you were selected in the lottery. Authorization continues until October 1, the H-1B start date, with no action required on your part. If the petition is withdrawn or denied, cap-gap protection ends and you must stop working. Confirm your employer filed before your EAD end date, not just before April 1.
Where can I find Research Assistant jobs that already support STEM OPT students?
Migrate Mate lists Research Assistant openings filtered for STEM OPT eligibility, so you can identify employers with active E-Verify enrollment without manually verifying each one. Federal grant-funded labs at universities and nonprofit research institutes are consistently strong options because federal contracting requirements push them to maintain E-Verify enrollment year-round. Prioritize employers who have onboarded STEM OPT students before, since they're familiar with the I-983 process and reporting timelines.