STEM OPT Research Associate Jobs
Research Associate roles in labs, biotech firms, and universities are a strong fit for STEM OPT students. Your 24-month STEM OPT extension applies here, and employers must be enrolled in E-Verify to hire you. A STEM degree in life sciences, chemistry, biology, or a related field satisfies the CIP code eligibility requirement.
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The Department of Medicine is seeking a highly motivated Staff Research Associate to join the Pharmaceutical Policy & Outcomes Lab, an interdisciplinary research team dedicated to advancing evidence-based healthcare policy through innovative research. The successful candidate will contribute to projects examining Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulation, pharmaceutical pricing, intellectual property, and the use of real-world evidence to evaluate clinical outcomes. Working alongside faculty investigators, research staff, and external collaborators, this role offers the opportunity to support high-impact studies that inform healthcare policy, improve patient outcomes, and shape the future of pharmaceutical regulation. This position is ideal for individuals who are passionate about health policy research and are eager to gain meaningful, hands-on experience in a collaborative and intellectually stimulating academic environment.
Hourly range: $32.79-$52.75
Qualifications
Required:
- Demonstrated ability to set and meet internal deadlines, work independently, use judgment and make decisions.
- Ability to organize and update paperwork with supervision.
- Ability to accomplish work cooperatively with other team members.
- Ability to extract data in a timely manner with careful attention to detail.
- Ability to synthesize and interpret data.
- Ability to balance one’s time in completing multiple tasks related to different projects.
- Ability to help draft and edit academic manuscripts.
- Bachelor's Degree and/or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Preferred:
- Ability to use basic statistical software programs (e.g., R or STATA).
- Master’s in Public Health or Epidemiology
Description
The Department of Medicine is seeking a highly motivated Staff Research Associate to join the Pharmaceutical Policy & Outcomes Lab, an interdisciplinary research team dedicated to advancing evidence-based healthcare policy through innovative research. The successful candidate will contribute to projects examining Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulation, pharmaceutical pricing, intellectual property, and the use of real-world evidence to evaluate clinical outcomes. Working alongside faculty investigators, research staff, and external collaborators, this role offers the opportunity to support high-impact studies that inform healthcare policy, improve patient outcomes, and shape the future of pharmaceutical regulation. This position is ideal for individuals who are passionate about health policy research and are eager to gain meaningful, hands-on experience in a collaborative and intellectually stimulating academic environment.
Hourly range: $32.79-$52.75
Qualifications
Required:
- Demonstrated ability to set and meet internal deadlines, work independently, use judgment and make decisions.
- Ability to organize and update paperwork with supervision.
- Ability to accomplish work cooperatively with other team members.
- Ability to extract data in a timely manner with careful attention to detail.
- Ability to synthesize and interpret data.
- Ability to balance one’s time in completing multiple tasks related to different projects.
- Ability to help draft and edit academic manuscripts.
- Bachelor's Degree and/or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Preferred:
- Ability to use basic statistical software programs (e.g., R or STATA).
- Master’s in Public Health or Epidemiology
See all 2,192+ STEM OPT Research Associate Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new STEM OPT Research Associate Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Research Associate
Verify your CIP code before applying
Not every STEM degree qualifies automatically. Cross-check your program's Classification of Instructional Programs code against the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List to confirm your degree supports the extension before you target Research Associate postings.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before signing
Ask the HR team for their E-Verify Company ID before you accept any offer. Research institutions and nonprofits sometimes operate under federal funding rules that require E-Verify, but individual labs may not be registered independently.
Tailor your CV to the lab's research output
PIs reviewing Research Associate applications scan for technique-specific experience matching their active grants. List specific assays, instruments, or computational methods you've used, not just broad skill categories, so your CV survives the first filter.
File your I-983 training plan before your start date
USCIS requires a signed I-983 on file with your DSO before you begin work, not after. Coordinate with HR to complete the employer sections, including the FTE percentage and training objectives, at least a week before your first day.
Use Migrate Mate to filter for E-Verify employers
Search Research Associate roles on Migrate Mate to see which employers already have verified E-Verify enrollment and STEM OPT hiring history, cutting out the manual confirmation step from your outreach process.
Request the prevailing wage tier from your employer
Look up the wage level for your SOC code and location using the OFLC Wage Search before your offer negotiation. Research Associates are typically classified at Level I or II, and knowing the range helps you identify whether an offer meets the threshold.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a biology or chemistry degree qualify me for STEM OPT as a Research Associate?
Yes, if your degree's CIP code appears on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List. Life sciences, chemistry, biochemistry, and most natural science programs qualify. Your DSO can confirm your specific CIP code. The research duties in a Research Associate role typically align closely with STEM degree fields, which strengthens your I-983 training plan justification.
Can I work as a Research Associate at a university lab on STEM OPT?
Yes, but only if the university entity employing you is enrolled in E-Verify as a covered employer. Some universities enroll institution-wide, while others enroll by department or subsidiary. Confirm that the specific hiring unit, not just the university system, appears in E-Verify before your offer letter is finalized. Your DSO can help you verify this.
What goes into the I-983 training plan for a Research Associate position?
The I-983 requires a detailed description of how the Research Associate role provides practical training directly related to your STEM degree. You'll list specific learning objectives, the supervision structure, and how your employer will evaluate your progress. The employer must identify a supervisor with relevant STEM credentials. Both you and your employer sign before your DSO submits the form to SEVIS.
How does cap-gap protect me if my H-1B is selected while I'm working as a Research Associate?
If your employer files a timely H-1B visa petition on your behalf before your OPT EAD expires, cap-gap automatically extends your STEM OPT work authorization through September 30. You can continue in your Research Associate role without interruption during that period. USCIS updates your I-20 end date to reflect the cap-gap extension, and you can verify your status remains active through your DSO.
Where can I find Research Associate jobs where the employer already accepts STEM OPT students?
Migrate Mate filters Research Associate postings by employers with confirmed E-Verify enrollment and a history of hiring STEM OPT candidates. That means you spend less time chasing down HR teams to ask basic eligibility questions and more time on applications where your work authorization is already a known fit for the role.