STEM OPT Research Engineer Jobs
Research Engineer roles in areas like machine learning, materials science, and biomedical systems are strong fits for STEM OPT. Your 24-month extension applies if your degree falls under an eligible CIP code, and your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify before your extension start date.
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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 3,801+ STEM OPT Research Engineer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Research Engineer
Verify your CIP code before applying
Check that your degree's CIP code appears on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List. Research Engineer roles typically align with engineering, computer science, or physical science codes, but a mismatch disqualifies your extension regardless of your job duties.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before signing
Ask your hiring contact for the company's E-Verify company ID number before you accept an offer. An employer can't sponsor your STEM OPT extension without active E-Verify enrollment, and not every research lab or university spinout is enrolled.
Negotiate your I-983 training plan early
Draft your Form I-983 training plan during the offer stage, not after you start. Research Engineer roles need a plan that maps specific lab activities, project milestones, and skill outcomes to your STEM degree field, which takes time to do accurately.
Target employers with active DOL LCA filings
Use Migrate Mate to filter Research Engineer postings by employers who have filed Labor Condition Applications. LCA history signals that a company has navigated federal work authorization requirements before and understands what STEM OPT compliance involves.
Check prevailing wage against your offer
Look up the wage level for your research role using the OFLC Wage Search before finalizing compensation. Your employer must pay at least the prevailing wage for your job title and location, which USCIS reviews when evaluating your STEM OPT extension application.
Start your DSO application 90 days out
File your STEM OPT extension application with USCIS no later than 90 days before your initial OPT end date. Your DSO must update your SEVIS record first, and USCIS processing can extend beyond your OPT expiration, so early filing protects your continuous work authorization.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Research Engineer role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Research Engineer positions qualify if your degree's CIP code appears on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List and the role directly relates to that field of study. O*NET classifies research engineering work under STEM occupations, but your DSO must confirm the CIP code match before authorizing your extension. The job title alone isn't enough.
What does the I-983 training plan need to include for a research role?
Your Form I-983 must describe specific learning objectives tied to your degree field, identify the employer supervisor responsible for your training, and outline how each project or lab activity develops practical STEM skills. Generic job descriptions don't satisfy the requirement. Both you and your employer must sign the plan, and your DSO must review it before submitting your extension application to USCIS.
How do I verify that a research employer is enrolled in E-Verify?
Ask your recruiter or HR contact directly for the company's E-Verify company ID. You can also search the E-Verify employer database by company name. Government-funded research labs, national laboratories, and university-affiliated research centers are often enrolled, but smaller startup labs and contract research organizations sometimes are not, so always confirm before your extension start date.
What happens to my STEM OPT if my research employer loses E-Verify enrollment?
If your employer's E-Verify enrollment lapses or is terminated after your extension begins, your authorization is at risk. USCIS requires employers to maintain active E-Verify enrollment for the full duration of your STEM OPT period. You should report the change to your DSO immediately and begin evaluating whether to transfer to a new employer before your status is affected.
Where can I find Research Engineer jobs where employers are already prepared for STEM OPT?
Migrate Mate filters Research Engineer postings by employers with verified Labor Condition Application filing history, which indicates familiarity with federal work authorization requirements. Searching there reduces the time you spend vetting employers who have never sponsored OPT or don't know what E-Verify enrollment or an I-983 training plan involves.