STEM OPT Research Scientist Jobs
Research Scientist roles qualify for the STEM OPT 24-month extension when your employer is enrolled in E-Verify and your degree aligns with a STEM-designated CIP code. With up to 36 months of total OPT work authorization, you have a realistic runway to contribute to long-term research projects and pursue H-1B visa sponsorship.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Design and build the knowledge infrastructure that powers Gallup's most ambitious AI initiatives.
As an AI research scientist at Gallup, you will shape AI systems built on some of the richest behavioral datasets in the world. If you bring the rigor of a researcher and the instincts of a systems thinker, and you want to design what doesn't yet exist, you'll thrive in Gallup Labs.
About Gallup Labs
Gallup Labs is the internal research and incubation engine at Gallup, where the world's most important questions about human behavior meet at the intersection of research and technology. We work on problems that don't have clear road maps: building novel knowledge architectures from decades of behavioral data, designing AI systems that surface talent signals and prototyping the next generation of human-centered intelligence tools for a variety of markets.
- Design, prototype and evaluate applied AI systems for knowledge representation, retrieval and agentic reasoning
- Build knowledge architectures that combine knowledge graphs, vector databases, RAG pipelines and hybrid retrieval approaches for behavioral and scientific data
- Own core retrieval infrastructure, including ontology design, schema design, embeddings, indexing, LLM-based extraction, entity resolution, graph storage and query patterns
- Translate ambiguous research questions into clear technical approaches, experiments and working systems
- Create evaluation frameworks for reasoning quality, retrieval accuracy, scalability and real-world impact
- Partner with researchers, product leaders and technologists to integrate knowledge systems into larger AI workflows and communicate architectural decisions clearly
- Stay current on applied AI research and identify techniques that can strengthen Gallup's AI capabilities
What Makes You Stand Out
- Entrepreneurial mindset: You are relentlessly curious about what could exist, spot unmet needs and take ownership of turning technical possibility into systems that create measurable value.
- Systems thinking: You instinctively see how technical components interact, anticipate failure modes and design and test architectures that are resilient and adaptable.
- Architectural creativity: You evaluate trade-offs across graph, vector and hybrid systems and are energized by inventing new combinations when standard approaches fall short.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Required
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, data science, applied mathematics, cognitive science or a related quantitative field, plus two years of experience, or an advanced degree in ML, NLP, information science or computational social science
- Experience building applied AI systems, knowledge architectures or advanced data systems in industry, research or comparable settings
- Strong hands-on experience with knowledge graphs, including ontology and schema design, extraction pipelines, graph storage and traversal
- Experience using LLMs for structured extraction of entities, relations and attributes
- Experience designing advanced retrieval systems and evaluating reasoning and extraction quality
- Strong Python skills and fluency with modern AI development stacks such as LangChain, LangGraph or LlamaIndex
- A commitment to working on-site at Gallup's Omaha office at least three days per week
Preferred
- Experience turning research ideas into production-ready AI systems
- Hands-on experience with agentic workflows, including multi-step reasoning, tool use and planner/executor patterns
- Ability to build lightweight service layers and interfaces, such as FastAPI, to inspect and evaluate extraction and retrieval quality
- Advanced experience with entity resolution, graph learning or hybrid database architectures that combine graph, vector and relational systems
- Experience with major cloud AI ecosystems such as Azure OpenAI, AWS Bedrock, GCP Vertex or comparable self-hosted solutions
About Gallup
At Gallup, we change the world, one client at a time, through extraordinary analytics and advice on everything important facing humankind. Learn more about our work and life at Gallup.
Gallup offers a robust benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, life and other insurance options; a fully vested 401(k) retirement savings plan with company matching; an employee stock ownership program; family-building benefits; an employee assistance program; and various reimbursements and activities that enhance our associates' wellbeing. We also offer an estimated annual salary range of $165,000-$225,000 for this role. Salaries are based on a variety of factors, including an individual's education, experience and skills.
Gallup is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other legally protected basis, in accordance with applicable law.
To review Gallup's Privacy Statement, please click this link: https://www.gallup.com/privacy. This privacy policy is meant to help you understand what information we collect, why we collect it, and how you can update, manage and delete your information. Your application and the information you provide will be processed and stored in the United States.
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INTRODUCTION
Design and build the knowledge infrastructure that powers Gallup's most ambitious AI initiatives.
As an AI research scientist at Gallup, you will shape AI systems built on some of the richest behavioral datasets in the world. If you bring the rigor of a researcher and the instincts of a systems thinker, and you want to design what doesn't yet exist, you'll thrive in Gallup Labs.
About Gallup Labs
Gallup Labs is the internal research and incubation engine at Gallup, where the world's most important questions about human behavior meet at the intersection of research and technology. We work on problems that don't have clear road maps: building novel knowledge architectures from decades of behavioral data, designing AI systems that surface talent signals and prototyping the next generation of human-centered intelligence tools for a variety of markets.
- Design, prototype and evaluate applied AI systems for knowledge representation, retrieval and agentic reasoning
- Build knowledge architectures that combine knowledge graphs, vector databases, RAG pipelines and hybrid retrieval approaches for behavioral and scientific data
- Own core retrieval infrastructure, including ontology design, schema design, embeddings, indexing, LLM-based extraction, entity resolution, graph storage and query patterns
- Translate ambiguous research questions into clear technical approaches, experiments and working systems
- Create evaluation frameworks for reasoning quality, retrieval accuracy, scalability and real-world impact
- Partner with researchers, product leaders and technologists to integrate knowledge systems into larger AI workflows and communicate architectural decisions clearly
- Stay current on applied AI research and identify techniques that can strengthen Gallup's AI capabilities
What Makes You Stand Out
- Entrepreneurial mindset: You are relentlessly curious about what could exist, spot unmet needs and take ownership of turning technical possibility into systems that create measurable value.
- Systems thinking: You instinctively see how technical components interact, anticipate failure modes and design and test architectures that are resilient and adaptable.
- Architectural creativity: You evaluate trade-offs across graph, vector and hybrid systems and are energized by inventing new combinations when standard approaches fall short.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Required
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, data science, applied mathematics, cognitive science or a related quantitative field, plus two years of experience, or an advanced degree in ML, NLP, information science or computational social science
- Experience building applied AI systems, knowledge architectures or advanced data systems in industry, research or comparable settings
- Strong hands-on experience with knowledge graphs, including ontology and schema design, extraction pipelines, graph storage and traversal
- Experience using LLMs for structured extraction of entities, relations and attributes
- Experience designing advanced retrieval systems and evaluating reasoning and extraction quality
- Strong Python skills and fluency with modern AI development stacks such as LangChain, LangGraph or LlamaIndex
- A commitment to working on-site at Gallup's Omaha office at least three days per week
Preferred
- Experience turning research ideas into production-ready AI systems
- Hands-on experience with agentic workflows, including multi-step reasoning, tool use and planner/executor patterns
- Ability to build lightweight service layers and interfaces, such as FastAPI, to inspect and evaluate extraction and retrieval quality
- Advanced experience with entity resolution, graph learning or hybrid database architectures that combine graph, vector and relational systems
- Experience with major cloud AI ecosystems such as Azure OpenAI, AWS Bedrock, GCP Vertex or comparable self-hosted solutions
About Gallup
At Gallup, we change the world, one client at a time, through extraordinary analytics and advice on everything important facing humankind. Learn more about our work and life at Gallup.
Gallup offers a robust benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, life and other insurance options; a fully vested 401(k) retirement savings plan with company matching; an employee stock ownership program; family-building benefits; an employee assistance program; and various reimbursements and activities that enhance our associates' wellbeing. We also offer an estimated annual salary range of $165,000-$225,000 for this role. Salaries are based on a variety of factors, including an individual's education, experience and skills.
Gallup is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other legally protected basis, in accordance with applicable law.
To review Gallup's Privacy Statement, please click this link: https://www.gallup.com/privacy. This privacy policy is meant to help you understand what information we collect, why we collect it, and how you can update, manage and delete your information. Your application and the information you provide will be processed and stored in the United States.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Research Scientist
Verify your CIP code before applying
Check that your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code appears on the DHS STEM OPT designated degree list. Biology, chemistry, computer science, and engineering fields qualify, but interdisciplinary degrees sometimes carry non-STEM CIP codes that disqualify you.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Research institutions, national labs, and private R&D firms must be enrolled in E-Verify to hire STEM OPT students. Search the E-Verify employer search tool by company name before signing anything, enrollment status is not always disclosed upfront in job postings.
File your I-983 training plan before your start date
Your DSO must receive a completed I-983 signed by both you and your Research Scientist supervisor before your STEM OPT extension begins. Delays in supervisor sign-off at large institutions are common, so build in two weeks of buffer.
Use O*NET to match your role to STEM OPT criteria
Pull the Research Scientist occupation profile from O*NET and cross-reference the listed knowledge areas with your degree field. This documentation strengthens your I-983 training plan and helps your employer's HR team confirm the role qualifies.
Target employers with active H-1B filing history
Research Scientist roles often lead directly to H-1B sponsorship. Use Migrate Mate to filter employers by verified DOL Labor Condition Application filings in research and life sciences occupations, so you focus your applications on organizations that have already committed to sponsoring workers in your field.
Request employer cap-gap documentation immediately after lottery selection
If USCIS selects your H-1B petition in the annual lottery before your STEM OPT expires, cap-gap protection automatically extends your work authorization through September 30. Ask your employer's immigration team to provide written confirmation of your cap-gap status so you can continue working without interruption.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Research Scientist role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, if your employer is enrolled in E-Verify and your degree carries a STEM-designated CIP code. Research Scientist positions in life sciences, physical sciences, computer science, and engineering routinely qualify. Your DSO confirms eligibility by matching your degree's CIP code against the DHS STEM designated degree list before recommending the extension to USCIS.
What goes into the I-983 training plan for a Research Scientist position?
Your I-983 must describe the specific research skills, laboratory techniques, or computational methods you'll develop on the job, how those learning goals connect to your STEM degree, and how your supervisor will evaluate your progress. Both you and your supervising researcher must sign it. USCIS can audit these plans, so vague descriptions like 'conduct experiments' are insufficient without linking tasks to degree-specific competencies.
How do I find Research Scientist employers who are enrolled in E-Verify?
E-Verify enrollment is mandatory for STEM OPT employers but isn't always listed in job postings. You can search the E-Verify employer database by organization name to confirm enrollment before applying. Migrate Mate also surfaces Research Scientist roles filtered for E-Verify compliance and active LCA filing history, saving you from applying to employers who can't legally hire STEM OPT students.
What happens to my STEM OPT authorization if my H-1B is selected in the lottery?
Cap-gap protection automatically extends your work authorization if your H-1B petition is filed before your STEM OPT expires and USCIS selects it in the lottery. Your authorization continues through September 30 of the fiscal year your H-1B takes effect. Research Scientist employers typically file H-1B petitions in April, so your STEM OPT must still be valid at that filing date for cap-gap to apply.
Can I switch Research Scientist employers while on STEM OPT?
Yes, but you must report the change to your DSO within 10 days and file a new I-983 training plan with the incoming employer before you start working there. The new employer must also be enrolled in E-Verify. Your authorization does not transfer automatically, and working for the new employer before your DSO processes the update creates a status violation.