STEM OPT Senior Researcher Jobs
Senior Researcher roles in R&D, academia, and biotech are strong fits for STEM OPT students with degrees in life sciences, computer science, engineering, or related fields. Your 24-month STEM OPT extension applies as long as your employer is enrolled in E-Verify and your role directly applies your STEM degree.
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Researcher 2
Department:
Arts and Sciences | Sociology
The Researcher 2 collaborates with the Departments of Sociology and Psychology to coordinate and manage the day-to-day operations of two survey research projects. This role supports all phases of the research lifecycle, including study design, IRB documentation, implementation, fieldwork management, and data preparation.
Key Responsibilities
Project Coordination & Study Implementation
- Coordinate and manage daily activities for multiple survey research projects.
- Assist with preparation and submission of IRB documentation.
- Collaborate with study teams on research design, methodology, and implementation.
- Participate in the development of study communications and outreach strategies.
Survey Programming & Data Collection
- Convert, program, and debug complex electronic questionnaires using specialized survey software.
- Manage field operations, including oversight of survey administration processes.
- Create and maintain dialing campaigns within call center software; serve as a subject matter resource for staff.
Field Staff Training & Supervision
- Develop training materials and conduct training sessions for field and telephone interviewers.
- Supervise field and office-based research interviewers, ensuring performance standards are met.
- Conduct interviewer quality assurance activities to maintain data integrity.
Respondent Engagement
- Initiate and manage communications with survey respondents (e.g., emails, text messages) to encourage participation.
- Support implementation of engagement strategies to improve response rates.
Data Management & Reporting
- Assist with variable creation, data cleaning, and reporting using statistical software packages.
- Track interviewer hours and monitor fielding budgets to ensure project efficiency.
Qualifications
- Experience with survey research methods and data collection.
- Proficiency in statistical software (e.g., SPSS, Stata, R) and survey programming tools.
- Strong organizational, communication, and project management skills.
- Experience supervising staff and managing field operations preferred.
Minimum Education Required
Bachelor's Degree in Sociology, Psychology or related field with 3 years of relevant research experience required; Master's Degree in Sociology, Psychology or a related field and/or six years of survey research equivalent experience.
Additional Education Desired
Considerable experience (six or more years) in a social science discipline and in conducting research. Six or more years of experience with programmed survey conversion and testing. Expertise in SAS or equivalent programming language (preferably SPSS or STATA). Ability to produce metrics and create variables. Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
This is a part-time, limited term, 2 year position with a 55% FTE.
The range of offers for this position will be based on internal equity, the unit’s budget and the individual’s qualifications.
Additional Information:
Location:
Remote Location
Position Type:
Term (Fixed Term)
Scheduled Hours:
22
Shift:
Varying Shifts
Final candidates are subject to successful completion of a background check. A drug screen or physical may be required during the post offer process.
Thank you for your interest in positions at The Ohio State University and Wexner Medical Center. Once you have applied, the most updated information on the status of your application can be found by visiting the Candidate Home section of this site. Please view your submitted applications by logging in and reviewing your status. For answers to additional questions please review the frequently asked questions.
The university is an equal opportunity employer, including veterans and disability.
Job Title:
Researcher 2
Department:
Arts and Sciences | Sociology
The Researcher 2 collaborates with the Departments of Sociology and Psychology to coordinate and manage the day-to-day operations of two survey research projects. This role supports all phases of the research lifecycle, including study design, IRB documentation, implementation, fieldwork management, and data preparation.
Key Responsibilities
Project Coordination & Study Implementation
- Coordinate and manage daily activities for multiple survey research projects.
- Assist with preparation and submission of IRB documentation.
- Collaborate with study teams on research design, methodology, and implementation.
- Participate in the development of study communications and outreach strategies.
Survey Programming & Data Collection
- Convert, program, and debug complex electronic questionnaires using specialized survey software.
- Manage field operations, including oversight of survey administration processes.
- Create and maintain dialing campaigns within call center software; serve as a subject matter resource for staff.
Field Staff Training & Supervision
- Develop training materials and conduct training sessions for field and telephone interviewers.
- Supervise field and office-based research interviewers, ensuring performance standards are met.
- Conduct interviewer quality assurance activities to maintain data integrity.
Respondent Engagement
- Initiate and manage communications with survey respondents (e.g., emails, text messages) to encourage participation.
- Support implementation of engagement strategies to improve response rates.
Data Management & Reporting
- Assist with variable creation, data cleaning, and reporting using statistical software packages.
- Track interviewer hours and monitor fielding budgets to ensure project efficiency.
Qualifications
- Experience with survey research methods and data collection.
- Proficiency in statistical software (e.g., SPSS, Stata, R) and survey programming tools.
- Strong organizational, communication, and project management skills.
- Experience supervising staff and managing field operations preferred.
Minimum Education Required
Bachelor's Degree in Sociology, Psychology or related field with 3 years of relevant research experience required; Master's Degree in Sociology, Psychology or a related field and/or six years of survey research equivalent experience.
Additional Education Desired
Considerable experience (six or more years) in a social science discipline and in conducting research. Six or more years of experience with programmed survey conversion and testing. Expertise in SAS or equivalent programming language (preferably SPSS or STATA). Ability to produce metrics and create variables. Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
This is a part-time, limited term, 2 year position with a 55% FTE.
The range of offers for this position will be based on internal equity, the unit’s budget and the individual’s qualifications.
Additional Information:
Location:
Remote Location
Position Type:
Term (Fixed Term)
Scheduled Hours:
22
Shift:
Varying Shifts
Final candidates are subject to successful completion of a background check. A drug screen or physical may be required during the post offer process.
Thank you for your interest in positions at The Ohio State University and Wexner Medical Center. Once you have applied, the most updated information on the status of your application can be found by visiting the Candidate Home section of this site. Please view your submitted applications by logging in and reviewing your status. For answers to additional questions please review the frequently asked questions.
The university is an equal opportunity employer, including veterans and disability.
See all 748+ STEM OPT Senior Researcher Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization in Senior Researcher
Verify your CIP code before applying
Check that your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code appears on the STEM OPT eligible fields list. Mismatches between your CIP code and your degree title are a common reason DSOs can't authorize the extension.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Ask recruiters directly whether the hiring entity, not just the parent company, is enrolled in E-Verify. Research divisions and subsidiary labs sometimes operate under separate EINs that aren't covered by a parent organization's enrollment.
Align your I-983 training plan to the role
Your training plan must map your Senior Researcher duties to specific learning objectives tied to your STEM degree. Vague job descriptions get pushed back by DSOs, so request a detailed position description from your hiring manager before submitting.
Target R&D-heavy employers with consistent OPT hiring
Use Migrate Mate to filter Senior Researcher postings by employers with documented STEM OPT hiring history. Government labs, pharmaceutical companies, and university-affiliated research centers file consistently and have established onboarding processes for OPT students.
Benchmark your offer against OFLC Wage Search data
Look up the prevailing wage for your SOC code and work location using the OFLC Wage Search before negotiating. Senior Researcher roles span multiple wage levels depending on supervision and complexity, and your offer affects future H-1B visa LCA compliance.
File your extension request 90 days before OPT expires
USCIS requires your STEM OPT extension application to be submitted no more than 90 days before your initial OPT end date. Missing this window means a gap in work authorization that can't be retroactively fixed, even with an approved extension.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Senior Researcher role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, if your STEM degree directly relates to the research work you'll be performing. Senior Researcher positions in fields like computational biology, materials science, or data science typically qualify. Your DSO will confirm eligibility based on your specific CIP code and the job duties described in your I-983 training plan, not just your job title.
What E-Verify requirement applies to STEM OPT employers hiring researchers?
Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify at the specific site where you'll work. For Senior Researcher roles at institutions with multiple campuses or research divisions, the enrolling entity must match your actual worksite. You can confirm enrollment by asking HR for the employer's E-Verify company ID or by requesting written confirmation before your start date.
How should the I-983 training plan reflect Senior Researcher responsibilities?
Your I-983 must tie each primary job duty to a specific learning objective connected to your STEM degree. For Senior Researcher roles, this means detailing how activities like experimental design, data analysis, or literature synthesis develop skills within your degree field. Generic descriptions like 'conduct research' are insufficient. Work with your supervisor to draft duty-specific language before submitting to your DSO.
What happens to my STEM OPT if my employer loses E-Verify enrollment?
If your employer's E-Verify enrollment lapses after your extension begins, you're required to report the change to your DSO within five days and either secure re-enrollment or find a new qualifying employer. Continued employment without a current E-Verify enrollment violates STEM OPT terms and can jeopardize your status, even if the gap is brief.
Where can I find Senior Researcher jobs posted by E-Verify enrolled employers?
Migrate Mate filters Senior Researcher postings specifically for STEM OPT students, surfacing roles at employers already enrolled in E-Verify. This saves you the step of manually verifying each employer's enrollment status before applying. You can search by research area, degree field, and work location to narrow results to positions that fit your STEM OPT eligibility.