STEM OPT Jobs in Alabama
Alabama's aerospace, defense, and advanced manufacturing sectors in Huntsville and Birmingham actively sponsor F-1 STEM OPT workers, with growing demand in engineering, data science, and computer systems roles. The state's research universities and federal contractor ecosystem create a steady pipeline of STEM OPT-eligible positions.
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The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Med - Hematology & Oncology, is seeking a Clinical Research Coordinator II.
This position will support 1-3 PIs on Investigator-Initiated Trials (IIT). The individual will serve as the primary contact for internal and external stakeholders. The position will handle trial start-up, process, and closeout.
General Responsibilities
- To serve as coordinator for studies and provide support to other team members within the confines of the protocol as directed.
- To support screening and participant eligibility determination, working with more senior team members to ensure compliance.
- To conduct activities in accordance with the protocol, regulations and Good Clinical Practice (GCP).
- To assist with the study life cycle from start-up to closure, i.e., collecting and recording data, recruiting and performing follow-up with participants, scheduling visits and assisting in coordination of lab and fieldwork.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
- Handles clinical trial start-up, including budgets and IRB.
- Manages clinical trials, including consenting, enrolling, and gathering data.
- Closes out clinical trials.
- Provides weekly updates to PIs regarding participants and budget.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Annual Salary Range: $50,050 - $81,330
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in a related field and three (3) years of related experience required. Work experience may substitute for education requirement.
Preferences
- A degree in a related clinical, healthcare, laboratory, or research field is preferred but not required.
- Candidates with UAB clinical research experience preferred.
- The ideal candidate should have strong communication, organization, attention to detail, and interpersonal skills, along with experience in clinical research, data collection, documentation, or working with research participants.
UAB is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution dedicated to providing equal opportunities and equal access to all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, sex (including pregnancy), genetic information, age, disability, and veteran's status. As required by Title IX, UAB prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals may report concerns or questions to UAB's Assistant Vice President and Senior Title IX Coordinator. The Title IX notice of nondiscrimination is located at uab.edu/titleix.
Primary Location: University
Job Category: Clinical Research
Organization: 311402200 Med - Hematology & Oncology
Employee Status: Regular
Shift: Day/1st Shift
Work Arrangement (final schedule to be determined by the department/hiring manager): Hybrid Eligible
Description
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Med - Hematology & Oncology, is seeking a Clinical Research Coordinator II.
This position will support 1-3 PIs on Investigator-Initiated Trials (IIT). The individual will serve as the primary contact for internal and external stakeholders. The position will handle trial start-up, process, and closeout.
General Responsibilities
- To serve as coordinator for studies and provide support to other team members within the confines of the protocol as directed.
- To support screening and participant eligibility determination, working with more senior team members to ensure compliance.
- To conduct activities in accordance with the protocol, regulations and Good Clinical Practice (GCP).
- To assist with the study life cycle from start-up to closure, i.e., collecting and recording data, recruiting and performing follow-up with participants, scheduling visits and assisting in coordination of lab and fieldwork.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
- Handles clinical trial start-up, including budgets and IRB.
- Manages clinical trials, including consenting, enrolling, and gathering data.
- Closes out clinical trials.
- Provides weekly updates to PIs regarding participants and budget.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Annual Salary Range: $50,050 - $81,330
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in a related field and three (3) years of related experience required. Work experience may substitute for education requirement.
Preferences
- A degree in a related clinical, healthcare, laboratory, or research field is preferred but not required.
- Candidates with UAB clinical research experience preferred.
- The ideal candidate should have strong communication, organization, attention to detail, and interpersonal skills, along with experience in clinical research, data collection, documentation, or working with research participants.
UAB is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution dedicated to providing equal opportunities and equal access to all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, sex (including pregnancy), genetic information, age, disability, and veteran's status. As required by Title IX, UAB prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals may report concerns or questions to UAB's Assistant Vice President and Senior Title IX Coordinator. The Title IX notice of nondiscrimination is located at uab.edu/titleix.
Primary Location: University
Job Category: Clinical Research
Organization: 311402200 Med - Hematology & Oncology
Employee Status: Regular
Shift: Day/1st Shift
Work Arrangement (final schedule to be determined by the department/hiring manager): Hybrid Eligible
Search F-1 STEM OPT Jobs by Industry in Alabama
Tips for Finding STEM OPT Jobs in Alabama
Target federal contractors in Huntsville first
Huntsville's Redstone Arsenal corridor hosts dozens of defense contractors who routinely file STEM OPT paperwork. Federal contractors must already be E-Verify enrolled, which is a USCIS requirement for all STEM OPT employers, removing a common filing barrier.
Check employer E-Verify status before interviewing
USCIS requires every STEM OPT employer to be enrolled in E-Verify before your extension is approved. Ask HR directly during early conversations, not after an offer, so you don't lose time pursuing roles that would require the employer to enroll from scratch.
Use Migrate Mate to filter verified Alabama sponsors
Search Migrate Mate's employer database filtered to Alabama to identify companies with active STEM OPT filing history. This saves weeks of manual research into which Birmingham or Huntsville employers have actually sponsored STEM OPT workers before.
Submit your I-983 training plan before day one
Your employer must complete the I-983 training plan and your DSO must recommend the STEM OPT extension in SEVIS before your current OPT expires. Start this paperwork at least 90 days before your EAD end date to avoid a gap in work authorization.
See all 264+ F-1 STEM OPT jobs in Alabama
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Get Access To All JobsF-1 STEM OPT Jobs in Alabama: Frequently Asked Questions
Which industries in Alabama sponsor the most F-1 STEM OPT visas?
Aerospace and defense lead F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship in Alabama, concentrated around Huntsville's Redstone Arsenal corridor where federal contractors employ large engineering and IT workforces. Advanced manufacturing in the Birmingham and Tuscaloosa areas is a secondary cluster, along with healthcare technology and research roles tied to university medical centers in Birmingham.
Which cities in Alabama have the most F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs?
Huntsville has the highest density of F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs in Alabama, driven by its defense and aerospace contractor ecosystem. Birmingham follows, with opportunities in financial technology, healthcare systems, and engineering services. Auburn and Tuscaloosa offer some sponsorship through manufacturing and university-affiliated employers, though at lower volume than the two major metros.
What types of roles typically qualify for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship in Alabama?
Roles that qualify for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship in Alabama must fall under a DHS-designated STEM STEM degree classification and require a directly related STEM degree. In Alabama this commonly includes systems engineers, software developers, data analysts, electrical engineers, and aerospace engineers. Generalist management or business roles without a STEM occupational classification typically do not qualify, even at technical companies.
How do I find F-1 STEM OPT jobs in Alabama that actually sponsor?
Migrate Mate filters employer search results by F-1 STEM OPT filing history, so you can identify Alabama companies that have sponsored this visa type before rather than guessing from job postings. Because USCIS requires STEM OPT employers to be E-Verify enrolled, you can also verify employer eligibility before investing time in an application process.
Are there any Alabama-specific considerations for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship?
Alabama has no state-level immigration restrictions that affect F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship, but many of the state's largest STEM employers are federal contractors with security clearance requirements. Non-U.S. citizens can be sponsored for STEM OPT at these firms, but clearance-dependent roles may be off-limits. Confirming clearance requirements early narrows your list to realistic opportunities in Alabama's defense-heavy job market.