Science & Research OPT Jobs in California
California is one of the top states for F-1 OPT science and research jobs, anchored by institutions like UC San Diego, Stanford, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and biotech employers concentrated in the Bay Area and San Diego. OPT students in STEM-designated programs benefit from the 24-month STEM OPT extension, giving employers more flexibility when considering international candidates.
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Scripps Research is a nonprofit biomedical institute ranked as one of the most influential in the world for its impact on innovation. We celebrated our 100-year legacy in 2024. This significant milestone marks a century of seminal discoveries in immunology, infectious diseases (such as COVID-19, flu, HIV), neuroscience, heart disease, cancer, and more. Located in La Jolla, California, the institute houses six research departments, multiple Nobel laureates, a top-ranked graduate school and a leading postdoctoral training program. Scripps Research encompasses two elite and highly innovative institutes, the Calibr-Skaggs Institute for Innovative Medicines and Scripps Research Translational Institute, which merge foundational studies in biology, chemistry and computer science with translational science to produce pioneering drugs and advances in digital and precision medicine. Together, we cultivate new scientific leaders and expand the frontiers of knowledge to deliver medical breakthroughs impacting human health around the globe. If you have a passion for making a difference, this could be your opportunity to join our transformative team.
POSITION TITLE: Research Programmer II (Software Engineer)
Position Summary:
The Kennedy laboratory is involved in numerous projects to track, quantify, and forecast behavior and relate it to recorded neural activity. We develop new computational methods to understand how agents (animals, humans, virtual) gather information about their sensory environment, integrate this with internal motivational needs, and execute goal-directed actions in complex, naturalistic environments.
We’re seeking a motivated individual looking to gain hands-on experience in scientific research within an active, collaborative lab environment. The goal is for you to contribute to peer-reviewed publications and, where appropriate, lead independent research projects using existing datasets from our collaborators at the University of Pennsylvania, UCLA, Harvard, the University of Utah, Northwestern, and other institutions.
This role suits candidates who want to build a strong scientific CV before applying to graduate programs in computational neuroscience or machine learning. It’s also a good fit for those seeking a longer-term position contributing to original research and model development.
REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science, Applied Math, or related field, or an equivalent combination of education, training and/or experience. Other STEM degrees may be accepted if accompanied with programming education, training, and/or experience.
- Minimum of two years experience in software application development or research programming.
- Experience with software development in Python.
- Experience building and training deep neural networks for supervised, unsupervised, or reinforcement learning problems.
- A demonstrated ability to apply the fundamentals of software application development.
- Experience with version control, including git and github.
Please include code samples and/or a link to a public code repository with examples of your work.
PREFERRED SKILLSET:
Prior experience with one or more of the following is preferred:
- Experience with sequence/time series data, control/reinforcement learning problems and environments, time series forecasting.
- An understanding of generative modeling (hidden Markov models, diffusion models, etc.)
- Familiarity with topics in motor control, robotics, and neuroscience.
As a member of a computational lab working in team projects, the following general skills are also preferred:
- Experience developing scalable system architectures that adhere to good software engineering principles.
- Ability to tackle large, open-ended research questions independently and as part of a team.
- Willingness to be an active participant in a computational lab environment, including taking part in lab meetings, journal clubs, and hackathons.
- Experience working within a diverse, interdisciplinary team.
- Experience contributing to open source software projects.
LOCATION: La Jolla, California.
Physical Requirements: This position works in an office environment. Further details of the physical requirements of established essential functions for this position will be addressed/discussed during the interview process.
COMPENSATION:
The expected hiring range for this position is $70,304 to $80,000 per year, commensurate with experience. Consideration will be given to experience that exceeds the listed requirements.
COMPREHENSIVE BENEFITS INCLUDE:
- Eligibility for retirement plans with employer contribution.
- Full suite of Health and Welfare plans including three medical plan options (including an HSA available option), dental, vision, life insurance, disability, EAP and more.
- Access to Flexible Spending Accounts (Medical/Dependent Care).
- Remote/Hybrid/Flexible work schedules (Dependent on role).
- Competitive vacation and sick leave policies.
- Free, on-site Counseling Center which provides confidential counseling services to benefits-eligible employees and their family members.
- Free, on-site parking.
The above statements describe the level of work performed and expected in general terms. The statements are not intended to list all the responsibilities, duties and/or skills required of employees so classified, and the content herein is subject to change due to the business needs of Scripps Research, with or without notice. Furthermore, nothing in this job description shall be interpreted to be in conflict with or to eliminate or modify in any way the employment-at-will status of Scripps Research staff.
EEO Statement:
The Scripps Research Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We promote diversity of thought, culture and background in the fields of science. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic or status.
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
About us:
Scripps Research is a nonprofit biomedical institute ranked as one of the most influential in the world for its impact on innovation. We celebrated our 100-year legacy in 2024. This significant milestone marks a century of seminal discoveries in immunology, infectious diseases (such as COVID-19, flu, HIV), neuroscience, heart disease, cancer, and more. Located in La Jolla, California, the institute houses six research departments, multiple Nobel laureates, a top-ranked graduate school and a leading postdoctoral training program. Scripps Research encompasses two elite and highly innovative institutes, the Calibr-Skaggs Institute for Innovative Medicines and Scripps Research Translational Institute, which merge foundational studies in biology, chemistry and computer science with translational science to produce pioneering drugs and advances in digital and precision medicine. Together, we cultivate new scientific leaders and expand the frontiers of knowledge to deliver medical breakthroughs impacting human health around the globe. If you have a passion for making a difference, this could be your opportunity to join our transformative team.
POSITION TITLE: Research Programmer II (Software Engineer)
Position Summary:
The Kennedy laboratory is involved in numerous projects to track, quantify, and forecast behavior and relate it to recorded neural activity. We develop new computational methods to understand how agents (animals, humans, virtual) gather information about their sensory environment, integrate this with internal motivational needs, and execute goal-directed actions in complex, naturalistic environments.
We’re seeking a motivated individual looking to gain hands-on experience in scientific research within an active, collaborative lab environment. The goal is for you to contribute to peer-reviewed publications and, where appropriate, lead independent research projects using existing datasets from our collaborators at the University of Pennsylvania, UCLA, Harvard, the University of Utah, Northwestern, and other institutions.
This role suits candidates who want to build a strong scientific CV before applying to graduate programs in computational neuroscience or machine learning. It’s also a good fit for those seeking a longer-term position contributing to original research and model development.
REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science, Applied Math, or related field, or an equivalent combination of education, training and/or experience. Other STEM degrees may be accepted if accompanied with programming education, training, and/or experience.
- Minimum of two years experience in software application development or research programming.
- Experience with software development in Python.
- Experience building and training deep neural networks for supervised, unsupervised, or reinforcement learning problems.
- A demonstrated ability to apply the fundamentals of software application development.
- Experience with version control, including git and github.
Please include code samples and/or a link to a public code repository with examples of your work.
PREFERRED SKILLSET:
Prior experience with one or more of the following is preferred:
- Experience with sequence/time series data, control/reinforcement learning problems and environments, time series forecasting.
- An understanding of generative modeling (hidden Markov models, diffusion models, etc.)
- Familiarity with topics in motor control, robotics, and neuroscience.
As a member of a computational lab working in team projects, the following general skills are also preferred:
- Experience developing scalable system architectures that adhere to good software engineering principles.
- Ability to tackle large, open-ended research questions independently and as part of a team.
- Willingness to be an active participant in a computational lab environment, including taking part in lab meetings, journal clubs, and hackathons.
- Experience working within a diverse, interdisciplinary team.
- Experience contributing to open source software projects.
LOCATION: La Jolla, California.
Physical Requirements: This position works in an office environment. Further details of the physical requirements of established essential functions for this position will be addressed/discussed during the interview process.
COMPENSATION:
The expected hiring range for this position is $70,304 to $80,000 per year, commensurate with experience. Consideration will be given to experience that exceeds the listed requirements.
COMPREHENSIVE BENEFITS INCLUDE:
- Eligibility for retirement plans with employer contribution.
- Full suite of Health and Welfare plans including three medical plan options (including an HSA available option), dental, vision, life insurance, disability, EAP and more.
- Access to Flexible Spending Accounts (Medical/Dependent Care).
- Remote/Hybrid/Flexible work schedules (Dependent on role).
- Competitive vacation and sick leave policies.
- Free, on-site Counseling Center which provides confidential counseling services to benefits-eligible employees and their family members.
- Free, on-site parking.
The above statements describe the level of work performed and expected in general terms. The statements are not intended to list all the responsibilities, duties and/or skills required of employees so classified, and the content herein is subject to change due to the business needs of Scripps Research, with or without notice. Furthermore, nothing in this job description shall be interpreted to be in conflict with or to eliminate or modify in any way the employment-at-will status of Scripps Research staff.
EEO Statement:
The Scripps Research Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We promote diversity of thought, culture and background in the fields of science. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic or status.
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
OPT Science & Research Job Roles in California
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Search Science & Research Jobs in CaliforniaScience & Research OPT Sponsorship Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
Which science and research companies sponsor F-1 OPT visas in California?
Major sponsors include national laboratories like Lawrence Berkeley, SLAC, and Lawrence Livermore, along with biotech and life sciences companies such as Genentech, Gilead Sciences, and Illumina. Large tech firms with research divisions, including Google, Apple, and Meta, also regularly hire OPT candidates. University research centers across the UC system and Stanford are consistent sources of OPT-eligible positions.
Which cities in California have the most science and research F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs?
The San Francisco Bay Area, including San Jose and South San Francisco, leads due to its concentration of biotech firms and tech research labs. San Diego is a major hub for life sciences, genomics, and pharmaceutical research, home to companies like Illumina and the Salk Institute. Los Angeles has a growing presence in aerospace research and bioscience, and Sacramento offers opportunities tied to environmental and agricultural research.
What types of science and research roles typically qualify for F-1 OPT sponsorship in California?
Roles that commonly qualify include research scientist, data scientist, bioinformatics analyst, computational biologist, environmental scientist, chemical engineer, and laboratory research associate. Positions tied to a STEM-designated degree program are eligible for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, which significantly broadens hiring opportunities. Postdoctoral research roles at universities and national laboratories are also frequently open to OPT candidates.
How do I find science & research F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in California?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for international students and filters science and research jobs in California by visa type, including F-1 OPT. Rather than sorting through general job boards and guessing which employers are open to sponsorship, you can search directly for roles where OPT eligibility is confirmed. This saves time and helps you focus on employers who have a track record of hiring OPT candidates in science and research fields.
Are there any California-specific considerations for F-1 OPT sponsorship in science and research?
California employers must comply with state labor laws that run parallel to federal OPT requirements, so employment terms should align with both. Many research positions are funded through federal grants, which can affect hiring timelines and headcount decisions. STEM OPT positions require a formal training plan submitted through your university's designated school official, and the employer must be E-Verify enrolled, which is a federally mandated requirement for all STEM OPT extensions.