OPT Jobs in Maryland
Maryland's concentration of federal agencies, defense contractors, and research institutions along the Baltimore-Washington corridor makes it one of the stronger states for F-1 OPT sponsorship. Cybersecurity, biotech, government consulting, and healthcare draw international graduates from universities like University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins.
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INTRODUCTION
The Department of International Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health is seeking Research Assistant.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Research Assistant oversees data collection, data organization, and/or data management or similar functions/tasks for research study(ies) in support of a PI or a research team.
Specific Duties & Responsibilities
- Run routine and ad hoc reports.
- Use standard tools and computer programs to review data.
- Assist with data cleaning measures to ensure accuracy of data and preparation of tables.
- Lead basic activities such as data collection and data entry.
- May lead specific tasks and develop processes to ensure study activities occur effectively and efficiently.
- May conduct literature searches to support faculty in research efforts.
- May design and format papers/publications.
- May assist PIs in writing summaries of papers for release as policy briefs or other channels.
- Other duties as assigned.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's Degree in a related field.
- Additional education may substitute for required experience and additional related experience may substitute for required education beyond a high school diploma/graduation equivalent, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Master’s Degree in a related field (public health, social science, economics).
- Prior research experience.
- Proficiency in data analysis software (R, Stata, Python, NVivo).
- Experience with literature reviews.
- Familiarity and experience with global health, gender and women equity research.
- Experience in supporting research administration and project management.
- Experience with manuscript writing.
TECHNICAL SKILLS & EXPECTED LEVEL OF PROFICIENCY
- Analytical Skills - Awareness
- Attention to Detail - Awareness
- Data Management and Analysis - Awareness
- Formatting and Layout Proficiency - Awareness
- Information Gathering - Awareness
- Oral and Written Communications - Awareness
- Organizational Skills - Awareness
The core technical skills listed are most essential; additional technical skills may be required based on specific division or department needs.
CLASSIFIED TITLE: Research Assistant
Role/Level/Range: ACRO40/E/03/CD
Starting Salary Range: $17.20 - $30.30 HRLY (Commensurate w/exp.)
Employee group: Casual / On Call
Schedule: Days and hours may vary
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
LOCATION
Location: Remote
DEPARTMENT NAME: Global Disease Epidemiology and Control
PERSONNEL AREA: School of Public Health
TOTAL REWARDS
The referenced base salary range represents the low and high end of Johns Hopkins University’s salary range for this position. Not all candidates will be eligible for the upper end of the salary range. Exact salary will ultimately depend on multiple factors, which may include the successful candidate's geographic location, skills, work experience, market conditions, education/training and other qualifications. Johns Hopkins offers a total rewards package that supports our employees' health, life, career and retirement. More information can be found here: https://hr.jhu.edu/benefits-worklife/.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE EQUIVALENCY
Please refer to the job description above to see which forms of equivalency are permitted for this position. If permitted, equivalencies will follow these guidelines: JHU Equivalency Formula: 30 undergraduate degree credits (semester hours) or 18 graduate degree credits may substitute for one year of experience. Additional related experience may substitute for required education on the same basis. For jobs where equivalency is permitted, up to two years of non-related college course work may be applied towards the total minimum education/experience required for the respective job.
APPLICANTS COMPLETING STUDIES
Applicants who do not meet the posted requirements but are completing their final academic semester/quarter will be considered eligible for employment and may be asked to provide additional information confirming their academic completion date.
BACKGROUND CHECKS
The successful candidate(s) for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check. Johns Hopkins is committed to hiring individuals with a justice-involved background, consistent with applicable policies and current practice. A prior criminal history does not automatically preclude candidates from employment at Johns Hopkins University. In accordance with applicable law, the university will review, on an individual basis, the date of a candidate's conviction, the nature of the conviction and how the conviction relates to an essential job-related qualification or function.
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
The Johns Hopkins University values diversity, equity and inclusion and advances these through our key strategic framework, the JHU Roadmap on Diversity and Inclusion.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.
EEO is the Law
https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf
ACCOMMODATION INFORMATION
If you are interested in applying for employment with The Johns Hopkins University and require special assistance or accommodation during any part of the pre-employment process, please contact the Talent Acquisition Office at jhurecruitment@jhu.edu. For TTY users, call via Maryland Relay or dial 711. For more information about workplace accommodations or accessibility at Johns Hopkins University, please visit: https://accessibility.jhu.edu/.
VACCINE REQUIREMENTS
Johns Hopkins University requires all faculty, staff, and students to receive the seasonal flu vaccine. Exceptions to the flu vaccine requirements may be provided to individuals for religious beliefs or medical reasons. Requests for an exception must be submitted to the JHU vaccination registry.
The following additional provisions may apply, depending upon campus. Your recruiter will advise accordingly.
The pre-employment physical for positions in clinical areas, laboratories, working with research subjects, or involving community contact requires documentation of immune status against Rubella (German measles), Rubeola (Measles), Mumps, Varicella (chickenpox), Hepatitis B and documentation of having received the Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccination. This may include documentation of having two (2) MMR vaccines; two (2) Varicella vaccines; or antibody status to these diseases from laboratory testing. Blood tests for immunities to these diseases are ordinarily included in the pre-employment physical exam except for those employees who provide results of blood tests or immunization documentation from their own health care providers. Any vaccinations required for these diseases will be given at no cost in our Occupational Health office.
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Tips for Finding OPT Jobs in Maryland
Target the federal contractor ecosystem
Maryland has one of the highest concentrations of federal contractors in the country. Companies like Booz Allen Hamilton, Leidos, and SAIC regularly hire STEM graduates on OPT for roles in defense, IT, and intelligence support where specialized technical skills are in demand.
Prioritize employers with STEM OPT experience
STEM OPT extensions require employer participation in E-Verify. Before applying, verify the employer is enrolled. Many Maryland biotech and tech firms already use E-Verify due to federal contracting requirements, making them well-positioned to support 24-month STEM extensions.
Look beyond Baltimore and DC suburbs
The I-270 corridor in Montgomery County hosts major biotech and life sciences employers including AstraZeneca and MedImmune. Rockville and Gaithersburg specifically have dense employer populations that hire OPT graduates in research, clinical, and regulatory affairs roles.
Use university career networks strategically
University of Maryland, Johns Hopkins, and Morgan State have strong employer relationships built around international student hiring. Career centers often maintain lists of employers who have previously hired OPT students, which is a faster starting point than cold applications.
Search for OPT-friendly roles on Migrate Mate
Migrate Mate filters jobs by visa type, so you can browse F-1 OPT sponsorship roles in Maryland without sorting through postings from employers unfamiliar with work authorization. This saves time during a period when your OPT clock is already running.
Understand the clearance constraint early
Many Maryland federal contractor roles require security clearances, which OPT holders are generally ineligible for. Identify whether a role requires clearance before applying. Plenty of contractor roles in IT, data analytics, and engineering do not require clearance and are accessible to OPT students.
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Get Access To All JobsF-1 OPT Jobs in Maryland: Frequently Asked Questions
Which industries in Maryland sponsor the most F-1 OPT visas?
Cybersecurity, biotech and life sciences, government consulting, and healthcare are the strongest industries for F-1 OPT sponsorship in Maryland. The state's proximity to federal agencies drives demand for technical talent in defense and intelligence contracting, while the Baltimore-area biotech corridor consistently hires international graduates in research and regulatory roles.
Which cities in Maryland have the most F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs?
Rockville, Bethesda, Gaithersburg, and College Park in Montgomery County account for a significant share of OPT-friendly employers, largely due to biotech and federal contractor density. Baltimore is the other major hub, particularly for healthcare, public health, and university-affiliated research positions. The DC Metro edge of Maryland combines both markets.
What types of roles typically qualify for F-1 OPT sponsorship in Maryland?
Roles in software engineering, data science, bioinformatics, public health research, financial analysis, and cybersecurity are common for OPT graduates in Maryland. For STEM OPT extensions, the position must be directly related to your degree field. Non-STEM graduates can also find qualifying roles in consulting, marketing, and healthcare administration, provided the work aligns with their major.
How do I find F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in Maryland?
Migrate Mate lets you filter job listings specifically by F-1 OPT visa type, so you can focus on Maryland employers who are already open to sponsoring international graduates. Beyond that, your university's career center, federal contractor career portals, and biotech company websites are productive channels. Targeting employers with existing E-Verify enrollment shortens the path to a STEM OPT extension.
Are there any Maryland-specific considerations for F-1 OPT sponsorship?
Maryland's heavy federal contracting sector introduces a clearance issue that does not exist in most other states. Many postings will list clearance as required or preferred, and OPT holders typically cannot obtain one. Filter for non-clearance roles explicitly. On the positive side, Maryland employers in life sciences and government IT are generally experienced with OPT and STEM OPT paperwork due to high volumes of international graduate hiring.