Science & Research OPT Jobs in Washington DC

Washington DC's science and research sector draws F-1 OPT candidates to federal agencies, think tanks, and research institutions concentrated across the District. Major employers include NIH-affiliated research centers, the Smithsonian Institution, and policy-focused organizations along the K Street corridor. OPT authorization, including the 24-month STEM extension for qualifying roles, opens a defined window to gain U.S. research experience.

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Overview

Open Jobs11+
Work Type55% Hybrid
Top LocationWashington, Washington DC
Most JobsThe Brookings Institution

Showing 5 of 11+ Science & Research OPT Jobs in Washington DC

Research Assistant
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Added 4d ago
Research Assistant
The Brookings Institution
Washington, Washington DC
Research & Academia
Laboratory Research
Biotech & Life Sciences
$58k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's
201-500

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Advancement Operations Specialist
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Added 1w ago
Advancement Operations Specialist
Society for Science
Washington, Washington DC
Finance
Accounting
Compliance & Legal
Business Operations
Audit
Tax
$62k - $69k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's

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Inside Sales Customer Success Manager
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Added 1mo ago
Inside Sales Customer Success Manager
Thermo Fisher Scientific
Washington, Washington DC
Sales
Customer Success
Customer Service & Support
Inside Sales
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Corporate Counsel
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Added 2mo ago
Corporate Counsel
Pall Corporation
Washington, Washington DC
Compliance & Legal
Legal Counsel
$155k/yr
On-Site
Doctorate

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Safeguards Enforcement Analyst
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Added 3mo ago
Safeguards Enforcement Analyst
Anthropic
Washington, Washington DC
Compliance & Legal
Project & Program Management
Human Resources
Compliance & Risk
$245k - $285k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's

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OPT Science & Research Job Roles in Washington DC

Compliance & Legal3 jobs
Customer Service & Support3 jobs
Project & Program Management3 jobs
Finance2 jobs
Accounting2 jobs
Project Management2 jobs
Research & Academia2 jobs
Content & Communications2 jobs
Data Science & Analytics2 jobs
Administrative & Office Support2 jobs

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Science & Research OPT Sponsorship Jobs in Washington DC: Frequently Asked Questions

Which science and research companies sponsor F-1 OPT visas in Washington DC?

Washington DC's science and research employers with documented OPT hiring include federal contractors such as Booz Allen Hamilton and Leidos, nonprofits like the Brookings Institution and Resources for the Future, and research arms of major universities including Georgetown and George Washington University. Government-adjacent research organizations in the District frequently file Labor Condition Applications for science and policy roles, making them visible in OFLC disclosure data.

Which areas of Washington DC have the most science and research F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs?

Most science and research OPT positions in Washington DC cluster in three areas: the National Mall corridor near federal agency headquarters, the Foggy Bottom and Dupont Circle neighborhoods where think tanks and international research organizations concentrate, and the emerging NoMa district where several biotech and data science firms have expanded. The nearby suburbs of Bethesda and Rockville in Maryland also host dense NIH-adjacent research employment for DC-area OPT candidates.

How do I find science & research F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in Washington DC?

Migrate Mate filters science and research positions in Washington DC by verified OPT sponsorship history, so you can identify employers who have actively sponsored international candidates rather than guessing from job postings. Search by role type and filter for the DC metro area to surface positions at research institutes, federal contractors, and nonprofit science organizations. Complement your search by reviewing OFLC disclosure data to confirm an employer's LCA filing history in your specific research field.

What types of science and research roles typically qualify for F-1 OPT sponsorship in Washington DC?

Roles that commonly qualify include research analyst, policy scientist, data scientist, environmental scientist, bioinformatics specialist, and public health researcher. USCIS defines qualifying employment as work directly related to your degree field, so a chemistry graduate working as a laboratory researcher or an environmental policy graduate placed in a climate research role would both satisfy OPT authorization requirements. Positions at DC think tanks frequently blend research and policy analysis, and both components can support OPT eligibility when the role aligns with your major.

Are there any Washington DC-specific considerations for F-1 OPT sponsorship in science and research?

Washington DC's heavy concentration of federal agencies creates an important distinction: direct federal government positions are generally not available to F-1 OPT holders due to citizenship requirements, but federally funded contractors, grantees, and affiliated research institutions can and do sponsor OPT candidates. DC-based research organizations that receive federal grants must also comply with E-Verify requirements for certain contracts, so confirming an employer's compliance status before accepting an offer is worth doing. STEM OPT extensions require the employer to be E-Verify enrolled, which many DC research contractors already satisfy.