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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Get Access To All JobsJOB SUMMARY:
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is a non-profit, bipartisan public policy organization established in 1962 to provide strategic insights and practical policy solutions to decision makers concerned with global security and prosperity. Over the years, it has grown to be one of the largest organizations of its kind, with a staff of some 250 employees, including more than 120 analysts working to address the changing dynamics of international security across the globe.
The CSIS Missile Defense Project (MDP) is seeking a program coordinator / research assistant (PC/RA) to provide both administrative program support and to support its efforts to provide analysis on missile defense, long-range strike, and related strategic issues. The Missile Defense Project develops objective commentary, analysis, and multimedia research and hosts events related to these topics. This position supports all aspects of the project’s activity. Because of the fast-paced work environment, candidates should be flexible and enjoy a wide variety of analytic and logistical work. The position is full-time. The expected start date is June 22, 2026.
The minimum annual salary for this position is $57,000 - $58,000.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Essential functions include but are not limited to the following:
Office Administration & Management (70%)
- Organizes and coordinates logistics for program events including meetings, briefings, roundtables, public events, and conferences;
- Tracks and records project activity in support of project and proposal reporting;
- Monitors all financial transactions (revenue and expenses) for the program on a monthly basis;
- Manages external communications, including event invitations, for MDP events, projects, newsletters, and publications;
- Develop and execute social media campaigns across platforms to promote MDP events, reports, and other commentary;
- Assists with conceptualizing new project ideas;
- Assists with other administrative tasks as needed.
Research, Writing, & Editing (30%)
- Supports the program’s research agenda through research and writing, particularly on missile defense, long-range strike, and emerging military technologies;
- Contributes to research for the project’s website, MissileThreat.CSIS.org, such as producing new missile and missile defense profiles and maintaining public databases;
- Assists with data collection, management, and visualizations;
- Provides copyediting support for written publications.
KNOWLEDGE, EDUCATION, AND EXPERIENCE:
- Bachelor’s degree required;
- Must have at least a 3.5 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) from an accredited U.S. institution or equivalent from a non-U.S. institution;
- Strong communication, attention to detail, and organizational skills;
- Ability to manage competing priorities and multiple responsibilities under tight deadlines;
- Ability to work independently and cooperatively;
- Interest in missile defense, long-range strike, or strategic forces;
- Interest or experience in defense budget analysis, including data collection, management, and visualization is a plus;
- Experience in graphic design or illustrating software such as Canva is a plus;
- Experience with Salesforce, Pardot, Adaptive or other budget programming is a plus.
OUR BENEFITS
- Medical insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- Life insurance
- Short-term and long-term disability
- 403(b) for retirement planning
- Tuition Assistance
- Flexible Spending Account
- Health Savings Account
- Military Leave
- 12 Paid Holidays
- Sick leave
- Vacation leave
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORK CONDITIONS:
The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee working in an office environment. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Individuals must be committed to regularly working from headquarters in Washington, DC. Virtual employment will not be accepted for this role.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status.
Equal Opportunity Employer.
HOW TO APPLY:
Interested applicants should submit a resumé, cover letter, and college transcript at https://careers.csis.org/opportunities.
JOB SUMMARY:
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is a non-profit, bipartisan public policy organization established in 1962 to provide strategic insights and practical policy solutions to decision makers concerned with global security and prosperity. Over the years, it has grown to be one of the largest organizations of its kind, with a staff of some 250 employees, including more than 120 analysts working to address the changing dynamics of international security across the globe.
The CSIS Missile Defense Project (MDP) is seeking a program coordinator / research assistant (PC/RA) to provide both administrative program support and to support its efforts to provide analysis on missile defense, long-range strike, and related strategic issues. The Missile Defense Project develops objective commentary, analysis, and multimedia research and hosts events related to these topics. This position supports all aspects of the project’s activity. Because of the fast-paced work environment, candidates should be flexible and enjoy a wide variety of analytic and logistical work. The position is full-time. The expected start date is June 22, 2026.
The minimum annual salary for this position is $57,000 - $58,000.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Essential functions include but are not limited to the following:
Office Administration & Management (70%)
- Organizes and coordinates logistics for program events including meetings, briefings, roundtables, public events, and conferences;
- Tracks and records project activity in support of project and proposal reporting;
- Monitors all financial transactions (revenue and expenses) for the program on a monthly basis;
- Manages external communications, including event invitations, for MDP events, projects, newsletters, and publications;
- Develop and execute social media campaigns across platforms to promote MDP events, reports, and other commentary;
- Assists with conceptualizing new project ideas;
- Assists with other administrative tasks as needed.
Research, Writing, & Editing (30%)
- Supports the program’s research agenda through research and writing, particularly on missile defense, long-range strike, and emerging military technologies;
- Contributes to research for the project’s website, MissileThreat.CSIS.org, such as producing new missile and missile defense profiles and maintaining public databases;
- Assists with data collection, management, and visualizations;
- Provides copyediting support for written publications.
KNOWLEDGE, EDUCATION, AND EXPERIENCE:
- Bachelor’s degree required;
- Must have at least a 3.5 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) from an accredited U.S. institution or equivalent from a non-U.S. institution;
- Strong communication, attention to detail, and organizational skills;
- Ability to manage competing priorities and multiple responsibilities under tight deadlines;
- Ability to work independently and cooperatively;
- Interest in missile defense, long-range strike, or strategic forces;
- Interest or experience in defense budget analysis, including data collection, management, and visualization is a plus;
- Experience in graphic design or illustrating software such as Canva is a plus;
- Experience with Salesforce, Pardot, Adaptive or other budget programming is a plus.
OUR BENEFITS
- Medical insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- Life insurance
- Short-term and long-term disability
- 403(b) for retirement planning
- Tuition Assistance
- Flexible Spending Account
- Health Savings Account
- Military Leave
- 12 Paid Holidays
- Sick leave
- Vacation leave
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORK CONDITIONS:
The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee working in an office environment. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Individuals must be committed to regularly working from headquarters in Washington, DC. Virtual employment will not be accepted for this role.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status.
Equal Opportunity Employer.
HOW TO APPLY:
Interested applicants should submit a resumé, cover letter, and college transcript at https://careers.csis.org/opportunities.
Science & Research Job Roles in Washington DC
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Search Science & Research Jobs in Washington DCScience & Research 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.