Research Scientist Jobs at AbbVie with Visa Sponsorship
Research Scientist jobs at AbbVie span therapeutic areas including oncology, immunology, and neuroscience, and the company has a consistent track record of sponsoring work visas for this function. If you're pursuing a research career in biopharma, AbbVie is an employer worth targeting early.
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About AbbVie
AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology and neuroscience - and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
Job Description
For the Principal Research Scientist I position, we are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Process Analytical Technology (PAT) scientist to lead a small team within Analytical R&D. The candidate will establish and execute PAT strategies for synthetic molecule programs, supporting drug substance and drug product development from early development through validation, technology transfer, and manufacturing implementation. The role requires deep technical expertise in PAT method development, chemometrics, process understanding, and fit-for-purpose analytical control strategies.
The successful candidate will perform and direct laboratory and project activities, mentor and develop scientific personnel, and translate complex process and analytical data into clear development decisions. They will conceive, execute, and communicate multidisciplinary strategies that advance project and organizational goals, while serving as a senior PAT subject matter expert across multiple programs and initiatives.
A critical element of the role is strong integration with Analytical R&D project leads and cross-functional partners, particularly Process Engineering, Process Chemistry, Drug Product Development, manufacturing, Quality Assurance, CMC Regulatory, data science, and information technology. The scientist will define practical engagement models that bring PAT expertise into project planning at the appropriate stage and connect PAT outputs to process development, control strategy, validation, and technology-transfer decisions.
Responsibilities:
- Mentor, supervise, and develop a small team of PAT scientists; set priorities, allocate work, provide technical coaching, and ensure effective delivery across multiple development programs while also personally performing hands-on laboratory work.
- Create and maintain an integrated PAT strategy for synthetic molecule drug substance and drug product programs, including clear decision criteria for when and how PAT should be applied across the development lifecycle.
- Establish an effective operating model between PAT experts and Analytical R&D project leads, ensuring early engagement, aligned work packages, clear ownership, and timely translation of PAT results into project decisions.
- Lead PAT feasibility assessments, method and model development, robustness studies, validation, lifecycle management, and technology transfer for in-line, on-line, at-line, and off-line applications.
- Apply chemometrics and multivariate data analysis to develop, challenge, interpret, and maintain quantitative and qualitative models. Ensure models are scientifically sound, appropriately validated, and suitable for their intended use.
- Provide expert leadership in spectroscopic and process analytical techniques such as NIR, Raman, mid-IR/FTIR, UV-visible spectroscopy, particle and material-property measurements, and complementary process sensors.
- Lead or support deployment of on-line liquid chromatography for reaction monitoring, process consistency, impurity or product-quality measurements, and other fit-for-purpose drug substance or drug product applications.
- Integrate PAT measurements with process knowledge, critical process parameters, critical material attributes, and critical quality attributes to support process understanding and analytical control strategy development.
- Partner closely with Process Engineering, Process Chemistry, Drug Product Development, manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory, automation, data science, and IT teams to design interfaces, data flows, system readiness, and sustainable implementation approaches.
- Design material-sparing and risk-based development approaches where appropriate, troubleshoot complex sampling, interface, instrumentation, data-quality, and model-performance issues, and identify practical mitigations.
- Communicate PAT strategy, scientific rationale, risks, and recommendations to technical teams and senior stakeholders through clear written documents, presentations, and decision-focused discussions.
- Generate new scientific proposals, evaluate emerging PAT and digital technologies, and champion innovations that improve development speed, scientific understanding, robustness, and operational efficiency.
- Ensure work complies with applicable safety, quality, data-integrity, regulatory, and AbbVie requirements.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's, Master's, or Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemometrics, or a closely related discipline, typically with a minimum of 14 years (BS), 12 years (MS), or 6 years (Ph.D.) of relevant industry experience.
- Demonstrated expertise in Process Analytical Technology within the pharmaceutical industry, including leadership of PAT strategy and method development across the development lifecycle.
- Strong hands-on experience with chemometrics, multivariate calibration, classification, experimental design, model validation, and model lifecycle management. Experience with software such as Unscrambler, PLS_Toolbox, SIMCA, MATLAB, Python, R, or other chemometric and data-analysis platforms is expected.
- Demonstrated experience developing and applying PAT in both drug substance and drug product environments. Experience across batch and continuous manufacturing is desirable.
- Experience with spectroscopic PAT method development, sampling-interface design, process monitoring, and transfer or implementation in a manufacturing environment.
- Experience developing, deploying, or supporting on-line UHPLC applications as part of a process monitoring or control strategy.
- Demonstrated ability to lead a small scientific team through planning, execution, prioritization, coaching, and delivery of technically complex work.
- Proven ability to build alignment and work effectively across Process Engineering, Process Chemistry, Drug Product Development, manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory, data science, automation, and IT organizations.
- Working knowledge of pharmaceutical development, analytical control strategies, validation, technology transfer, data integrity, and relevant regulatory expectations for PAT applications.
- Excellent scientific problem-solving, technical writing, oral communication, and stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to convert complex data into clear recommendations and decisions.
- Ability to independently identify opportunities, adjust strategy as data emerge, and champion new technologies that advance project and organizational goals.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience applying PAT to biologics or new modalities, including oligonucleotides, lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), therapeutic peptides, or related complex products.
- Experience with PAT data-management systems, automation, advanced process control, or real-time release testing concepts.
- Experience authoring or contributing to PAT validation protocols, method procedures, technical reports, regulatory documentation, and manufacturing technology-transfer packages.
Additional Information
Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law:
- The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location, and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future.
- We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.
- This job is eligible to participate in our long-term incentive programs.
Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, consistent with applicable law.
AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community. Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled.
US & Puerto Rico only - to learn more, visit https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/equal-employment-opportunity-employer.html
US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more:
https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html
Company Description
About AbbVie
AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology and neuroscience - and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
Job Description
For the Principal Research Scientist I position, we are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Process Analytical Technology (PAT) scientist to lead a small team within Analytical R&D. The candidate will establish and execute PAT strategies for synthetic molecule programs, supporting drug substance and drug product development from early development through validation, technology transfer, and manufacturing implementation. The role requires deep technical expertise in PAT method development, chemometrics, process understanding, and fit-for-purpose analytical control strategies.
The successful candidate will perform and direct laboratory and project activities, mentor and develop scientific personnel, and translate complex process and analytical data into clear development decisions. They will conceive, execute, and communicate multidisciplinary strategies that advance project and organizational goals, while serving as a senior PAT subject matter expert across multiple programs and initiatives.
A critical element of the role is strong integration with Analytical R&D project leads and cross-functional partners, particularly Process Engineering, Process Chemistry, Drug Product Development, manufacturing, Quality Assurance, CMC Regulatory, data science, and information technology. The scientist will define practical engagement models that bring PAT expertise into project planning at the appropriate stage and connect PAT outputs to process development, control strategy, validation, and technology-transfer decisions.
Responsibilities:
- Mentor, supervise, and develop a small team of PAT scientists; set priorities, allocate work, provide technical coaching, and ensure effective delivery across multiple development programs while also personally performing hands-on laboratory work.
- Create and maintain an integrated PAT strategy for synthetic molecule drug substance and drug product programs, including clear decision criteria for when and how PAT should be applied across the development lifecycle.
- Establish an effective operating model between PAT experts and Analytical R&D project leads, ensuring early engagement, aligned work packages, clear ownership, and timely translation of PAT results into project decisions.
- Lead PAT feasibility assessments, method and model development, robustness studies, validation, lifecycle management, and technology transfer for in-line, on-line, at-line, and off-line applications.
- Apply chemometrics and multivariate data analysis to develop, challenge, interpret, and maintain quantitative and qualitative models. Ensure models are scientifically sound, appropriately validated, and suitable for their intended use.
- Provide expert leadership in spectroscopic and process analytical techniques such as NIR, Raman, mid-IR/FTIR, UV-visible spectroscopy, particle and material-property measurements, and complementary process sensors.
- Lead or support deployment of on-line liquid chromatography for reaction monitoring, process consistency, impurity or product-quality measurements, and other fit-for-purpose drug substance or drug product applications.
- Integrate PAT measurements with process knowledge, critical process parameters, critical material attributes, and critical quality attributes to support process understanding and analytical control strategy development.
- Partner closely with Process Engineering, Process Chemistry, Drug Product Development, manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory, automation, data science, and IT teams to design interfaces, data flows, system readiness, and sustainable implementation approaches.
- Design material-sparing and risk-based development approaches where appropriate, troubleshoot complex sampling, interface, instrumentation, data-quality, and model-performance issues, and identify practical mitigations.
- Communicate PAT strategy, scientific rationale, risks, and recommendations to technical teams and senior stakeholders through clear written documents, presentations, and decision-focused discussions.
- Generate new scientific proposals, evaluate emerging PAT and digital technologies, and champion innovations that improve development speed, scientific understanding, robustness, and operational efficiency.
- Ensure work complies with applicable safety, quality, data-integrity, regulatory, and AbbVie requirements.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's, Master's, or Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemometrics, or a closely related discipline, typically with a minimum of 14 years (BS), 12 years (MS), or 6 years (Ph.D.) of relevant industry experience.
- Demonstrated expertise in Process Analytical Technology within the pharmaceutical industry, including leadership of PAT strategy and method development across the development lifecycle.
- Strong hands-on experience with chemometrics, multivariate calibration, classification, experimental design, model validation, and model lifecycle management. Experience with software such as Unscrambler, PLS_Toolbox, SIMCA, MATLAB, Python, R, or other chemometric and data-analysis platforms is expected.
- Demonstrated experience developing and applying PAT in both drug substance and drug product environments. Experience across batch and continuous manufacturing is desirable.
- Experience with spectroscopic PAT method development, sampling-interface design, process monitoring, and transfer or implementation in a manufacturing environment.
- Experience developing, deploying, or supporting on-line UHPLC applications as part of a process monitoring or control strategy.
- Demonstrated ability to lead a small scientific team through planning, execution, prioritization, coaching, and delivery of technically complex work.
- Proven ability to build alignment and work effectively across Process Engineering, Process Chemistry, Drug Product Development, manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory, data science, automation, and IT organizations.
- Working knowledge of pharmaceutical development, analytical control strategies, validation, technology transfer, data integrity, and relevant regulatory expectations for PAT applications.
- Excellent scientific problem-solving, technical writing, oral communication, and stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to convert complex data into clear recommendations and decisions.
- Ability to independently identify opportunities, adjust strategy as data emerge, and champion new technologies that advance project and organizational goals.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience applying PAT to biologics or new modalities, including oligonucleotides, lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), therapeutic peptides, or related complex products.
- Experience with PAT data-management systems, automation, advanced process control, or real-time release testing concepts.
- Experience authoring or contributing to PAT validation protocols, method procedures, technical reports, regulatory documentation, and manufacturing technology-transfer packages.
Additional Information
Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law:
- The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location, and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future.
- We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.
- This job is eligible to participate in our long-term incentive programs.
Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, consistent with applicable law.
AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community. Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled.
US & Puerto Rico only - to learn more, visit https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/equal-employment-opportunity-employer.html
US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more:
https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html
See all 32+ Research Scientist Jobs at AbbVie
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Research Scientist Jobs at AbbVie.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Research Scientist Jobs at AbbVie
Tailor your CV to AbbVie's therapeutic focus areas
AbbVie's research pipeline centers on immunology, oncology, and neuroscience. Highlighting publications, assay development, or lab work in these areas signals direct relevance and strengthens your candidacy before sponsorship even enters the conversation.
Verify your visa category before applying
AbbVie sponsors H-1B, E-3, TN, and J-1 visas for Research Scientists. Knowing which category fits your nationality and degree before you apply lets you answer recruiter questions confidently and avoids delays at the offer stage.
Search open Research Scientist roles through Migrate Mate
Use Migrate Mate to filter AbbVie's open Research Scientist positions by visa type. This saves time by surfacing only roles where sponsorship aligns with your specific authorization needs rather than sorting through listings manually.
Clarify OPT cap-gap coverage during offer negotiation
If you're on F-1 OPT, your start date and H-1B filing timeline matter significantly. AbbVie does sponsor H-1B petitions, so confirm with your recruiter whether the offer accounts for the April filing window and any cap-gap period.
Prepare for PERM if you're targeting permanent residence
Research Scientist roles at AbbVie often support EB-2 or EB-3 Green Card pathways through PERM labor certification filed with the DOL. Ask during the offer process whether the role is designated for a Green Card track and what the expected timeline looks like.
Document your research contributions with specificity
USCIS scrutinizes whether a Research Scientist role meets specialty occupation standards. Gather documentation of your degree, publications, and any specialized lab techniques before your interview so your employer has everything needed to build a strong I-129 petition quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does AbbVie sponsor H-1B visas for Research Scientists?
Yes, AbbVie sponsors H-1B visas for Research Scientists. The company participates in the annual H-1B cap lottery, so timing matters: offers typically need to be in place before the April registration window. If you're already on H-1B with another employer, AbbVie can file an H-1B transfer, which lets you start without waiting for a new cap slot.
How do I apply for Research Scientist jobs at AbbVie?
You can find and apply for Research Scientist positions at AbbVie through Migrate Mate, which filters open roles by visa sponsorship type so you can confirm your category is supported before applying. Applications go through AbbVie's careers portal, and you'll typically move through a phone screen, a technical interview covering your research expertise, and a final panel interview.
Which visa types does AbbVie commonly use for Research Scientist roles?
AbbVie sponsors several visa categories for Research Scientists, including H-1B, H-1B1 visa for Chilean and Singaporean nationals, E-3 visa for Australian citizens, TN visa for Canadian and Mexican nationals, J-1 visa for research exchange visitors, and F-1 OPT and CPT for students. For longer-term employment, AbbVie also supports Green Card sponsorship through EB-2 and EB-3 pathways via PERM labor certification.
What qualifications does AbbVie expect for Research Scientist positions?
Most Research Scientist roles at AbbVie require a Ph.D. in a life sciences field such as biochemistry, molecular biology, pharmacology, or a related discipline, sometimes with postdoctoral experience. Hands-on expertise in techniques relevant to AbbVie's therapeutic areas, including immunology and oncology assays, cell-based models, or drug discovery workflows, is commonly expected. A strong publication record strengthens your profile significantly.
How do I navigate the visa filing timeline after receiving an offer from AbbVie?
Once you have an offer, AbbVie's immigration team typically works with outside counsel to prepare the petition. For H-1B cap cases, the April registration deadline is fixed, so your offer needs to be confirmed well in advance. For TN or E-3 categories, processing is faster and doesn't depend on a lottery. For PERM-based Green Card cases, expect a multi-year process that begins after your H-1B is approved.