H-1B Visa Geneticist Jobs
Geneticist roles qualify as H-1B visa specialty occupations under USCIS guidelines, requiring at least a bachelor's degree in genetics, molecular biology, or a directly related field. Universities, biotech firms, agricultural research companies, and hospital systems are among the most active H-1B visa sponsors for this occupation.
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Get Access To All JobsAt Lilly, the work is demanding because patients are waiting. We unite caring with discovery to help make life better for people around the world, knowing that every decision, every detail, and every day matters. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, our over 50,000 employees around the globe take on complex challenges to discover and deliver life-changing medicines, strengthen how health is understood and managed, and support the communities we serve. This is hard, urgent, selfless work—but it’s work worth doing. If you’re driven by purpose and ready to bring your best to work that truly matters for patients, we invite you to join us.
Function: Immunology Informatics / Human Genetics
Level: R5-R6
Location: Indy or Boston
About the Role
The Immunology Informatics team integrates human genetics into drug discovery and development across the autoimmune disease spectrum (rheumatology, gastroenterology, and dermatology). We are seeking a statistical or population geneticist to strengthen our target identification and validation efforts by applying rigorous quantitative genetics methods — including Mendelian randomization, GWAS interpretation, fine mapping co-localization, and multi-omic integration — to identify, prioritize and de-risk therapeutic targets across the immunology pipeline.
This role sits at the interface of human genetics, translational biology, and drug development strategy, working closely with target discovery, translational medicine, statistical, and bioinformatics colleagues, as well as external partners.
Target Evaluation & Genetic Evidence Assessment:
- Lead systematic genetic evidence reviews for existing and emerging immunology drug targets, synthesizing GWAS, exome/whole-genome sequencing, and rare-variant data to assess causal support and directionality (loss-of-function vs. gain-of-function phenotype concordance with therapeutic hypothesis).
- Build and maintain target evaluation frameworks that score genetic evidence quality, effect direction, and development-stage relevance across a target portfolio.
- Interrogate and interpret summary and individual levels data from public and licensed genetic resources (e.g., Open Targets, GWAS Catalog, UK Biobank, AllofUs, FinnGen) to support go/no-go and prioritization decisions for drug targets.
- Propose novel drug targets with strong human causal evidence for autoimmune diseases.
- Make decision enabling judgements on drug target quality strong scientific rationale.
Population Genetics, Mendelian Randomization, Causal Inference:
- Design, execute, and critically evaluate evidence from large population-scale datasets using Mendelian Randomization and other methods to test causal relationships between genetic variants, biomarkers/proteins and immune-mediated disease outcomes.
- Assess genetic instrument validity for Mendelian Randomization, pleiotropy, and sensitivity of MR findings (e.g., MR-Egger, weighted median, colocalization) and communicate limitations clearly to immunologists.
- Collaborate with external genetics partners and academic collaborators on specific genetics programs.
Cross-Functional Collaboration & Communication:
- Translate complex genetic and statistical findings into clear, decision-relevant summaries for target discovery teams, translational scientists, and portfolio governance.
- Contribute genetics-informed input to target nomination packages, competitive intelligence, and program strategy documents.
- Represent statistical genetics perspective in cross-functional target review forums.
Required Qualifications
- Ph.D. in statistical genetics, population genetics, genetic epidemiology, biostatistics, computational biology, or a related quantitative field (or M.D, M.S. with equivalent industry experience).
- Demonstrated experience working on large-scale population datasets, Mendelian randomization (MR) methodology and causal inference from human genetic datasets.
- Strong proficiency in R, ideally within a tidyverse-based workflow; comfort with reproducible, version-controlled analysis (Git); basic knowledge of PLINK or other tools to manipulate large genotype datasets.
Preferred Qualifications
- Practical experience interrogating large-scale genetics/genomics databases (e.g. UK Biobank, AllofUS, Open Targets,) and their APIs.
- Demonstrated proficiency using fine-mapping, and colocalization approaches for GWAS summary statistics to refine association signals and identify causal genetic variants.
- Ability to critically evaluate statistical/analytical pipelines for genetic analysis and communicate methodological trade-offs to interdisciplinary teams.
- Experience in immunology/immune-mediated population genetics.
- Experience integrating multi-omics with genetics data, including pQTL or eqTL analysis.
- Familiarity with drug target identification/validation criteria and workflows in a pharmaceutical or biotech R&D setting.
- Experience collaborating with external genetics/data partners or academic consortia.
What Success Looks Like in This Role
- Providing a defensible, well-documented genetic evidence assessment that underpins target prioritization decisions across the immunology portfolio.
- Proposing novel targets within the immunology space.
- Ensuring that MR and other causal-inference methods are sound, appropriately caveated, and actionable for non-specialist stakeholders.
- Establishing strong working relationships with target discovery, translational medicine, and external genetics collaborators.
Lilly is dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities to actively engage in the workforce, ensuring equal opportunities when vying for positions. If you require accommodation to submit a resume for a position at Lilly, please complete the accommodation request form for further assistance. Please note this is for individuals to request an accommodation as part of the application process and any other correspondence will not receive a response.
Lilly is proud to be an EEO Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender identity, sex, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.
Our employee resource groups (ERGs) offer strong support networks for their members and are open to all employees. Our current groups include: Africa, Middle East, Central Asia (AMECA), Black Employees at Lilly (BE@Lilly), Chinese Culture Network (CCN), EnAble, Evolve, Lilly Indian Network (LIN), Organization of Latinx at Lilly (OLA), Pride (LGBTQ+ Allies), Veterans Leadership Network (VLN) and Women’s Initiative for Leading at Lilly (WILL).
Actual compensation will depend on a candidate’s education, experience, skills, and geographic location. The anticipated wage for this position is
$153,000 - $246,400
Full-time equivalent employees also will be eligible for a company bonus (depending, in part, on company and individual performance). In addition, Lilly offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees, including eligibility to participate in a company-sponsored 401(k); pension; vacation benefits; eligibility for medical, dental, vision and prescription drug benefits; flexible benefits (e.g., healthcare and/or dependent day care flexible spending accounts); life insurance and death benefits; certain time off and leave of absence benefits; and well-being benefits (e.g., employee assistance program, fitness benefits, and employee clubs and activities). Lilly reserves the right to amend, modify, or terminate its compensation and benefit programs in its sole discretion and Lilly’s compensation practices and guidelines will apply regarding the details of any promotion or transfer of Lilly employees.
At Lilly, the work is demanding because patients are waiting. We unite caring with discovery to help make life better for people around the world, knowing that every decision, every detail, and every day matters. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, our over 50,000 employees around the globe take on complex challenges to discover and deliver life-changing medicines, strengthen how health is understood and managed, and support the communities we serve. This is hard, urgent, selfless work—but it’s work worth doing. If you’re driven by purpose and ready to bring your best to work that truly matters for patients, we invite you to join us.
Function: Immunology Informatics / Human Genetics
Level: R5-R6
Location: Indy or Boston
About the Role
The Immunology Informatics team integrates human genetics into drug discovery and development across the autoimmune disease spectrum (rheumatology, gastroenterology, and dermatology). We are seeking a statistical or population geneticist to strengthen our target identification and validation efforts by applying rigorous quantitative genetics methods — including Mendelian randomization, GWAS interpretation, fine mapping co-localization, and multi-omic integration — to identify, prioritize and de-risk therapeutic targets across the immunology pipeline.
This role sits at the interface of human genetics, translational biology, and drug development strategy, working closely with target discovery, translational medicine, statistical, and bioinformatics colleagues, as well as external partners.
Target Evaluation & Genetic Evidence Assessment:
- Lead systematic genetic evidence reviews for existing and emerging immunology drug targets, synthesizing GWAS, exome/whole-genome sequencing, and rare-variant data to assess causal support and directionality (loss-of-function vs. gain-of-function phenotype concordance with therapeutic hypothesis).
- Build and maintain target evaluation frameworks that score genetic evidence quality, effect direction, and development-stage relevance across a target portfolio.
- Interrogate and interpret summary and individual levels data from public and licensed genetic resources (e.g., Open Targets, GWAS Catalog, UK Biobank, AllofUs, FinnGen) to support go/no-go and prioritization decisions for drug targets.
- Propose novel drug targets with strong human causal evidence for autoimmune diseases.
- Make decision enabling judgements on drug target quality strong scientific rationale.
Population Genetics, Mendelian Randomization, Causal Inference:
- Design, execute, and critically evaluate evidence from large population-scale datasets using Mendelian Randomization and other methods to test causal relationships between genetic variants, biomarkers/proteins and immune-mediated disease outcomes.
- Assess genetic instrument validity for Mendelian Randomization, pleiotropy, and sensitivity of MR findings (e.g., MR-Egger, weighted median, colocalization) and communicate limitations clearly to immunologists.
- Collaborate with external genetics partners and academic collaborators on specific genetics programs.
Cross-Functional Collaboration & Communication:
- Translate complex genetic and statistical findings into clear, decision-relevant summaries for target discovery teams, translational scientists, and portfolio governance.
- Contribute genetics-informed input to target nomination packages, competitive intelligence, and program strategy documents.
- Represent statistical genetics perspective in cross-functional target review forums.
Required Qualifications
- Ph.D. in statistical genetics, population genetics, genetic epidemiology, biostatistics, computational biology, or a related quantitative field (or M.D, M.S. with equivalent industry experience).
- Demonstrated experience working on large-scale population datasets, Mendelian randomization (MR) methodology and causal inference from human genetic datasets.
- Strong proficiency in R, ideally within a tidyverse-based workflow; comfort with reproducible, version-controlled analysis (Git); basic knowledge of PLINK or other tools to manipulate large genotype datasets.
Preferred Qualifications
- Practical experience interrogating large-scale genetics/genomics databases (e.g. UK Biobank, AllofUS, Open Targets,) and their APIs.
- Demonstrated proficiency using fine-mapping, and colocalization approaches for GWAS summary statistics to refine association signals and identify causal genetic variants.
- Ability to critically evaluate statistical/analytical pipelines for genetic analysis and communicate methodological trade-offs to interdisciplinary teams.
- Experience in immunology/immune-mediated population genetics.
- Experience integrating multi-omics with genetics data, including pQTL or eqTL analysis.
- Familiarity with drug target identification/validation criteria and workflows in a pharmaceutical or biotech R&D setting.
- Experience collaborating with external genetics/data partners or academic consortia.
What Success Looks Like in This Role
- Providing a defensible, well-documented genetic evidence assessment that underpins target prioritization decisions across the immunology portfolio.
- Proposing novel targets within the immunology space.
- Ensuring that MR and other causal-inference methods are sound, appropriately caveated, and actionable for non-specialist stakeholders.
- Establishing strong working relationships with target discovery, translational medicine, and external genetics collaborators.
Lilly is dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities to actively engage in the workforce, ensuring equal opportunities when vying for positions. If you require accommodation to submit a resume for a position at Lilly, please complete the accommodation request form for further assistance. Please note this is for individuals to request an accommodation as part of the application process and any other correspondence will not receive a response.
Lilly is proud to be an EEO Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender identity, sex, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.
Our employee resource groups (ERGs) offer strong support networks for their members and are open to all employees. Our current groups include: Africa, Middle East, Central Asia (AMECA), Black Employees at Lilly (BE@Lilly), Chinese Culture Network (CCN), EnAble, Evolve, Lilly Indian Network (LIN), Organization of Latinx at Lilly (OLA), Pride (LGBTQ+ Allies), Veterans Leadership Network (VLN) and Women’s Initiative for Leading at Lilly (WILL).
Actual compensation will depend on a candidate’s education, experience, skills, and geographic location. The anticipated wage for this position is
$153,000 - $246,400
Full-time equivalent employees also will be eligible for a company bonus (depending, in part, on company and individual performance). In addition, Lilly offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees, including eligibility to participate in a company-sponsored 401(k); pension; vacation benefits; eligibility for medical, dental, vision and prescription drug benefits; flexible benefits (e.g., healthcare and/or dependent day care flexible spending accounts); life insurance and death benefits; certain time off and leave of absence benefits; and well-being benefits (e.g., employee assistance program, fitness benefits, and employee clubs and activities). Lilly reserves the right to amend, modify, or terminate its compensation and benefit programs in its sole discretion and Lilly’s compensation practices and guidelines will apply regarding the details of any promotion or transfer of Lilly employees.
See all H-1B Visa Geneticist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new H-1B Visa Geneticist Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship in Geneticist
Verify your degree field matches the role
USCIS evaluates whether your degree is in a field directly related to the specific geneticist position, not genetics broadly. A degree in biochemistry supporting a clinical genomics role carries more weight than a general biology credential.
Target employers with cap-exempt status
Universities, nonprofit research institutions, and government-affiliated labs are cap-exempt H-1B employers. Applying to these organizations lets you avoid the annual lottery entirely and file at any point in the year.
Look up prevailing wage before negotiating
Your employer's LCA must certify a wage at or above the DOL prevailing wage for your SOC code and location. Use the OFLC Wage Search to find the Level I through Level IV thresholds for geneticist roles before your offer conversation.
Search H-1B sponsors on Migrate Mate
Filter by employers with verified H-1B LCA filing history for genetics and life science roles on Migrate Mate. This shows which organizations have sponsored similar positions before, cutting your research time significantly.
Prepare a credential evaluation for foreign degrees
If your genetics degree is from outside the U.S., get a course-by-course evaluation from a NACES-accredited evaluator before applying. USCIS adjudicators scrutinize foreign degree equivalencies closely for specialty occupation petitions.
Clarify H-1B transfer timing with your new employer
If you're switching from another H-1B employer, you can start work as soon as USCIS receives the transfer petition, not after approval. Confirm your new employer understands portability under AC21 before you give notice.
H-1B Visa Geneticist: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a geneticist role qualify as an H-1B specialty occupation?
Yes. Geneticist positions consistently meet the H-1B specialty occupation standard because the work requires theoretical and practical application of highly specialized knowledge, and a bachelor's degree or higher in genetics, molecular biology, or a directly related field is a normal minimum requirement. USCIS evaluates the specific job duties and degree requirement stated in the employer's petition, so the job description needs to reflect that connection clearly.
Which types of employers sponsor H-1B visas for geneticists?
Universities and academic medical centers are among the most active sponsors because they're cap-exempt and can file year-round. Biotech and pharmaceutical companies, agricultural research firms, forensic labs, and hospital systems with genomics programs also sponsor regularly. Use Migrate Mate to browse geneticist roles filtered by employers with confirmed H-1B LCA filing history.
Can I use my OPT or STEM OPT while waiting for H-1B approval as a geneticist?
Yes. If you're on F-1 status and your employer files your H-1B petition before your OPT expires, the cap-gap rule extends your work authorization through September 30 of that fiscal year, or until USCIS acts on your petition. Geneticist roles at STEM-designated employers often qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, which gives you more runway before the H-1B lottery.
What SOC code applies to geneticist positions for LCA purposes?
Most geneticist roles fall under SOC 19-1029, Life Scientists, All Other, though some positions are classified under 19-1021, Biochemists and Biophysicists, depending on job duties. The employer selects the SOC code when filing the LCA with DOL, and that code determines the prevailing wage level. Check the O*NET occupation profile for geneticist to see which SOC code aligns with your specific duties before your employer files.
How does the H-1B lottery affect geneticists at for-profit employers?
For-profit biotech, pharma, and private research companies are subject to the annual H-1B cap, which means your petition enters the USCIS lottery each April for an October 1 start date. If you're not selected, you can't work for that employer under H-1B that fiscal year. One way around this is to target cap-exempt employers, such as universities or affiliated nonprofit research institutes, where no lottery applies.