OPT Biostatistician Jobs
Biostatistician roles are strong OPT fits because they require a specific graduate degree in statistics, biostatistics, or a related field, making H-1B visa sponsorship straightforward to justify. Most positions qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, giving you up to three years of authorized work experience while pursuing long-term sponsorship.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
We invite you to consider an opportunity with Denali to help achieve our goal of delivering meaningful therapeutics to patients.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
This role drives the statistical strategy and execution behind Denali's core clinical development programs, translating complex data into insights that inform therapeutic decisions for neurodegenerative disease programs. The position combines hands-on statistical rigor with cross-functional influence, ensuring analyses meet the highest standards of scientific and regulatory integrity. It also provides oversight of external statistical service providers to ensure consistent, high-quality delivery across programs.
Key Accountabilities / Core Job Responsibilities:
- Leads development of key clinical study deliverables, including statistical analysis plans, protocol statistical sections, and clinical study reports.
- Ensures statistical integrity and accuracy of analysis and reporting deliverables, meeting pre-specified requirements, internal SOPs, and external regulatory standards.
- Conducts hands-on exploratory analyses, sample size estimation, and modeling/simulation; builds tools to extract insights from data.
- Interprets and presents data and statistical considerations to internal project teams and senior management.
- Oversees Biostatistics vendors and contract research organizations, providing quality oversight of in-house and external statistical deliverables.
- Maintains current expertise in statistical methodology, indication-specific drug development trends, and the regulatory landscape.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Typically requires a PhD in Statistics, Biostatistics, or a related discipline with 3+ years of pharmaceutical/biotech experience; or a Master's degree in a related discipline with equivalent related experience.
- Demonstrated expertise in statistical methodology and its application to pharmaceutical/biotechnology problems.
- Strong programming proficiency in R and Markdown/Quarto, with working knowledge of git and Unix/Linux environments.
- Familiarity with industry data standards, including CDISC, SDTM, and ADaM.
- Strong analytical, collaboration, and communication skills, with demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally with research and clinical colleagues.
COMPENSATION
- Salary Range: $155,000.00 to $202,000.00. Compensation for the role will depend on a number of factors, including a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies, and experience. Denali offers a competitive total rewards package, which includes a 401k, healthcare coverage, ESPP and a broad range of other benefits.
This compensation and benefits information is based on Denali’s good faith estimate as of the date of publication and may be modified in the future.
Denali is committed to its core company value of unity by creating a diverse and inclusive environment. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, basis of disability, or any other federal, state, or local protected class.
INTRODUCTION
We invite you to consider an opportunity with Denali to help achieve our goal of delivering meaningful therapeutics to patients.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
This role drives the statistical strategy and execution behind Denali's core clinical development programs, translating complex data into insights that inform therapeutic decisions for neurodegenerative disease programs. The position combines hands-on statistical rigor with cross-functional influence, ensuring analyses meet the highest standards of scientific and regulatory integrity. It also provides oversight of external statistical service providers to ensure consistent, high-quality delivery across programs.
Key Accountabilities / Core Job Responsibilities:
- Leads development of key clinical study deliverables, including statistical analysis plans, protocol statistical sections, and clinical study reports.
- Ensures statistical integrity and accuracy of analysis and reporting deliverables, meeting pre-specified requirements, internal SOPs, and external regulatory standards.
- Conducts hands-on exploratory analyses, sample size estimation, and modeling/simulation; builds tools to extract insights from data.
- Interprets and presents data and statistical considerations to internal project teams and senior management.
- Oversees Biostatistics vendors and contract research organizations, providing quality oversight of in-house and external statistical deliverables.
- Maintains current expertise in statistical methodology, indication-specific drug development trends, and the regulatory landscape.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Typically requires a PhD in Statistics, Biostatistics, or a related discipline with 3+ years of pharmaceutical/biotech experience; or a Master's degree in a related discipline with equivalent related experience.
- Demonstrated expertise in statistical methodology and its application to pharmaceutical/biotechnology problems.
- Strong programming proficiency in R and Markdown/Quarto, with working knowledge of git and Unix/Linux environments.
- Familiarity with industry data standards, including CDISC, SDTM, and ADaM.
- Strong analytical, collaboration, and communication skills, with demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally with research and clinical colleagues.
COMPENSATION
- Salary Range: $155,000.00 to $202,000.00. Compensation for the role will depend on a number of factors, including a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies, and experience. Denali offers a competitive total rewards package, which includes a 401k, healthcare coverage, ESPP and a broad range of other benefits.
This compensation and benefits information is based on Denali’s good faith estimate as of the date of publication and may be modified in the future.
Denali is committed to its core company value of unity by creating a diverse and inclusive environment. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, basis of disability, or any other federal, state, or local protected class.
See all 35+ OPT Biostatistician Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Biostatistician
Target employers with established OPT hiring pipelines
Pharmaceutical companies, academic medical centers, and federal agencies like the NIH and CDC regularly hire biostatisticians on OPT. These organizations have immigration counsel on retainer and understand the authorization timeline, making them far less likely to hesitate on sponsorship.
Confirm your role qualifies for STEM OPT extension early
Biostatistician positions almost universally qualify for the 24-month STEM extension under CIP code 27.0501. Verify this with your DSO before accepting an offer so your employer knows you have three years of authorized work, not one.
Emphasize your specific degree field during interviews
Biostatistician is a specialty occupation requiring a degree in biostatistics, statistics, or a closely related field. Naming your exact degree and its alignment with the role removes a key objection employers raise when weighing whether to sponsor an H-1B visa petition.
Raise sponsorship after demonstrating technical fit, not before
Bring up OPT and future H-1B sponsorship after you've established that your statistical methods, software proficiency, and domain knowledge match the role. Employers sponsor candidates they've already mentally hired, not candidates who lead with visa questions.
Understand your OPT reporting obligations to reassure employers
OPT requires you to report any employer change, job title change, or unemployment exceeding 90 days to your DSO. Walking an employer through these rules confidently signals that you'll stay compliant, which reduces their perceived risk of hiring you.
Use E-Verify enrollment as a sponsorship signal
STEM OPT extension employers must be enrolled in E-Verify. Before applying, confirm a company participates. E-Verify enrollment also correlates strongly with broader sponsorship willingness, making it a reliable proxy when researching whether a biostatistics team hires internationally.
Biostatistician OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a biostatistician role qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension?
Yes, in nearly all cases. Biostatistician positions align with CIP code 27.0501 (Statistics, General) and related codes, which appear on the official STEM Designated Degree Program list. As long as your degree field matches and your employer is enrolled in E-Verify, you can apply for the extension through your DSO before your initial 12-month OPT expires.
What degree fields support a biostatistician OPT position?
Degrees in biostatistics, statistics, mathematics, or epidemiology with a strong quantitative focus are the most accepted. Some employers will also consider degrees in public health or data science if your coursework included graduate-level statistical theory and methods. Your degree field needs to directly support the role to satisfy both OPT reporting requirements and eventual H-1B specialty occupation criteria.
How do I find biostatistician employers willing to sponsor OPT and H-1B?
Migrate Mate lists biostatistician jobs from employers with documented sponsorship histories, so you're not guessing which companies will support your immigration status. Pharmaceutical companies, contract research organizations, and academic health systems are the most active sponsors in this field. Filtering by STEM OPT eligibility on Migrate Mate helps you focus on roles where the employer infrastructure for sponsorship is already in place.
Can I work as a biostatistician for a university or research institution on OPT?
Yes, and academic medical centers are among the most OPT-friendly employers for biostatisticians. Universities and affiliated research institutions regularly hire international graduates, often have dedicated international scholar offices, and frequently sponsor H-1B cap-exempt petitions, which bypass the annual lottery entirely. Cap-exempt sponsorship is a significant advantage worth asking about during the offer stage.
What happens if I'm between biostatistician contracts or projects during my OPT period?
OPT allows a maximum of 90 days of unemployment during the initial 12-month period, and an additional 60 days if you're approved for the STEM extension. Any gap must be reported to your DSO promptly. If your position is project-based or grant-funded, confirm with your employer before starting that the contract duration covers at least enough time to file an H-1B petition if needed.