OPT Clinical Research Scientist Jobs
Clinical Research Scientist roles are among the more OPT-friendly positions in biotech and pharma, sponsors regularly file H-1B visa petitions for research staff, and STEM OPT extension applies to most life sciences degree holders. Clinical trials work aligns well with the 24-month STEM extension window.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 115,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.
Working at Abbott
At Abbott, you can do work that matters, grow, and learn, care for yourself and family, be your true self and live a full life. You’ll also have access to:
- Career development with an international company where you can grow the career you dream of
- Employees can qualify for free medical coverage in our Health Investment Plan (HIP) PPO medical plan in the next calendar year.
- An excellent retirement savings plan with high employer contribution
- Tuition reimbursement, the Freedom 2 Save student debt program and FreeU education benefit - an affordable and convenient path to getting a bachelor’s degree
- A company recognized as a great place to work in dozens of countries around the world and named one of the most admired companies in the world by Fortune
- A company that is recognized as one of the best big companies to work for as well as a best place to work for diversity, working mothers, female executives, and scientists
For years, Abbott’s medical device businesses have offered technologies that are faster, more effective, and less invasive. Whether it’s glucose monitoring system, innovative therapies for treating heart disease, or products that help people with chronic pain or movement disorders, our medical device technologies are designed to help people live their lives better and healthier. Every day, our technologies help more than 10,000 people have healthier hearts, improve quality of life for thousands of people living with chronic pain and movement disorders, and liberate more than 500,000 people with diabetes from routine fingersticks.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Our location in Sylmar, CA currently has an on-site opportunity for a Senior Clinical Research Scientist. This new team member will work in Abbott’s Global Data Science & Analytics team within the Medical Device Division. The Senior Clinical Research Scientist will provide scientific and technical leadership for real-world evidence (RWE) studies supporting post-market regulatory requirements, reimbursement, clinical evidence generations, and pre-market submissions across Abbott’s Electrophysiology portfolio. This individual will lead the design, execution, and dissemination of observational studies using large-scale real-world data sources, including electronic health records (EHR), insurance claims, hospital administrative and billing databases, and device-generated data.
What You’ll Work On
Real-World Evidence Study Leadership
- Lead the design and execution of real-world evidence, health economics, and digital health studies related to Abbott medical devices, using real-world data sources such as electronic health records, insurance claims, and hospital administrative/billing databases.
- Develop and own RWE study protocols and statistical analysis plans (SAPs) aligned with regulatory, clinical, and reimbursement objectives.
- Build and help execute long-term RWE generation strategies across the electrophysiology portfolio, in collaboration with clinical, regulatory, medical affairs, and market access stakeholders.
Data Analysis & Programming
- Perform hands-on programming to execute RWE studies using SQL, R, SAS, Python, or similar languages.
- Manage data preparation, cohort construction, variable derivation, and analysis across diverse data types, including EHR data, insurance claims, hospital billing data, device-generated data, and clinical trial data.
- Partner closely with data analysts and data engineers to validate programming logic, analytical datasets, and study results, ensuring accuracy, reproducibility, and regulatory readiness.
Scientific Communication & Disclosure
- Lead development of study reports, regulatory deliverables, conference abstracts, podium and poster presentations, and peer-reviewed scientific manuscripts.
- Translate complex analytical results into clear, clinically meaningful scientific narratives for internal leadership, regulators, clinicians, and external stakeholders.
Clinical & Therapeutic Area Expertise
- Maintain strong and up-to-date knowledge of the clinical landscape in cardiac electrophysiology, including atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, ventricular arrhythmias, ablation technologies, and evolving standards of care.
- Monitor emerging evidence, clinical guidelines, competitive technologies, and unmet clinical needs to inform RWE study design, endpoint selection, and evidence generation strategy.
- Apply clinical context to interpret real-world data results, assess relevance to intended use populations, and support regulatory and clinical decision-making.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Collaborate effectively with peers across biostatistics, clinical affairs, regulatory affairs, medical affairs, health economics, and R&D teams.
- Represent RWE and observational research perspectives in cross-functional project teams and strategy discussions.
- Engage with external collaborators, including academic researchers, data vendors, and clinical experts, as appropriate.
Required Qualifications
- Associates Degree
- 4 years related experience
Preferred Qualifications
- Master's Degree with 4+ years of related experience OR Bachelor's Degree with 6-8 years of related experience OR an equivalent combination of education and work experience.
- PhD, DrPH, PharmD, MS, or equivalent advanced degree in biostatistics, epidemiology, clinical research, public health, outcomes research, biomedical engineering, or a related field. 2-5+ years’ Experience leading real-world evidence, observational research, or outcomes research studies in the medical device, pharmaceutical, or life sciences industry, with increasing levels of scientific responsibility.
- Experience designing and executing regulatory-grade clinical studies or RWE studies.
- Strong expertise working with large real-world datasets, including electronic health records, administrative claims data, hospital billing/chargemaster data, registries, and/or device-generated data.
- Advanced hands-on experience in statistical programming and data analysis using one or more of the following: SQL, R, SAS, Python (or equivalent), with the ability to independently execute complex cohort-based analyses.
- Deep understanding of epidemiologic study design and analytical methods for observational research, including cohort studies, comparative effectiveness research, signal detection, sensitivity analyses, and bias mitigation strategies.
- Proven ability to develop RWE protocols and statistical analysis plans suitable for regulatory review, including clear articulation of study objectives, endpoints, data sources, and analytical approaches.
- Familiarity with regulatory and methodological guidance relevant to real-world evidence, including FDA expectations for data relevance, reliability, and transparency.
- Prior experience leading the development of study reports, regulatory submissions, peer-reviewed manuscripts, conference abstracts, and scientific presentations.
- Background or strong working knowledge of the cardiac electrophysiology therapeutic area, including atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, ventricular arrhythmias, catheter ablation technologies, and evolving standards of care, with the ability to interpret results in a clinically meaningful context.
- Demonstrated ability to stay current with the clinical and competitive landscape in electrophysiology, including emerging technologies, clinical guidelines, and real-world evidence trends.
- Experience collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams (e.g., clinical affairs, regulatory affairs, medical affairs, health economics, data science, biostatistics) and influencing without formal authority.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously, prioritize effectively, and deliver high-quality scientific work under tight timelines, with strong attention to detail and commitment to analytical rigor.
- Strong scientific communication skills, with the ability to translate complex analyses into clear, actionable insights for diverse audiences, including clinicians, regulators, and internal leadership.
- Experience working with external collaborators such as academic investigators, data vendors, or health system partners is preferred.
Apply Now
Learn more about our health and wellness benefits, which provide the security to help you and your family live full lives: www.abbottbenefits.com
Follow your career aspirations to Abbott for diverse opportunities with a company that can help you build your future and live your best life.
Abbott is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to employee diversity.
The base pay for this position is $90,000.00 – $180,000.00. In specific locations, the pay range may vary from the range posted.
INTRODUCTION
Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 115,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.
Working at Abbott
At Abbott, you can do work that matters, grow, and learn, care for yourself and family, be your true self and live a full life. You’ll also have access to:
- Career development with an international company where you can grow the career you dream of
- Employees can qualify for free medical coverage in our Health Investment Plan (HIP) PPO medical plan in the next calendar year.
- An excellent retirement savings plan with high employer contribution
- Tuition reimbursement, the Freedom 2 Save student debt program and FreeU education benefit - an affordable and convenient path to getting a bachelor’s degree
- A company recognized as a great place to work in dozens of countries around the world and named one of the most admired companies in the world by Fortune
- A company that is recognized as one of the best big companies to work for as well as a best place to work for diversity, working mothers, female executives, and scientists
For years, Abbott’s medical device businesses have offered technologies that are faster, more effective, and less invasive. Whether it’s glucose monitoring system, innovative therapies for treating heart disease, or products that help people with chronic pain or movement disorders, our medical device technologies are designed to help people live their lives better and healthier. Every day, our technologies help more than 10,000 people have healthier hearts, improve quality of life for thousands of people living with chronic pain and movement disorders, and liberate more than 500,000 people with diabetes from routine fingersticks.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Our location in Sylmar, CA currently has an on-site opportunity for a Senior Clinical Research Scientist. This new team member will work in Abbott’s Global Data Science & Analytics team within the Medical Device Division. The Senior Clinical Research Scientist will provide scientific and technical leadership for real-world evidence (RWE) studies supporting post-market regulatory requirements, reimbursement, clinical evidence generations, and pre-market submissions across Abbott’s Electrophysiology portfolio. This individual will lead the design, execution, and dissemination of observational studies using large-scale real-world data sources, including electronic health records (EHR), insurance claims, hospital administrative and billing databases, and device-generated data.
What You’ll Work On
Real-World Evidence Study Leadership
- Lead the design and execution of real-world evidence, health economics, and digital health studies related to Abbott medical devices, using real-world data sources such as electronic health records, insurance claims, and hospital administrative/billing databases.
- Develop and own RWE study protocols and statistical analysis plans (SAPs) aligned with regulatory, clinical, and reimbursement objectives.
- Build and help execute long-term RWE generation strategies across the electrophysiology portfolio, in collaboration with clinical, regulatory, medical affairs, and market access stakeholders.
Data Analysis & Programming
- Perform hands-on programming to execute RWE studies using SQL, R, SAS, Python, or similar languages.
- Manage data preparation, cohort construction, variable derivation, and analysis across diverse data types, including EHR data, insurance claims, hospital billing data, device-generated data, and clinical trial data.
- Partner closely with data analysts and data engineers to validate programming logic, analytical datasets, and study results, ensuring accuracy, reproducibility, and regulatory readiness.
Scientific Communication & Disclosure
- Lead development of study reports, regulatory deliverables, conference abstracts, podium and poster presentations, and peer-reviewed scientific manuscripts.
- Translate complex analytical results into clear, clinically meaningful scientific narratives for internal leadership, regulators, clinicians, and external stakeholders.
Clinical & Therapeutic Area Expertise
- Maintain strong and up-to-date knowledge of the clinical landscape in cardiac electrophysiology, including atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, ventricular arrhythmias, ablation technologies, and evolving standards of care.
- Monitor emerging evidence, clinical guidelines, competitive technologies, and unmet clinical needs to inform RWE study design, endpoint selection, and evidence generation strategy.
- Apply clinical context to interpret real-world data results, assess relevance to intended use populations, and support regulatory and clinical decision-making.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Collaborate effectively with peers across biostatistics, clinical affairs, regulatory affairs, medical affairs, health economics, and R&D teams.
- Represent RWE and observational research perspectives in cross-functional project teams and strategy discussions.
- Engage with external collaborators, including academic researchers, data vendors, and clinical experts, as appropriate.
Required Qualifications
- Associates Degree
- 4 years related experience
Preferred Qualifications
- Master's Degree with 4+ years of related experience OR Bachelor's Degree with 6-8 years of related experience OR an equivalent combination of education and work experience.
- PhD, DrPH, PharmD, MS, or equivalent advanced degree in biostatistics, epidemiology, clinical research, public health, outcomes research, biomedical engineering, or a related field. 2-5+ years’ Experience leading real-world evidence, observational research, or outcomes research studies in the medical device, pharmaceutical, or life sciences industry, with increasing levels of scientific responsibility.
- Experience designing and executing regulatory-grade clinical studies or RWE studies.
- Strong expertise working with large real-world datasets, including electronic health records, administrative claims data, hospital billing/chargemaster data, registries, and/or device-generated data.
- Advanced hands-on experience in statistical programming and data analysis using one or more of the following: SQL, R, SAS, Python (or equivalent), with the ability to independently execute complex cohort-based analyses.
- Deep understanding of epidemiologic study design and analytical methods for observational research, including cohort studies, comparative effectiveness research, signal detection, sensitivity analyses, and bias mitigation strategies.
- Proven ability to develop RWE protocols and statistical analysis plans suitable for regulatory review, including clear articulation of study objectives, endpoints, data sources, and analytical approaches.
- Familiarity with regulatory and methodological guidance relevant to real-world evidence, including FDA expectations for data relevance, reliability, and transparency.
- Prior experience leading the development of study reports, regulatory submissions, peer-reviewed manuscripts, conference abstracts, and scientific presentations.
- Background or strong working knowledge of the cardiac electrophysiology therapeutic area, including atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, ventricular arrhythmias, catheter ablation technologies, and evolving standards of care, with the ability to interpret results in a clinically meaningful context.
- Demonstrated ability to stay current with the clinical and competitive landscape in electrophysiology, including emerging technologies, clinical guidelines, and real-world evidence trends.
- Experience collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams (e.g., clinical affairs, regulatory affairs, medical affairs, health economics, data science, biostatistics) and influencing without formal authority.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously, prioritize effectively, and deliver high-quality scientific work under tight timelines, with strong attention to detail and commitment to analytical rigor.
- Strong scientific communication skills, with the ability to translate complex analyses into clear, actionable insights for diverse audiences, including clinicians, regulators, and internal leadership.
- Experience working with external collaborators such as academic investigators, data vendors, or health system partners is preferred.
Apply Now
Learn more about our health and wellness benefits, which provide the security to help you and your family live full lives: www.abbottbenefits.com
Follow your career aspirations to Abbott for diverse opportunities with a company that can help you build your future and live your best life.
Abbott is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to employee diversity.
The base pay for this position is $90,000.00 – $180,000.00. In specific locations, the pay range may vary from the range posted.
See all 438+ OPT Clinical Research Scientist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Clinical Research Scientist Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Clinical Research Scientist
Target STEM OPT-eligible degree fields
Clinical Research Scientist roles typically require degrees in life sciences, biology, or pharmacology, all STEM-designated fields. Confirm your specific CIP code qualifies for the 24-month STEM OPT extension before applying, as this significantly extends your authorized work period.
Prioritize contract research organizations
Contract research organizations like ICON, Syneos, and Labcorp Drug Development routinely hire international researchers and have established visa sponsorship processes. They handle high clinical trial volume, which means consistent demand for research scientists regardless of economic conditions.
Quantify your protocol and GCP experience
Employers sponsoring OPT students want proof of specialized knowledge that justifies the process. Document specific clinical protocols you've worked on, Good Clinical Practice certifications, and any regulatory submission experience. Generic research experience is less compelling than trial-specific credentials.
Apply before your OPT start date
Many biotech and pharma employers will not extend offers to candidates without active OPT authorization. Submit your I-765 early, ideally 90 days before program completion, so your EAD card arrives before you begin interviewing for full-time positions.
Network through IRB and regulatory communities
Clinical research is a relationship-driven field. Connecting with IRB coordinators, clinical operations managers, and regulatory affairs professionals at academic medical centers often surfaces unadvertised roles at institutions that regularly support international research staff.
Understand the H-1B timeline before OPT ends
H-1B visa registration opens in March for an October 1 start. Plan your OPT and STEM extension dates against this calendar. STEM OPT holders with an October-capped petition can often bridge the gap with an automatic cap-gap extension through program end.
Clinical Research Scientist OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Clinical Research Scientist role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree, not your job title. If your qualifying degree is in a STEM-designated field, such as biology, biochemistry, pharmacology, or biomedical science, you can apply for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Your employer must also be enrolled in E-Verify, which most pharmaceutical and biotech companies already are. Confirm your CIP code on the DHS STEM OPT list before applying.
Do biotech and pharma companies typically sponsor OPT students for Clinical Research Scientist positions?
Many do, particularly large pharmaceutical companies and contract research organizations with established international hiring pipelines. Sponsorship is less common at smaller biotechs with limited HR infrastructure. Migrate Mate filters job listings by sponsorship willingness, so you can focus your search on employers who have actually sponsored research scientists rather than guessing from a company's careers page.
Can I work as a Clinical Research Scientist at an academic medical center on OPT?
Yes. Academic medical centers are among the most OPT-friendly employers in clinical research because they're accustomed to hiring international researchers and fellows. Many are also enrolled in E-Verify, which is required for the STEM OPT extension. Roles tied to federally funded trials may involve additional compliance checks, but that's unrelated to your OPT authorization.
What counts as a qualifying training experience for STEM OPT reporting requirements in this role?
Your STEM OPT training must directly relate to your qualifying STEM degree. For a Clinical Research Scientist, this means work involving data analysis, protocol development, regulatory documentation, or trial monitoring that connects to your degree in the life sciences. You and your employer complete a formal training plan on Form I-983, which DSO submits. The job must use the theoretical knowledge from your degree, not just general lab or coordination work.
What happens to my OPT authorization if my clinical trial contract ends early?
If your employment ends before your OPT authorization expires, you have a 60-day grace period to find new employment, transfer to a new program, or depart the United States. You cannot work during the grace period. If you're on STEM OPT, the same 60-day rule applies, but your DSO must be notified within five days of the job ending and will update SEVIS accordingly.