OPT Field Application Scientist Jobs
Field Application Scientist jobs are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with lab-based degrees in biology, chemistry, or biomedical engineering. Most roles qualify as STEM OPT extensions, giving you up to 36 months of work authorization. Employers in life sciences and diagnostics regularly sponsor H-1B visas for this position.
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Get Access To All JobsAt Element Biosciences, we are passionate about our mission to empower the scientific community with more freedom and flexibility to accelerate our collective impact on humanity. We have built a highly efficient product-driven organization where employees can learn, grow, and thrive in a challenging but encouraging environment. We are committed to scientific integrity, collegiality, honesty, objectivity, and openness.
We are seeking an experienced Senior Field Applications Scientist who will play a pivotal role supporting our growing customer base in the Bay Area. This is an incredible opportunity for someone who is passionate about seeing customer success and winning for the company. We are looking for candidates with a solid background in NGS sample and library prep workflows as well as cell biology. The hired candidate will need to be physically located in the territory and be willing to travel frequently to customer sites. This role will report to the Director, Field Applications, and will be a remote role with a requirement that our hire is based in the Bay Area.
If you possess the following and want to make a meaningful impact, we invite you to explore this role.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities:
- Frequently traveling to the customer site is required
- Troubleshooting issues related to user's technical skills, biochemistry/assay design, experimental design, software, and instruments
- Supporting commercial team and customers in their technical applications and providing product training
- Displaying professionalism, understanding, tact, fairness, and technical knowledge in all customer interactions
- Providing strategic and competitive feedback to marketing and product development teams, and independently leads or manages beta tests at customer sites
- Working independently on significant and unique issues requiring collaboration with key decision-makers and senior managers across the organization which may impact future products, concepts, and technologies
- Assisting sales and marketing on pre and post strategic sales activities requiring both technical depth and market knowledge
- Delivering customer training and workshops, both in-person and remote
- Utilizing service CRM software to accurately identify and document customer opportunities
- Collaborating with internal partners to resolve customer issues and improve processes
Education and Experience:
Bachelors degree with 4+ years, Masters degree with 2+ years or PhD with experience in NGS library construction (a combination of experience and education may be considered)
- Experience with NGS sequencing instrument and sequencing run set up along with NGS sample and library prep workflows is preferred
- Experience with cell biology, microscopy, and multiomics is required
- Must be highly motivated and have strong problem-solving ability
- Excellent communication and strong relationship building skills
- Highly collaborative and adaptable; able to work well within multidisciplinary teams
- Skilled in nucleic acids and protein analytical methods
- Generate high quality and reproducible wet-lab data from established protocols
- High degree of comfort navigating technical project discussions
- Must be able to work independently and as a team player
- Demonstrated account management skills
Physical Requirements:
- Frequently moves boxes weighing up to 20 pounds
- Must be flexible in working hours as this position may require customer support during non-regular business hours
Location:
Remote – Bay Area
Travel:
Domestic travel up to 80% or as needed
Job Type:
Full-time, Exempt
Base Compensation Pay Range:
$118,000 - $144,000
In addition to base compensation noted above, you will be eligible for stock options, sales commission, no cost health insurance plans, 401k with company match, and flexible paid time off.
Please note: Base compensation will depend on multiple factors, including geographic location, qualifications, and experience.
We foster an environment such that all people are afforded the freedom to pursue their passions without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, gender (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran status or any other characteristics protected by law.
At Element Biosciences, we are passionate about our mission to empower the scientific community with more freedom and flexibility to accelerate our collective impact on humanity. We have built a highly efficient product-driven organization where employees can learn, grow, and thrive in a challenging but encouraging environment. We are committed to scientific integrity, collegiality, honesty, objectivity, and openness.
We are seeking an experienced Senior Field Applications Scientist who will play a pivotal role supporting our growing customer base in the Bay Area. This is an incredible opportunity for someone who is passionate about seeing customer success and winning for the company. We are looking for candidates with a solid background in NGS sample and library prep workflows as well as cell biology. The hired candidate will need to be physically located in the territory and be willing to travel frequently to customer sites. This role will report to the Director, Field Applications, and will be a remote role with a requirement that our hire is based in the Bay Area.
If you possess the following and want to make a meaningful impact, we invite you to explore this role.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities:
- Frequently traveling to the customer site is required
- Troubleshooting issues related to user's technical skills, biochemistry/assay design, experimental design, software, and instruments
- Supporting commercial team and customers in their technical applications and providing product training
- Displaying professionalism, understanding, tact, fairness, and technical knowledge in all customer interactions
- Providing strategic and competitive feedback to marketing and product development teams, and independently leads or manages beta tests at customer sites
- Working independently on significant and unique issues requiring collaboration with key decision-makers and senior managers across the organization which may impact future products, concepts, and technologies
- Assisting sales and marketing on pre and post strategic sales activities requiring both technical depth and market knowledge
- Delivering customer training and workshops, both in-person and remote
- Utilizing service CRM software to accurately identify and document customer opportunities
- Collaborating with internal partners to resolve customer issues and improve processes
Education and Experience:
Bachelors degree with 4+ years, Masters degree with 2+ years or PhD with experience in NGS library construction (a combination of experience and education may be considered)
- Experience with NGS sequencing instrument and sequencing run set up along with NGS sample and library prep workflows is preferred
- Experience with cell biology, microscopy, and multiomics is required
- Must be highly motivated and have strong problem-solving ability
- Excellent communication and strong relationship building skills
- Highly collaborative and adaptable; able to work well within multidisciplinary teams
- Skilled in nucleic acids and protein analytical methods
- Generate high quality and reproducible wet-lab data from established protocols
- High degree of comfort navigating technical project discussions
- Must be able to work independently and as a team player
- Demonstrated account management skills
Physical Requirements:
- Frequently moves boxes weighing up to 20 pounds
- Must be flexible in working hours as this position may require customer support during non-regular business hours
Location:
Remote – Bay Area
Travel:
Domestic travel up to 80% or as needed
Job Type:
Full-time, Exempt
Base Compensation Pay Range:
$118,000 - $144,000
In addition to base compensation noted above, you will be eligible for stock options, sales commission, no cost health insurance plans, 401k with company match, and flexible paid time off.
Please note: Base compensation will depend on multiple factors, including geographic location, qualifications, and experience.
We foster an environment such that all people are afforded the freedom to pursue their passions without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, gender (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran status or any other characteristics protected by law.
See all OPT Field Application Scientist Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Field Application Scientist
Target life sciences companies with established OPT hiring
Biotech, genomics, and diagnostics companies like Illumina, Thermo Fisher, and 10x Genomics regularly hire OPT students for FAS roles. These organizations have HR infrastructure to handle work authorization and are familiar with STEM OPT extension timelines.
Lead with your hands-on lab and instrumentation experience
FAS hiring managers prioritize candidates who can demonstrate and troubleshoot instruments independently. Highlight specific platforms you've worked with in your resume, whether flow cytometers, sequencers, or mass spectrometers. This technical credibility reduces employer hesitation about sponsorship.
Apply before your OPT start date, not after
The FAS interview process often involves multiple rounds and a technical demonstration. Starting your search three to four months before OPT begins gives you a realistic runway to clear hiring stages without pressure from your work authorization clock.
Clarify your STEM OPT eligibility early in conversations
If your degree is in a STEM-designated field, you're eligible for a 24-month OPT extension beyond the initial 12 months. Mentioning this proactively reassures employers that they have a longer window before needing to file an H-1B petition.
Prepare a concise visa status summary for recruiters
Recruiters often misread OPT authorization requirements. A one-paragraph explanation covering your current status, authorized work period, and STEM extension eligibility helps hiring managers move your application forward without unnecessary delays or misconceptions about costs.
Use your thesis or research as a demonstration asset
FAS roles require scientific credibility with customers. If your graduate research involved instruments or assays relevant to the employer's product line, frame that work as applied customer-facing experience. It shortens the gap between academic background and commercial readiness.
Field Application Scientist OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Field Application Scientist roles qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, in most cases. FAS positions are typically held by graduates in biology, chemistry, biochemistry, biomedical engineering, or related STEM-designated fields. If your degree program appears on the Department of Homeland Security's STEM Designated Degree Program List, you're eligible to apply for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, giving you up to 36 months of total work authorization.
How do I find Field Application Scientist jobs that sponsor OPT students?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for this search. It filters for employers who actively hire F-1 OPT students and sponsor work visas, so you're not wasting time applying to companies that won't consider your status. FAS roles at life sciences, genomics, and diagnostics companies appear regularly, and those employers tend to have established sponsorship processes already in place.
What degree fields are most accepted for Field Application Scientist positions on OPT?
Most FAS job postings require a bachelor's or master's degree in molecular biology, biochemistry, chemistry, biomedical engineering, or a related life science field. Some clinical or diagnostic FAS roles prefer degrees in clinical laboratory science or medical technology. A doctorate is common at companies where the FAS role involves complex scientific selling or peer-to-peer engagement with research scientists.
Will employers sponsor H-1B visas after my OPT period ends for this role?
Many established life sciences and biotech companies do sponsor H-1B visas for FAS employees, particularly after demonstrating strong performance in the role. That said, H-1B sponsorship depends on individual company policy, the annual lottery, and timing. During interviews, ask directly whether the company has a history of sponsoring H-1B petitions for FAS positions and what their internal process looks like.
Can I work as a Field Application Scientist through a staffing agency on OPT?
OPT regulations require that your employer-employee relationship is bona fide, meaning a staffing or contract arrangement must not place you in a situation where the end client, rather than your direct employer, controls your work. Some contract FAS roles through agencies are structured properly and are permissible, but you should verify the setup with your DSO before accepting to confirm it meets USCIS employment requirements.