STEM OPT Associate Scientist Jobs
Associate Scientist roles in biotech, pharma, and research labs are a strong fit for STEM OPT students with degrees in biology, chemistry, biochemistry, or related fields. Your 24-month STEM OPT extension applies here, giving you up to 36 months total, provided your employer is enrolled in E-Verify.
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Get Access To All JobsJoin our Mission to Protect Humankind!
Vaxcyte is a clinical-stage vaccine innovation company engineering high-fidelity vaccines to protect humankind from the consequences of bacterial diseases, which have serious and costly health consequences when left unchecked. Working to eradicate or treat bacterial infections such as invasive pneumococcal disease, Group A Strep, and Shigella is just the beginning. Our path to success is clear and well-defined, and Vaxcyte is set up to go the distance.
WHAT we do is every bit as important as HOW we do it! Our work together is guided by four enduring core values:
RETHINK CONVENTION: We bring creative and intellectual diversity to every facet of the work we do in order to innovate and re-innovate the way vaccines are delivered.
AIM HIGH: We embody our collectively audacious goal to courageously make the most complex biologics ever attempted to protect humankind.
LEAD WITH HEART: Everyone leads at Vaxcyte with a kindness-first, inclusive approach to collaboration and vigorous debate that advances our business objectives.
MODEL EXCELLENCE: The magnitude of our challenge requires our shared commitment to demonstrating integrity, accountability, equality and clarity across communications and decision making.
Summary
Vaxcyte is seeking Senior Associate Scientist (Contract), Conjugation Development, who will support the development of a robust process for generating the company’s proprietary pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. This role will focus on analysis of vendor-supplied materials in a capacity similar to a Quality Control Lab, as well as supporting the Conjugation Development team as needed. This is lab-based, full-time position that requires strict adhesion to protocols and documentation standards. The ideal candidate has strong organizational skills, clear communication, a high level of attention to detail, and experience working in a QC environment.
Essential Functions:
- Conduct analyses of vendor-supplied samples using colorimetric assays, gel electrophoresis, and liquid chromatography while strictly adhering to established SOPs
- Support lab operations
- Track shipping details for vendor-supplied samples
- Review analytical assay data for adherence to SOPs and accuracy
- Maintain organized records of review status of notebook entries and analytical data
- Contribute to reports, certificates, and other documentation supporting process development
- Collaborate effectively with team members and contribute to cross-functional activities
Requirements
- BS degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, or related field with minimum 5 years of industry experience, or MS degree with minimum 3 years of industry experience
- At least 2 years of experience in an analytical development or quality control role
- Prior experience running colorimetric assays is required
- Prior experience with HPLC is required
- Prior experience with SDS-PAGE is required
- Excellent attention to detail, organizational skills, and record-keeping abilities
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment
- Commitment to integrity, professionalism, and safety in all aspects of work
Reports to: Scientist II, Conjugation Development
Location: San Carlos, CA
Expected Contract Length: 12 Months
Hourly Range: $56/hr. $62/hr.
We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.
Join our Mission to Protect Humankind!
Vaxcyte is a clinical-stage vaccine innovation company engineering high-fidelity vaccines to protect humankind from the consequences of bacterial diseases, which have serious and costly health consequences when left unchecked. Working to eradicate or treat bacterial infections such as invasive pneumococcal disease, Group A Strep, and Shigella is just the beginning. Our path to success is clear and well-defined, and Vaxcyte is set up to go the distance.
WHAT we do is every bit as important as HOW we do it! Our work together is guided by four enduring core values:
RETHINK CONVENTION: We bring creative and intellectual diversity to every facet of the work we do in order to innovate and re-innovate the way vaccines are delivered.
AIM HIGH: We embody our collectively audacious goal to courageously make the most complex biologics ever attempted to protect humankind.
LEAD WITH HEART: Everyone leads at Vaxcyte with a kindness-first, inclusive approach to collaboration and vigorous debate that advances our business objectives.
MODEL EXCELLENCE: The magnitude of our challenge requires our shared commitment to demonstrating integrity, accountability, equality and clarity across communications and decision making.
Summary
Vaxcyte is seeking Senior Associate Scientist (Contract), Conjugation Development, who will support the development of a robust process for generating the company’s proprietary pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. This role will focus on analysis of vendor-supplied materials in a capacity similar to a Quality Control Lab, as well as supporting the Conjugation Development team as needed. This is lab-based, full-time position that requires strict adhesion to protocols and documentation standards. The ideal candidate has strong organizational skills, clear communication, a high level of attention to detail, and experience working in a QC environment.
Essential Functions:
- Conduct analyses of vendor-supplied samples using colorimetric assays, gel electrophoresis, and liquid chromatography while strictly adhering to established SOPs
- Support lab operations
- Track shipping details for vendor-supplied samples
- Review analytical assay data for adherence to SOPs and accuracy
- Maintain organized records of review status of notebook entries and analytical data
- Contribute to reports, certificates, and other documentation supporting process development
- Collaborate effectively with team members and contribute to cross-functional activities
Requirements
- BS degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, or related field with minimum 5 years of industry experience, or MS degree with minimum 3 years of industry experience
- At least 2 years of experience in an analytical development or quality control role
- Prior experience running colorimetric assays is required
- Prior experience with HPLC is required
- Prior experience with SDS-PAGE is required
- Excellent attention to detail, organizational skills, and record-keeping abilities
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment
- Commitment to integrity, professionalism, and safety in all aspects of work
Reports to: Scientist II, Conjugation Development
Location: San Carlos, CA
Expected Contract Length: 12 Months
Hourly Range: $56/hr. $62/hr.
We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.
See all 188+ STEM OPT Associate Scientist Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as an Associate Scientist
Verify your CIP code matches the role
Check that your degree's CIP code appears on the STEM Designated Degree Program List before applying. Associate Scientist postings in life sciences typically require biology, chemistry, or biochemistry credentials, and a mismatched CIP code can invalidate your extension.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Search the E-Verify employer database to confirm enrollment before you sign anything. Biotech startups and contract research organizations sometimes lack enrollment, which disqualifies them as STEM OPT sponsors regardless of how well the role fits your degree.
Benchmark your offer against prevailing wage data
Run the job title and work location through the OFLC Wage Search before negotiating. Associate Scientist wages vary significantly by region and lab type, and knowing the DOL wage level helps you evaluate whether an offer meets the threshold required for your I-983 training plan.
Build an I-983 training plan tied to lab competencies
Work with your DSO to draft an I-983 that maps specific lab skills like assay development, data analysis, or cell culture to your STEM degree objectives. Generic training plans raise DSO flags and delay your extension approval, so be concrete about technical tasks from day one.
Target employers with established research pipelines
Use Migrate Mate to filter Associate Scientist openings by employers who regularly hire STEM OPT students and are already enrolled in E-Verify. This cuts out the back-and-forth of confirming eligibility and gets you to the interview stage faster.
File your STEM OPT extension 90 days before OPT ends
Submit your I-765 to USCIS no later than 90 days before your current OPT expires. If USCIS hasn't adjudicated by your end date, your cap-gap protection only applies if you have an H-1B visa petition pending, so timing the filing correctly protects your ability to keep working.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an Associate Scientist role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, if your degree is in a qualifying STEM field such as biology, chemistry, biochemistry, or a related discipline with a CIP code on the STEM Designated Degree Program List. The role itself must also provide practical training directly related to your degree. Check your I-20 and confirm the CIP code with your DSO before applying.
Does my employer need to be enrolled in E-Verify to hire me on STEM OPT?
Yes. E-Verify enrollment is a hard requirement for STEM OPT employers, not an optional step. You and your employer must both sign the I-983 training plan, and USCIS requires the employer to be actively enrolled in E-Verify at the time you start work. Verify enrollment through the E-Verify employer search before accepting an offer.
What goes into the I-983 training plan for an Associate Scientist position?
The I-983 must describe specific learning objectives tied to your STEM degree, identify the lab skills or research competencies you'll develop, name your on-site supervisor, and outline how the employer will evaluate your progress. For Associate Scientist roles, that typically means detailing techniques like assay development, data interpretation, or experimental design rather than listing general job duties.
How does cap-gap protection work if my STEM OPT expires while my H-1B is pending?
If your employer files an H-1B petition on your behalf before your STEM OPT end date, cap-gap rules allow you to continue working until October 1 of that fiscal year, even if your EAD has expired. USCIS must receive the petition before your authorized period ends, so your employer's filing timeline matters significantly.
Where can I find Associate Scientist jobs where employers are already set up for STEM OPT?
Migrate Mate filters Associate Scientist listings by E-Verify enrollment status, so you're only seeing employers who already meet the baseline STEM OPT requirement. That removes the most common early-stage friction, which is finding out after an interview that a company isn't enrolled, and lets you focus on evaluating the role and training plan fit instead.