STEM OPT Bioinformatics Jobs
Bioinformatics roles in genomics, computational biology, and data analysis are strong matches for STEM OPT work authorization. Your STEM degree qualifies you for the 24-month extension beyond initial OPT, giving you up to 36 months total, as long as your employer is enrolled in E-Verify.
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Get Access To All JobsLocation
St. Louis, MO 63110
Scheduled Hours
40
Position Summary
Assists with research projects including computational data analysis and documentation of experimental results.
Job Description
Primary Duties & Responsibilities:
- Assists research studies with implementation of: existing algorithms and computer software for analyzing omics-based data sets [high-throughput, massively parallel genomic/proteomic/clinical.]; data management and analysis solutions that assist in storage, investigation and dissemination of large data sets. 70%.
- Works with research team to develop new algorithms to support studies. 20%.
- Assists with reporting of methods, data and results. 10%.
Working Conditions:
Job Location/Working Conditions
- Works in a laboratory environment with potential exposure to biological and chemical hazards
- Must be physically able to wear protective equipment and to provide standard care to research animals
- Normal office environment
Physical Effort
- Typically sitting at desk or table
- Repetitive wrist, hand or finger movement
Equipment
- Office equipment
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified. Management reserves the right to revise or amend duties at any time.
Required Qualifications
Education:
Bachelor’s degree or combination of education and/or experience may substitute for minimum education.
Certifications /Professional Licenses:
No specific certification/professional license is required for this position.
Work Experience:
No specific work experience is required for this position.
Skills:
Not Applicable
Driver's License:
A driver's license is not required for this position.
More About This Job
WashU seeks highly motivated individuals who are able to perform duties in a manner consistent with our core mission and guiding principles.
Preferred Qualifications
Education:
No additional education unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.
Certifications /Professional Licenses:
No additional certification/professional licenses unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.
Work Experience:
Relevant Experience (1 Year)
Skills:
Analytical Thinking, Bioinformatics, Bioinformatics Tools, Biostatistics, Communication, Complex Data Analysis, Computational Biology, Computer Science, Critical Reasoning, Data Management, Data Reporting, Datasets, Genomics Research, Human Genetics, Microarrays, Model Organism, Problem Solving, Sequence Analysis
Grade
R07-H
Salary Range
$17.10 - $29.09 / Hourly
The salary range reflects base salaries paid for positions in a given job grade across the University. Individual rates within the range will be determined by factors including one's qualifications and performance, equity with others in the department, market rates for positions within the same grade and department budget.
Questions
For frequently asked questions about the application process, please refer to our External Applicant FAQ.
Accommodation
If you are unable to use our online application system and would like an accommodation, please email CandidateQuestions@wustl.edu or call the dedicated accommodation inquiry number at 314-935-1149 and leave a voicemail with the nature of your request.
All qualified individuals must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.
Pre-Employment Screening
All external candidates receiving an offer for employment will be required to submit to pre-employment screening for this position. The screenings will include criminal background check and, as applicable for the position, other background checks, drug screen, an employment and education or licensure/certification verification, physical examination, certain vaccinations and/or governmental registry checks. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of required screening.
Benefits Statement
Personal
- Up to 22 days of vacation, 10 recognized holidays, and sick time.
- Competitive health insurance packages with priority appointments and lower copays/coinsurance.
- Take advantage of our free Metro transit U-Pass for eligible employees.
- WashU provides eligible employees with a defined contribution (403(b)) Retirement Savings Plan, which combines employee contributions and university contributions starting at 7%.
Wellness
- Wellness challenges, annual health screenings, mental health resources, mindfulness programs and courses, employee assistance program (EAP), financial resources, access to dietitians, and more!
Family
- We offer 4 weeks of caregiver leave to bond with your new child. Family care resources are also available for your continued childcare needs. Need adult care? We’ve got you covered.
- WashU covers the cost of tuition for you and your family, including dependent undergraduate-level college tuition up to 100% at WashU and 40% elsewhere after seven years with us.
For policies, detailed benefits, and eligibility, please visit: https://hr.wustl.edu/benefits/
EEO Statement
Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity. It is the University’s policy to provide equal opportunity and access to persons in all job titles without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, citizenship (where prohibited by federal law), age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.
Location
St. Louis, MO 63110
Scheduled Hours
40
Position Summary
Assists with research projects including computational data analysis and documentation of experimental results.
Job Description
Primary Duties & Responsibilities:
- Assists research studies with implementation of: existing algorithms and computer software for analyzing omics-based data sets [high-throughput, massively parallel genomic/proteomic/clinical.]; data management and analysis solutions that assist in storage, investigation and dissemination of large data sets. 70%.
- Works with research team to develop new algorithms to support studies. 20%.
- Assists with reporting of methods, data and results. 10%.
Working Conditions:
Job Location/Working Conditions
- Works in a laboratory environment with potential exposure to biological and chemical hazards
- Must be physically able to wear protective equipment and to provide standard care to research animals
- Normal office environment
Physical Effort
- Typically sitting at desk or table
- Repetitive wrist, hand or finger movement
Equipment
- Office equipment
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified. Management reserves the right to revise or amend duties at any time.
Required Qualifications
Education:
Bachelor’s degree or combination of education and/or experience may substitute for minimum education.
Certifications /Professional Licenses:
No specific certification/professional license is required for this position.
Work Experience:
No specific work experience is required for this position.
Skills:
Not Applicable
Driver's License:
A driver's license is not required for this position.
More About This Job
WashU seeks highly motivated individuals who are able to perform duties in a manner consistent with our core mission and guiding principles.
Preferred Qualifications
Education:
No additional education unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.
Certifications /Professional Licenses:
No additional certification/professional licenses unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.
Work Experience:
Relevant Experience (1 Year)
Skills:
Analytical Thinking, Bioinformatics, Bioinformatics Tools, Biostatistics, Communication, Complex Data Analysis, Computational Biology, Computer Science, Critical Reasoning, Data Management, Data Reporting, Datasets, Genomics Research, Human Genetics, Microarrays, Model Organism, Problem Solving, Sequence Analysis
Grade
R07-H
Salary Range
$17.10 - $29.09 / Hourly
The salary range reflects base salaries paid for positions in a given job grade across the University. Individual rates within the range will be determined by factors including one's qualifications and performance, equity with others in the department, market rates for positions within the same grade and department budget.
Questions
For frequently asked questions about the application process, please refer to our External Applicant FAQ.
Accommodation
If you are unable to use our online application system and would like an accommodation, please email CandidateQuestions@wustl.edu or call the dedicated accommodation inquiry number at 314-935-1149 and leave a voicemail with the nature of your request.
All qualified individuals must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.
Pre-Employment Screening
All external candidates receiving an offer for employment will be required to submit to pre-employment screening for this position. The screenings will include criminal background check and, as applicable for the position, other background checks, drug screen, an employment and education or licensure/certification verification, physical examination, certain vaccinations and/or governmental registry checks. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of required screening.
Benefits Statement
Personal
- Up to 22 days of vacation, 10 recognized holidays, and sick time.
- Competitive health insurance packages with priority appointments and lower copays/coinsurance.
- Take advantage of our free Metro transit U-Pass for eligible employees.
- WashU provides eligible employees with a defined contribution (403(b)) Retirement Savings Plan, which combines employee contributions and university contributions starting at 7%.
Wellness
- Wellness challenges, annual health screenings, mental health resources, mindfulness programs and courses, employee assistance program (EAP), financial resources, access to dietitians, and more!
Family
- We offer 4 weeks of caregiver leave to bond with your new child. Family care resources are also available for your continued childcare needs. Need adult care? We’ve got you covered.
- WashU covers the cost of tuition for you and your family, including dependent undergraduate-level college tuition up to 100% at WashU and 40% elsewhere after seven years with us.
For policies, detailed benefits, and eligibility, please visit: https://hr.wustl.edu/benefits/
EEO Statement
Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity. It is the University’s policy to provide equal opportunity and access to persons in all job titles without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, citizenship (where prohibited by federal law), age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.
See all STEM OPT Bioinformatics Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new STEM OPT Bioinformatics Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization in Bioinformatics
Verify your CIP code matches bioinformatics
Your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code must map to a STEM-designated field. Check your I-20 and confirm with your DSO that your program qualifies, since bioinformatics, computational biology, and related fields each have distinct CIP codes.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Before signing, ask your hiring contact to confirm their E-Verify Company ID or look it up through E-Verify's employer search. Smaller biotech startups and university-affiliated labs frequently lack E-Verify enrollment, which disqualifies them from hosting STEM OPT extensions.
Use Migrate Mate to target verified bioinformatics employers
Search Migrate Mate to find bioinformatics roles at employers already confirmed as E-Verify participants. Filtering for verified employers at the research stage saves time and prevents late-stage offer complications once your STEM OPT extension timeline is already in motion.
Build your I-983 training plan around job duties
Your Form I-983 must list specific learning objectives tied to your actual role, not a generic job description. For bioinformatics positions, map duties like pipeline development, variant calling, or RNA-seq analysis directly to the STEM learning goals your DSO must sign off on.
Check O*NET to align your job title with STEM criteria
USCIS expects the offered role to require a STEM degree. Cross-referencing your job title against O*NET confirms whether the occupation is classified as STEM-qualifying, which strengthens your extension application and gives your employer documentation support if questions arise.
File your STEM OPT extension application 90 days early
USCIS requires your I-765 extension application to be filed at least 90 days before your initial OPT expires. Bioinformatics job timelines can stretch, so starting this process while still interviewing protects your authorization gap and preserves your full 24-month extension window.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my bioinformatics degree qualify me for the STEM OPT extension?
Your degree qualifies if its CIP code appears on the STEM Designated Degree Program List maintained by the Department of Homeland Security. Degrees in bioinformatics, computational biology, biostatistics, and related fields typically qualify, but the determining factor is your specific program's CIP code on your I-20, not the degree title. Confirm with your DSO before applying.
Do bioinformatics employers need to be on E-Verify for STEM OPT?
Yes. E-Verify enrollment is a hard requirement for any employer hosting a STEM OPT extension student, not a preference. If your employer isn't enrolled, your extension cannot be approved regardless of how well the role matches your degree. Before you reach the offer stage, search E-Verify's employer directory or ask your recruiter directly for their Company ID.
What goes into the I-983 training plan for a bioinformatics role?
The I-983 requires a structured training plan that links your specific job duties to concrete STEM learning goals. For bioinformatics, this means documenting how tasks like genomic data analysis, algorithm development, or database pipeline work advance skills in your field. Both you and your employer supervisor must sign it, and your DSO must receive a copy before your extension is filed with USCIS.
How does cap-gap work if my H-1B is selected while I'm on STEM OPT?
If your H-1B visa petition is filed and accepted before your STEM OPT authorization expires, cap-gap automatically extends your work authorization through September 30 of that year. This keeps you employed continuously while USCIS adjudicates your H-1B. Your employer doesn't need to take any separate action, but your DSO should update your SEVIS record to reflect the cap-gap status.
Where can I find bioinformatics jobs at E-Verify enrolled employers?
Migrate Mate lists bioinformatics roles filtered for E-Verify compliance, which removes the most common early-stage obstacle for STEM OPT students. Many postings on general platforms don't disclose E-Verify status, forcing you to find out late in the process. Searching through Migrate Mate surfaces employers already confirmed as eligible hosts before you invest time in applications.