STEM OPT Biology Jobs
Biology graduates with a STEM degree can work in the U.S. for up to 36 months on OPT, including the 24-month STEM extension. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify. Roles in research, biotech, pharmaceuticals, and environmental science commonly qualify under STEM OPT CIP codes covering biological and biomedical sciences.
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Get Access To All JobsWHY UT SOUTHWESTERN?
With over 75 years of excellence in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, UT Southwestern is committed to excellence, innovation, teamwork, and compassion. As a world-renowned medical and research center, we strive to provide the best possible care, resources, and benefits for our valued employees. Ranked as the number 1 hospital in Dallas-Fort Worth according to U.S. News & World Report, we invest in you with opportunities for career growth and development to align with your future goals. Our highly competitive benefits package offers healthcare, PTO and paid holidays, on-site childcare, wage, merit increases and so much more. We invite you to be a part of the UT Southwestern team where you'll discover a culture of teamwork, professionalism, and a rewarding career!
JOB SUMMARY
Works under general direction to provide responsible and skilled technical assistance in performing assignments requiring experience and good knowledge of techniques and practices related to particular field of medical and scientific research.
The Research Assistant assists with general laboratory operations such as managing inventory, restocking supplies, and supporting day-to-day lab organization and maintenance. They may also provide support to postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and other researchers by helping prepare materials for experiments and contributing to data tracking and preliminary organization of results. The position is designed to support the efficiency and continuity of ongoing research projects while providing exposure to laboratory methods and scientific processes in a collaborative research environment.
BENEFITS
UT Southwestern is proud to offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. Our benefits are designed to support your overall wellbeing, and include:
- PPO medical plan, available day one at no cost for full-time employee-only coverage
- 100% coverage for preventive healthcare - no copay
- Paid Time Off, available day one
- Retirement Programs through the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS)
- Paid Parental Leave Benefit
- Wellness programs
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Qualified Employer
Learn more about these and other UTSW employee benefits!
EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION
Required
Education
- Master's Degree with major coursework in field of assignment and no experience required or
- Bachelor's Degree with major coursework in field of assignment or
- Completion of 2 years of college with emphasis in coursework in field of assignment or
- High School Diploma or GED equivalent
Experience
- 1 year Research experience at level of Research Technician or equivalent with Bachelor's degree or
- 4 years Research experience including two years at level of Research Technician or equivalent with 2 years of college or
- 6 years Research experience with High School Diploma or GED equivalent including 2 years at level of Research Technician or equivalent.
JOB DUTIES
- Performs more difficult scientific and medical research work in science area such as biology, chemistry, physics, or other related scientific field.
- Constructs, assembles, and operates laboratory equipment and apparatus.
- Records and evaluates data obtained from work assignments for use in scientific papers.
- Collaborates with supervisor or other research personnel in preparation of scientific papers for publication.
- Reads literature and confers with supervisor concerning procedures and implementation.
- Collects and organizes research data for project reports.
- May plan for, and provide working supervision to, work of Research Technicians or other laboratory personnel of lower grade.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
SECURITY AND EEO STATEMENT
Security
This position is security-sensitive and subject to Texas Education Code 51.215, which authorizes UT Southwestern to obtain criminal history record information.
EEO
UT Southwestern Medical Center is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community. As an equal opportunity employer, UT Southwestern prohibits unlawful discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or veteran status.
WHY UT SOUTHWESTERN?
With over 75 years of excellence in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, UT Southwestern is committed to excellence, innovation, teamwork, and compassion. As a world-renowned medical and research center, we strive to provide the best possible care, resources, and benefits for our valued employees. Ranked as the number 1 hospital in Dallas-Fort Worth according to U.S. News & World Report, we invest in you with opportunities for career growth and development to align with your future goals. Our highly competitive benefits package offers healthcare, PTO and paid holidays, on-site childcare, wage, merit increases and so much more. We invite you to be a part of the UT Southwestern team where you'll discover a culture of teamwork, professionalism, and a rewarding career!
JOB SUMMARY
Works under general direction to provide responsible and skilled technical assistance in performing assignments requiring experience and good knowledge of techniques and practices related to particular field of medical and scientific research.
The Research Assistant assists with general laboratory operations such as managing inventory, restocking supplies, and supporting day-to-day lab organization and maintenance. They may also provide support to postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and other researchers by helping prepare materials for experiments and contributing to data tracking and preliminary organization of results. The position is designed to support the efficiency and continuity of ongoing research projects while providing exposure to laboratory methods and scientific processes in a collaborative research environment.
BENEFITS
UT Southwestern is proud to offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. Our benefits are designed to support your overall wellbeing, and include:
- PPO medical plan, available day one at no cost for full-time employee-only coverage
- 100% coverage for preventive healthcare - no copay
- Paid Time Off, available day one
- Retirement Programs through the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS)
- Paid Parental Leave Benefit
- Wellness programs
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Qualified Employer
Learn more about these and other UTSW employee benefits!
EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION
Required
Education
- Master's Degree with major coursework in field of assignment and no experience required or
- Bachelor's Degree with major coursework in field of assignment or
- Completion of 2 years of college with emphasis in coursework in field of assignment or
- High School Diploma or GED equivalent
Experience
- 1 year Research experience at level of Research Technician or equivalent with Bachelor's degree or
- 4 years Research experience including two years at level of Research Technician or equivalent with 2 years of college or
- 6 years Research experience with High School Diploma or GED equivalent including 2 years at level of Research Technician or equivalent.
JOB DUTIES
- Performs more difficult scientific and medical research work in science area such as biology, chemistry, physics, or other related scientific field.
- Constructs, assembles, and operates laboratory equipment and apparatus.
- Records and evaluates data obtained from work assignments for use in scientific papers.
- Collaborates with supervisor or other research personnel in preparation of scientific papers for publication.
- Reads literature and confers with supervisor concerning procedures and implementation.
- Collects and organizes research data for project reports.
- May plan for, and provide working supervision to, work of Research Technicians or other laboratory personnel of lower grade.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
SECURITY AND EEO STATEMENT
Security
This position is security-sensitive and subject to Texas Education Code 51.215, which authorizes UT Southwestern to obtain criminal history record information.
EEO
UT Southwestern Medical Center is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community. As an equal opportunity employer, UT Southwestern prohibits unlawful discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or veteran status.
See all 123+ STEM OPT Biology Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization in Biology
Verify your CIP code maps to Biology
Not every biology-adjacent degree automatically qualifies for the STEM extension. Cross-check your degree's CIP code against the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List before applying. Codes under 26.xx (Biological and Biomedical Sciences) typically qualify, but interdisciplinary programs sometimes don't.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify before you can start STEM OPT. Ask recruiters directly or check the E-Verify employer search tool. Contract research organizations and smaller biotech labs frequently aren't enrolled, so verify this early, not after you've signed.
Target employers with active biology LCA filings
Use Migrate Mate to filter employers by DOL Labor Condition Application filing history in biological sciences roles. This surfaces companies already familiar with work authorization requirements, which matters when your STEM OPT window is finite and onboarding delays are costly.
File your I-983 training plan before day one
Your I-983 must be signed by your employer and DSO before you start work, not after. The training plan needs to describe how your biology role directly uses your degree. Vague descriptions like 'lab support' are common rejection reasons, so be specific about techniques and research objectives.
Use O*NET to match your role to STEM criteria
Hiring managers at pharma and biotech companies sometimes list biology roles under broader titles like 'scientist' or 'analyst' that may or may not map cleanly to STEM OPT-qualifying SOC codes. Pull the O*NET occupation profile for your specific job title to confirm it falls within a qualifying category before accepting.
Check prevailing wage before negotiating your offer
STEM OPT employers must pay you the prevailing wage for your role and location. Run your job title and work location through the OFLC Wage Search before salary conversations. Biology roles in pharmaceutical hubs like New Jersey or the Bay Area carry significantly higher prevailing wages than academic markets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which biology degrees qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Degrees with CIP codes under the 26.xx Biological and Biomedical Sciences category generally qualify, including biology, microbiology, biochemistry, cell biology, and ecology. Neuroscience and bioinformatics often qualify under adjacent STEM codes. Your DSO can confirm your specific CIP code against the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List. Interdisciplinary degrees sometimes require additional documentation to establish STEM eligibility.
Does my biology employer need to be enrolled in E-Verify for STEM OPT?
Yes. E-Verify enrollment is a hard requirement for STEM OPT. Your employer must be enrolled before your extension begins, and they must sign your I-983 training plan. Many contract research organizations, university-affiliated labs, and early-stage biotech startups aren't enrolled. Confirm enrollment status directly with HR before advancing in the hiring process, since getting enrolled after an offer is accepted introduces delays.
What should my I-983 training plan include for a biology role?
Your I-983 must connect your specific job duties to the learning objectives of your STEM degree. For biology roles, that means naming the techniques, methodologies, and research areas you'll apply, such as molecular assays, data analysis, or experimental design. Generic descriptions tied only to a job title are a common reason DSOs push back on training plan drafts. Your supervisor and DSO both sign off before the extension is approved.
Can my STEM OPT status bridge me through H-1B cap-gap if I'm in a biology role?
Yes. If your employer files an H-1B visa petition on your behalf before your OPT expires and you're selected in the lottery, cap-gap automatically extends your work authorization through September 30 of that year. Your biology role and employer don't change the cap-gap mechanics, but your employer must file before your OPT end date. USCIS governs cap-gap rules and your DSO can issue an updated I-20 once the petition is filed.
How do I find biology employers who are already set up for STEM OPT hiring?
Migrate Mate filters biology and life sciences roles by employers with DOL LCA filing history, which is a reliable indicator that a company has sponsored work authorization before and understands the E-Verify and training plan requirements. Searching this way saves time compared to applying broadly and discovering eligibility gaps after an offer. Pharmaceutical companies, contract research organizations, and government contractors are the most consistent STEM OPT employers in biology.