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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Overview

Open Jobs122+
Top Visa TypeF-1 OPT
Work Type88% On-site
Median Salary$73K
Top LocationCranbury, NJ
Most JobsWuXi Biologics

Showing 5 of 122+ Biology jobs

Massachusetts General Physicians Organization, Inc.
Research Fellow in Cilia Biology
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Massachusetts General Physicians Organization, Inc.
Added 1d ago
Research Fellow in Cilia Biology
Massachusetts General Physicians Organization, Inc.
Boston, Massachusetts
Laboratory Research
Biotech & Life Sciences
Clinical Trials & Medical Research
Clinical Trials
On-Site
Doctorate

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University of Florida
OPS Research Assistant in Chemical Biology
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University of Florida
Added 2d ago
OPS Research Assistant in Chemical Biology
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Laboratory Research
Biotech & Life Sciences
$15.00/hr
On-Site
Bachelor's
5,001-10,000

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Johnson & Johnson
PostDoc Neuroscience Computational Biology
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Johnson & Johnson
Added 1w ago
PostDoc Neuroscience Computational Biology
Johnson & Johnson
Spring House, Pennsylvania
Data Science & Analytics
Biotech & Life Sciences
Data Science
Data Analytics
$79,000/yr - $127,650/yr
On-Site
Doctorate
10,000+

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Kennedy University Hospital, Inc.
Post-Doctoral Fellow - Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
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Kennedy University Hospital, Inc.
Added 1w ago
Post-Doctoral Fellow - Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kennedy University Hospital, Inc.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Laboratory Research
Biotech & Life Sciences
Not listed
On-Site
Doctorate

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University Of Washington
Postdoctoral Scholar — Human Biology and Anthropological Genetics
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University Of Washington
Added 1w ago
Postdoctoral Scholar — Human Biology and Anthropological Genetics
University Of Washington
Seattle, Washington
Laboratory Research
Biotech & Life Sciences
Clinical Trials & Medical Research
Clinical Trials
$68,460/yr
On-Site
Doctorate
10,000+

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Tips 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.

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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 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.

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