STEM OPT Biotech Jobs

Biotech roles in research, drug development, clinical operations, and bioinformatics qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension when your degree falls under an eligible CIP code. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and you'll need a signed I-983 training plan before your extension begins.

See All Biotech Jobs

Overview

Open Jobs2,426+
Top Visa TypeF-1 OPT
Work Type96% On-site
Median Salary$64K
Top LocationBoston, MA
Most JobsArtech, LLC

Showing 5 of 2,426+ Biotech jobs

T. Rowe Price
Biotech Associate
We won't show you this job again
T. Rowe Price
Added 3w ago
Biotech Associate
T. Rowe Price
Baltimore, Maryland
Laboratory Research
Biotech & Life Sciences
Clinical Trials & Medical Research
Clinical Trials
Not listed
Hybrid
85+ yrs exp.
Associate's

Have you applied for this role?

Give feedback about this job
Min 10 characters (0/10)
Parexel
Project Leadership – Biotech (Clinical Trials)
We won't show you this job again
Parexel
Added 2mo ago
Project Leadership – Biotech (Clinical Trials)
Parexel
Washington, Washington DC
Project & Program Management
Clinical Trials & Medical Research
Healthcare Administration
Clinical Trials
Remote (US)
2+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

Give feedback about this job
Min 10 characters (0/10)
University of California, Santa Barbara
Specialist (Assistant and Associate levels) in interdisciplinary biotechnology research
We won't show you this job again
University of California, Santa Barbara
Added 5mo ago
Specialist (Assistant and Associate levels) in interdisciplinary biotechnology research
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California
Laboratory Research
Biotech & Life Sciences
Specialized Engineering
Biomedical Engineering
$64,100/yr - $90,300/yr
On-Site
2+ yrs exp.
Master's
5,001-10,000

Have you applied for this role?

Give feedback about this job
Min 10 characters (0/10)
PSC Biotech
CQV Engineer
We won't show you this job again
PSC Biotech
Added 5d ago
CQV Engineer
PSC Biotech
Los Angeles, California
Specialized Engineering
Quality Control
Engineering (Non-Software)
$85,000/yr - $100,000/yr
On-Site
2+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's
51-200

Have you applied for this role?

Give feedback about this job
Min 10 characters (0/10)
Legend Biotech
QC Specialist, Lab Services
We won't show you this job again
Legend Biotech
Added 1w ago
QC Specialist, Lab Services
Legend Biotech
Raritan, New Jersey
Quality Control
$68,045/yr - $102,705/yr
On-Site
2+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's
1,001-5,000

Have you applied for this role?

Give feedback about this job
Min 10 characters (0/10)

See all 2,426+ Biotech jobs

Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Biotech roles.

Get Access To All Jobs

See all 2,426+ Biotech jobs

Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Biotech roles.

Get Access To All Jobs

Tips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization in Biotech

Verify your CIP code before applying

Check your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code against the STEM Designated Degree Program List published by USCIS. Biochemistry, molecular biology, and biomedical engineering degrees each carry distinct CIP codes, and your DSO must confirm eligibility before filing.

Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers

Ask your recruiter for the employer's E-Verify company ID or have them pull the participation certificate from the E-Verify portal. Biotech startups and contract research organizations frequently miss this requirement, so verify before you negotiate terms.

Map your role to O*NET before outreach

Look up your target job title on O*NET to confirm it falls under a STEM-classified SOC code. Biotech roles like Research Scientist or Bioinformatics Analyst qualify; roles with a general management focus often don't, regardless of the employer's industry.

Build your I-983 training plan with your hiring manager

Draft your training objectives, learning goals, and supervision structure with your direct manager before your start date. USCIS requires the I-983 to connect your daily work to your STEM degree field, so vague job descriptions create compliance risk at the six-month and annual evaluations.

Search Migrate Mate for E-Verify confirmed biotech employers

Use Migrate Mate to filter biotech job listings by employers with confirmed E-Verify enrollment and STEM OPT hiring history. This cuts the time you'd otherwise spend researching each company's compliance status individually.

File your STEM OPT extension at least 90 days early

Submit your I-765 extension application to USCIS no later than 90 days before your initial OPT expires. If your receipt notice arrives before expiration and your application is pending, your work authorization continues automatically under cap-gap rules.

Biotech jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.

Find Biotech Jobs

Frequently Asked Questions

Which biotech roles qualify for the STEM OPT extension?

Roles must require and directly apply your STEM degree. Qualifying biotech positions include Research Scientist, Bioprocess Engineer, Bioinformatics Analyst, Clinical Research Associate, and Regulatory Affairs Specialist tied to a life sciences degree. Roles classified under a STEM SOC code on O*NET and supported by a verifiable degree-to-job connection are eligible. General project management or business development roles at biotech companies typically don't qualify without a strong technical connection to your field of study.

Does every biotech employer sponsor STEM OPT?

No. The employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, but enrollment is voluntary for most private employers unless they hold federal contracts. Many biotech startups and smaller contract research organizations aren't enrolled. Before accepting an offer, ask the employer to confirm active E-Verify participation. If they aren't enrolled, they must enroll before you can begin working under the STEM OPT extension. Migrate Mate filters listings by employers with confirmed E-Verify status so you can focus on compliant opportunities.

What does the I-983 training plan require for a biotech role?

The I-983 must detail how your daily work connects to your STEM degree field, identify your supervisor, outline your learning objectives, and specify how your employer will evaluate your progress. For biotech roles, this means mapping tasks like assay development, data analysis, or regulatory submissions to the coursework and skills from your degree program. Your employer and DSO both sign the form, and USCIS expects updates at the six-month and annual intervals throughout your extension period.

What happens to my work authorization if my H-1B is selected in the lottery while I'm on STEM OPT?

If your employer files an H-1B petition on your behalf and it's selected, cap-gap protection extends your STEM OPT work authorization through September 30 of that fiscal year, even if your EAD expires before then. Your employer must file before your OPT ends for cap-gap to apply. If the H-1B isn't selected, you remain on STEM OPT for its remaining duration. Confirm with your DSO that your SEVIS record reflects the cap-gap extension so your employer's records stay current.

Can a biotech staffing agency or contract research organization sponsor my STEM OPT?

Yes, but the agency or CRO must be enrolled in E-Verify, and the placement site where you physically work does not need to be your employer of record for STEM OPT purposes. However, USCIS requires that the staffing agency, not the client site, sign the I-983 as your employer and take responsibility for your training goals and evaluations. Some agencies are unfamiliar with this requirement, so confirm before signing a contract that they're prepared to fulfill the I-983 obligations.

See which Biotech employers are hiring and sponsoring visas right now.

Search Biotech Jobs