STEM OPT Laboratory Jobs
Laboratory roles in research, clinical testing, and quality control are strong fits for STEM OPT students with degrees in biology, chemistry, biochemistry, or related fields. Your 24-month STEM OPT extension applies as long as your employer is enrolled in E-Verify and your position directly relates to your degree.
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At Amyris, we value that everyone's career journey is unique and authentic to who they are. If this role excites you, we encourage you to apply and grow alongside us! You may be just the right candidate for this or other open roles.
Are you passionate about quality, safety, and science? We're looking for a QA/QC Laboratory Technician I to join our high-performing team in a 24/7 manufacturing facility.
In this role, you'll conduct chemical and physical laboratory tests that ensure our products meet the highest quality standards. If you enjoy hands-on lab work, thrive in a fast-paced environment, and are ready to grow your technical skills, we want to hear from you!
Responsibilities:
- Perform in-process and final product testing on both solid and liquid materials.
- Set up and conduct chemical and physical analyses using laboratory instruments such as Gas Chromatograph (GC), Auto titrators, Karl Fischer titrators, Refractometer, Tintometer, and Viscometer.
- Record, analyze, and report laboratory data with accuracy and integrity.
- Support the Quality Control Manager and lab team with sample processing, data interpretation, and process troubleshooting.
- Perform inspections on packaging materials (jerricans, drums, and totes) and torque lids to specification using a manual torque wrench.
- Torque lids on jerricans, drums and totes to 75ft/pounds using a manual torque wrench.
- Maintain clean lab instruments, equipment, and a safe, organized work environment.
- Comply with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and ISO 22716 standards for cosmetics.
- Collaborate with chemists, production staff, and the engineering team to support production quality goals.
- Process and prepare raw material weigh-outs and sample shipments.
Basic Qualifications
- 1–2 years of experience in a laboratory technician or chemical technician role
OR
- Associate's degree in chemistry or a related scientific field
- Knowledge of standard lab practices and chemical testing procedures
- Strong attention to detail and accuracy in data recording
- Willingness and availability to work a rotating 12-hour shift schedule (including nights, weekends, and holidays)
- Ability to follow safety protocols and maintain a clean lab environment
- Good communication skills and the ability to work both independently and in a team
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in a manufacturing or chemical plant environment
- Proficiency with laboratory equipment such as GC, titrators, viscometers, and refractometers
- Familiarity with ISO 22716 guidelines and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs)
- Strong troubleshooting skills and ability to solve lab-related technical issues
Physical Requirements
- Must be able to safely lift and handle up to 45 pounds
- Regularly required to use hands to handle materials or operate instruments
- Vision abilities include close vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus
- Must be comfortable working on your feet for extended periods in a production/lab environment
The hourly pay range for this non-exempt role is: $18.27 to $23.08.
As a VEVRAA Federal Contractor, Amyris is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Amyris complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.
Amyris is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. Salary offers are made based on internal equity and market analysis, and will vary based on the candidate's skills, depth of experience and specific work location.
Amyris is committed to providing a diverse array of inclusive benefits and perks to support employees and their families' wellbeing including access to robust healthcare, mental wellness benefits, family leave, discounted fitness memberships, education reimbursement, flexible paid time off, 17 paid holidays, 10 paid sick days, and additional paid time off including 3 volunteer days, and bereavement.
What may Candidates Expect from Amyris?
At Amyris, we strive to provide a transparent and professional hiring experience. Our interview process typically includes a combination of in-person meetings and phone conversations. Genuine job offers are always communicated by an authorized member of our Human Resources team before being sent via email. Please note that all official communication from Amyris employees will come from an email address ending in "@amyris.com" or from "no-reply@greenhouse.io."
Fraudulent Employment Offers: Amyris has experienced a recent increase in fraudulent Amyris job listings on third-party sites, as well as fraudulent interview requests and job offers sent to candidates. In addition, people impersonating employees of Amyris have been sending fraudulent job screening or new-hire screening communications requesting candidates to provide personal information. Please be advised that these offers, communications, and impersonations are illegitimate and fraudulent. If You Receive a Suspicious or Fraudulent Communication or Employment Offer, please contact hr@amyris.com
We hold deep regard in the power of representation and cultivation of a diverse work environment. Join us at Amyris, where you can find a sense of belonging and know that your voice is centered. At Amyris, we believe that diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) is essential to our core values. We embrace and encourage an equity-minded work culture, knowing that it is the driving force of innovation that positively impacts our employees, consumers, and communities. For Amyris, a sense of belonging is what drives our mission forward and is the foundation of everything we do, ensuring a healthier, more sustainable future for us all.
Amyris, the Amyris logo, Unlock the Chemistry of Life TM, and Lab-to-Market are trademarks or registered trademarks of Amyris, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries.
Under the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 ("CCPA"), Amyris is required to inform California residents who are our job applicants ("Applicants") about the personal information we collect about you when you apply to a job on this site. As an Applicant, you have the right to know and understand the categories of personal information we collect about you, and the purposes for which the categories of personal information shall be used, pursuant to the CCPA.
By clicking the "APPLY FOR THIS JOB" button below and submitting your job application, you agree you have reviewed the complete Privacy Notice for Employees, Independent Contractors and Job Applicants. If you have any questions regarding this information, please contact Amyris at privacy@amyris.com
As a VEVRAA Federal Contractor, Amyris is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Amyris complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.
If you are a recruiter or placement agency, please do not submit resumes to any person or email address at Amyris, Inc. prior to having a signed agreement. Amyris is not liable for and will not pay placement fees for candidates submitted by any agency other than its approved recruitment partners. Furthermore, any resumes sent to us without an agreement in place will be considered your company's gift to Amyris and may be forwarded to our recruiters for their attention.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization in Laboratory
Verify your CIP code matches laboratory roles
Your STEM OPT eligibility depends on your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code. Check that your program's CIP code maps to a recognized STEM field before applying, since life sciences and chemistry codes are not always automatically included.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Not every laboratory employer, including small contract research organizations and hospital labs, is enrolled in E-Verify. Ask the hiring manager or HR directly, or search the E-Verify employer database to confirm enrollment before signing an offer letter.
Build your I-983 training plan around lab competencies
Your I-983 must connect your laboratory duties to your STEM degree's learning objectives. Frame bench skills, instrument operation, and data analysis methods as measurable training goals tied to specific coursework from your program.
Target employers with active STEM OPT hiring history
Use Migrate Mate to filter laboratory job listings by employers who have previously hired STEM OPT students, so you're spending your applications on companies already familiar with E-Verify requirements and the I-983 process.
Use O*NET to align your job title with degree requirements
Laboratory job titles vary widely across industries. Pull the O*NET occupation profile for your target role to confirm it lists a bachelor's-level STEM degree as a typical entry requirement, which strengthens your DSO's authorization decision.
Time your OPT extension application around lab start dates
USCIS recommends filing your STEM OPT extension application 90 days before your initial OPT expires. For laboratory roles with defined project cycles or contract start dates, missing this window can delay your authorization past a committed start date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do laboratory jobs qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Laboratory roles qualify for the STEM OPT extension if your position directly relates to your STEM degree and your employer is enrolled in E-Verify. Degrees in biology, chemistry, biochemistry, environmental science, and materials science commonly map to laboratory occupations. Your DSO will confirm eligibility based on your degree's CIP code and the job description you provide.
What goes into the I-983 training plan for a laboratory position?
Your I-983 training plan must describe how your laboratory duties, such as sample preparation, instrument calibration, data analysis, or quality assurance, connect to the knowledge and skills from your STEM degree program. Both you and your employer supervisor must sign the form, and your DSO must authorize it before your extension begins. USCIS can request to review it at any time.
Does my laboratory employer need to be enrolled in E-Verify before I start?
Yes. E-Verify enrollment is a hard requirement for STEM OPT employers, and it must be in place before your extension is authorized. Small or independent laboratories, including private clinical labs and contract research organizations, are not always enrolled. Confirm this directly with HR before your DSO submits the extension paperwork to avoid authorization gaps.
How do I find laboratory employers who are familiar with STEM OPT?
Migrate Mate lists laboratory job opportunities filtered by employers with STEM OPT hiring experience, so you can focus on companies that already understand E-Verify requirements and the I-983 process. This matters for laboratory roles because smaller employers in the sector often encounter the training plan requirement for the first time and may need additional lead time.
What happens to my STEM OPT authorization if I switch laboratory employers mid-extension?
You can change employers during your STEM OPT extension, but your new employer must also be enrolled in E-Verify. You and the new employer must complete a new I-983 training plan, and your DSO must update your SEVIS record before you begin work. There is no grace period between employers during an active STEM OPT extension, so coordinate the transition carefully with your DSO.