STEM OPT Scientist Jobs
Scientist roles span research, laboratory, and applied science positions that align directly with STEM OPT eligibility. With a STEM degree and an E-Verify-enrolled employer, you qualify for a 24-month STEM OPT extension beyond your initial OPT, giving you up to 36 months of work authorization to build your scientific career in the U.S.
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Get Access To All JobsDo you have a passion for Science? Would you like to apply your expertise to impact a company that follows the science and turns ideas into life changing medicines? Then AstraZeneca might be the one for you!
At AstraZeneca, we put patients first and strive to meet their unmet needs worldwide. Working here means being entrepreneurial, thinking big and working together to make the impossible a reality. If you are swift to action, confident to lead, willing to collaborate, and curious about what science can do, then you’re our kind of person.
About AstraZeneca in Gaithersburg, MD:
Our Gaithersburg, Maryland facility creates life-changing medicines for people around the world. This campus employs more than 3,500 experts in our field and is only a short drive from Washington, DC. This modern and vibrant scientific campus is the home of R&D and Oncology in the US. Here, we play host to some of the most cutting-edge technology and lab spaces, all designed to inspire collaboration and cross-functional science. We believe employees benefit from being challenged and inspired at work. We are dedicated to creating a culture of inclusion and collaboration.
The Gaithersburg site offers a variety of amenities to help boost productivity and help keep our employees happy and healthy. This includes a fitness center, employee healthcare clinic, electric vehicle charging stations, dry cleaning, full-service cafeteria, and copy center. This is where you’ll find newly-designed, activity-based work spaces to suit a variety of working styles while increasing collaboration between teams.
Summary of the Group
Biologics Engineering (BE) is responsible for the discovery and optimization of next generation biologics to create biological drug candidates for all key therapeutic areas such as oncology, respiratory and inflammation, cardiovascular, renal and metabolic diseases. We're constantly pushing the boundaries of science to deliver life-changing medicines to patients, with a passion for the development of in-house biologics discovery platforms and novel drug modalities to address unmet medical needs.
Main Duties & Responsibilities
We are seeking a skilled and highly motivated Scientist to enhance our High Throughput Production & Screening (HTPS) capabilities of biologics. The successful candidate will play a critical role in a dynamic group responsible for high-throughput cloning, expression & purification of antibody therapeutics on a microgram-to-milligram scale and be an advocate for utilizing various automation platforms. The selected individual will be a well-organized and a highly productive scientist that can design and execute experiments efficiently, as well as analyze, interpret and present data to multidisciplinary project teams.
- Collaborate and work with a diverse group of scientists across all therapeutic areas to ensure timely progress in research projects.
- Execute high-throughput cloning, production and purification of protein therapeutics from mammalian expression systems using process automation and liquid handling robotics.
- Collaborate with automation engineers to integrate liquid handling robotics and high-throughput analytics into production pipelines.
- Biochemical, biophysical and functional profiling of antibodies and recombinant antibody fragments.
- Ability to solve process development problems and implement improved procedures.
Education & Experience Requirements
- Master's degree with hands-on experience in antibody engineering, cloning and expression, or protein characterization (e.g., UPLC, mass spectrometry) +1 YOE
- Bachelor's degree with 4+ years of relevant industry or academic research experience
Required Skills
- Expertise in protein purification techniques and in vitro analytical methods for protein characterization, including SEC, SDS-PAGE, HPLC, ELISA, and BLI.
- Proven experience in the expression, purification, and comprehensive biochemical/biophysical characterization of various antibody formats (e.g., IgG, Fab, scFv, bispecifics).
- Knowledge in optimizing and troubleshooting automation techniques, with hands-on experience designing automated workflows.
- Ability to follow well established SOP’s, effectively plan and organize work activities and prioritize task completion to meet project deadlines.
Desired Skills
- Experience in tissue culture techniques and protein characterization assays.
- Experience working with multiple antibody formats, troubleshoot common downstream challenges such as low recovery, aggregation and purities.
- Automation experience with liquid handlers, Green button Go and other platforms a plus.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills as well as the ability to work within teams.
- Good written and verbal communication skills and effective presentation of complex scientific data to cross-functional and senior management.
Do you have a passion for Science? Would you like to apply your expertise to impact a company that follows the science and turns ideas into life changing medicines? Then AstraZeneca might be the one for you!
At AstraZeneca, we put patients first and strive to meet their unmet needs worldwide. Working here means being entrepreneurial, thinking big and working together to make the impossible a reality. If you are swift to action, confident to lead, willing to collaborate, and curious about what science can do, then you’re our kind of person.
About AstraZeneca in Gaithersburg, MD:
Our Gaithersburg, Maryland facility creates life-changing medicines for people around the world. This campus employs more than 3,500 experts in our field and is only a short drive from Washington, DC. This modern and vibrant scientific campus is the home of R&D and Oncology in the US. Here, we play host to some of the most cutting-edge technology and lab spaces, all designed to inspire collaboration and cross-functional science. We believe employees benefit from being challenged and inspired at work. We are dedicated to creating a culture of inclusion and collaboration.
The Gaithersburg site offers a variety of amenities to help boost productivity and help keep our employees happy and healthy. This includes a fitness center, employee healthcare clinic, electric vehicle charging stations, dry cleaning, full-service cafeteria, and copy center. This is where you’ll find newly-designed, activity-based work spaces to suit a variety of working styles while increasing collaboration between teams.
Summary of the Group
Biologics Engineering (BE) is responsible for the discovery and optimization of next generation biologics to create biological drug candidates for all key therapeutic areas such as oncology, respiratory and inflammation, cardiovascular, renal and metabolic diseases. We're constantly pushing the boundaries of science to deliver life-changing medicines to patients, with a passion for the development of in-house biologics discovery platforms and novel drug modalities to address unmet medical needs.
Main Duties & Responsibilities
We are seeking a skilled and highly motivated Scientist to enhance our High Throughput Production & Screening (HTPS) capabilities of biologics. The successful candidate will play a critical role in a dynamic group responsible for high-throughput cloning, expression & purification of antibody therapeutics on a microgram-to-milligram scale and be an advocate for utilizing various automation platforms. The selected individual will be a well-organized and a highly productive scientist that can design and execute experiments efficiently, as well as analyze, interpret and present data to multidisciplinary project teams.
- Collaborate and work with a diverse group of scientists across all therapeutic areas to ensure timely progress in research projects.
- Execute high-throughput cloning, production and purification of protein therapeutics from mammalian expression systems using process automation and liquid handling robotics.
- Collaborate with automation engineers to integrate liquid handling robotics and high-throughput analytics into production pipelines.
- Biochemical, biophysical and functional profiling of antibodies and recombinant antibody fragments.
- Ability to solve process development problems and implement improved procedures.
Education & Experience Requirements
- Master's degree with hands-on experience in antibody engineering, cloning and expression, or protein characterization (e.g., UPLC, mass spectrometry) +1 YOE
- Bachelor's degree with 4+ years of relevant industry or academic research experience
Required Skills
- Expertise in protein purification techniques and in vitro analytical methods for protein characterization, including SEC, SDS-PAGE, HPLC, ELISA, and BLI.
- Proven experience in the expression, purification, and comprehensive biochemical/biophysical characterization of various antibody formats (e.g., IgG, Fab, scFv, bispecifics).
- Knowledge in optimizing and troubleshooting automation techniques, with hands-on experience designing automated workflows.
- Ability to follow well established SOP’s, effectively plan and organize work activities and prioritize task completion to meet project deadlines.
Desired Skills
- Experience in tissue culture techniques and protein characterization assays.
- Experience working with multiple antibody formats, troubleshoot common downstream challenges such as low recovery, aggregation and purities.
- Automation experience with liquid handlers, Green button Go and other platforms a plus.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills as well as the ability to work within teams.
- Good written and verbal communication skills and effective presentation of complex scientific data to cross-functional and senior management.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Scientist
Confirm your CIP code matches your role
Check your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code against STEM-designated fields before applying. Scientist roles in biology, chemistry, or environmental science typically qualify, but your DSO must verify the match on your updated I-20.
Filter employers by E-Verify enrollment status
Search E-Verify's employer search tool before submitting applications. Research institutions, biotech firms, and federal contractors are common Scientist employers that maintain active E-Verify enrollment, which your employer must have to qualify.
Build a training plan tied to your research duties
Your I-983 must connect your day-to-day Scientist responsibilities, such as experimental design or data analysis, directly to your STEM degree's learning objectives. Generic descriptions get rejected; tie each goal to a specific lab or research function.
Use Migrate Mate to target labs with sponsorship history
Search Scientist openings on Migrate Mate, which surfaces employers with verified STEM OPT hiring history so you're applying to organizations already structured to onboard OPT workers, not ones figuring it out for the first time.
Use OFLC Wage Search to benchmark your offer
Look up the prevailing wage for your specific Scientist title and location using OFLC Wage Search. Employers must pay at least the prevailing wage level tied to your role, and knowing the figure helps you evaluate whether an offer is compliant.
Scientist jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Scientist JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Do Scientist roles qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Most Scientist positions qualify if your STEM degree falls under a DHS-designated CIP code, such as biological sciences, chemistry, physics, or environmental science. Your DSO confirms eligibility and updates your I-20 with the correct CIP code before you file with USCIS. The role itself must also provide practical training directly related to your degree field.
Does my employer need to be enrolled in E-Verify to hire me on STEM OPT?
Yes. E-Verify enrollment is a federal requirement for all STEM OPT employers, not just a preference. Before accepting an offer, confirm your employer is actively enrolled using E-Verify's employer search tool. If they're not enrolled, they must complete enrollment before you can begin STEM OPT employment. Many university research labs and private biotech companies are already enrolled.
What goes into the I-983 training plan for a Scientist position?
The I-983 must detail how your Scientist duties, such as experimental design, data collection, laboratory analysis, or field research, connect to your STEM degree's learning outcomes. Both you and your employer sign it, and your DSO reviews it for compliance. USCIS can audit the plan at any time, so vague descriptions like 'general research tasks' aren't sufficient.
What happens to my STEM OPT if my Scientist employer loses their E-Verify status?
If your employer's E-Verify enrollment lapses or is terminated, you're no longer authorized to work for them under STEM OPT. You'd need to find a new E-Verify-enrolled employer and file an updated I-983. Notify your DSO immediately, since continuing to work without a compliant employer puts your status at risk.
Where can I find Scientist jobs where employers are prepared to hire STEM OPT students?
Migrate Mate filters Scientist openings by employers with documented STEM OPT hiring experience, so you're not cold-applying to organizations unfamiliar with E-Verify requirements or the I-983 process. This matters because even qualified candidates lose offers when employers decide mid-process they can't support the compliance requirements.
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