Biotech & Pharma CPT Jobs in Illinois
Illinois is one of the Midwest's strongest markets for biotech and pharma F-1 CPT sponsorship jobs, with major employers like AbbVie, Horizon Therapeutics, and Baxter International headquartered in the Chicago metro area. Research universities, hospital systems, and a growing network of life sciences startups in Chicago and the North Shore suburbs regularly work with international students on CPT-eligible placements.
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About Syngenta
At Syngenta Seeds Field Crops, we're shaping the future of agriculture and empowering farmers to meet the ever-growing demand for food and fuel. We’re a global Ag Tech powerhouse, headquartered in the United States, with passionate, local experts collaborating with farmers to deliver solutions that create market opportunities. We unite precision breeding, advanced biotechnology trait choice, and digital platforms for unmatched in-field performance. Our seeds help mitigate risks such as disease, insect, weed, and extreme weather pressures, all while promoting sustainable farming practices that protect and enhance our planet. Join our mission of revolutionizing food security and transforming agriculture.
Job Description
At Syngenta, our goal is to build the most collaborative and trustworthy team in agriculture, providing top-quality seeds and innovative crop protection solutions that improve farmers' success. We invite you to help shape the future of agriculture and play a role in safely feeding the world while caring for our planet.
Syngenta's Production & Supply Team is seeking a Seeds Production Research Parent Characterization Intern in Malta, IL. This internship role will support the delivery of seed parent characterization research through field trial management, data collection, agronomic evaluations, and project execution to advance seed production and new product development.
As part of Syngenta's Emerging Talent Program, you will gain hands-on experience, exposure to day-to-day business operations, and opportunities to apply your academic knowledge to real-world challenges while developing your professional skills.
Estimated Duration: May 2027 - August 2027
Accountabilities:
- Gain exposure to Seed Parent Characterization activities, allowing the intern to apply their academic background and assist in department activities from trial design, preparation, maintenance, harvesting, laboratory tasks, and data analysis.
- Develop a good understanding of new corn hybrid development and parent characterization activities by taking a lead role for one of the Seed Parent Characterization locations.
- Strengthen new product advancements through the assessment of important traits for seed production.
- Take the lead on project management and execution according to the assigned project. Ensure that field activities (planting, plot maintenance, and harvest) for research plots are executed. This comprises routine site/farm maintenance activities, such as planting plots, applying treatments, collecting observations and in-season data, and maintaining the plots throughout the growing season.
- Support other Seed Parent Characterization activities, as well as agronomic trial activities.
- Develop and maintain two-way communication with project managers, Seed Production Research (SPR) Scientists, Agronomists, and Parent Seed colleagues. Additionally, communicate with people from different areas, from breeding all the way to commercial seed production, aiming to gain a good understanding of the whole chain.
- Assist with managing and developing part-time workers.
- Analyze data and prepare a report and presentation for the assigned project.
- Ensure all activities are conducted according to Company safety procedures and recommendations, and promote environmentally sustainable solutions.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
- A High School Diploma or equivalent.
- Enrollment in a Bachelor’s degree program in Agronomy, Biology, Ag Business, or another closely related field of study, with a graduation date of December 2027 or later.
- Must be a current student continuing their education upon completion of the internship term.
- A valid Driver's License.
Desired Qualifications:
- Preference for a student with Sophomore or Junior standing.
- May be required to lift 30 pounds.
- Communication: The ability to communicate information well (both written and spoken) is highly desired.
- Detail-Oriented: All procedures and policies must be understood and followed.
- Autonomous: An independent individual who is self-motivated and needs little supervision.
- Confidence: Not afraid to ask bold questions and be curious.
- Eagerness to learn and grow in the role.
- Previous internship and/or co-op experience related to agriculture is preferred but not required.
- Familiarity with working on a farm, working with crops, or working outdoors is preferred but not required.
Additional Information
Salary for this position ranges between $20 - $45 hourly.
What We Offer:
- A culture that celebrates belonging and collaboration, promotes professional development and strives for a work-life balance that supports the team members.
- Competitive wages
- Ongoing career development resources
- The opportunity to work on meaningful, innovative projects that solve problems
Syngenta is committed to creating a culture that celebrates belonging and collaboration, promotes professional development, and strives for a work-life balance that supports the team members.
Syngenta has been ranked as a top employer by Science Journal. Learn more about our team and our mission here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVCN_51GbNI
Syngenta is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or any other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.
Company Description
About Syngenta
At Syngenta Seeds Field Crops, we're shaping the future of agriculture and empowering farmers to meet the ever-growing demand for food and fuel. We’re a global Ag Tech powerhouse, headquartered in the United States, with passionate, local experts collaborating with farmers to deliver solutions that create market opportunities. We unite precision breeding, advanced biotechnology trait choice, and digital platforms for unmatched in-field performance. Our seeds help mitigate risks such as disease, insect, weed, and extreme weather pressures, all while promoting sustainable farming practices that protect and enhance our planet. Join our mission of revolutionizing food security and transforming agriculture.
Job Description
At Syngenta, our goal is to build the most collaborative and trustworthy team in agriculture, providing top-quality seeds and innovative crop protection solutions that improve farmers' success. We invite you to help shape the future of agriculture and play a role in safely feeding the world while caring for our planet.
Syngenta's Production & Supply Team is seeking a Seeds Production Research Parent Characterization Intern in Malta, IL. This internship role will support the delivery of seed parent characterization research through field trial management, data collection, agronomic evaluations, and project execution to advance seed production and new product development.
As part of Syngenta's Emerging Talent Program, you will gain hands-on experience, exposure to day-to-day business operations, and opportunities to apply your academic knowledge to real-world challenges while developing your professional skills.
Estimated Duration: May 2027 - August 2027
Accountabilities:
- Gain exposure to Seed Parent Characterization activities, allowing the intern to apply their academic background and assist in department activities from trial design, preparation, maintenance, harvesting, laboratory tasks, and data analysis.
- Develop a good understanding of new corn hybrid development and parent characterization activities by taking a lead role for one of the Seed Parent Characterization locations.
- Strengthen new product advancements through the assessment of important traits for seed production.
- Take the lead on project management and execution according to the assigned project. Ensure that field activities (planting, plot maintenance, and harvest) for research plots are executed. This comprises routine site/farm maintenance activities, such as planting plots, applying treatments, collecting observations and in-season data, and maintaining the plots throughout the growing season.
- Support other Seed Parent Characterization activities, as well as agronomic trial activities.
- Develop and maintain two-way communication with project managers, Seed Production Research (SPR) Scientists, Agronomists, and Parent Seed colleagues. Additionally, communicate with people from different areas, from breeding all the way to commercial seed production, aiming to gain a good understanding of the whole chain.
- Assist with managing and developing part-time workers.
- Analyze data and prepare a report and presentation for the assigned project.
- Ensure all activities are conducted according to Company safety procedures and recommendations, and promote environmentally sustainable solutions.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
- A High School Diploma or equivalent.
- Enrollment in a Bachelor’s degree program in Agronomy, Biology, Ag Business, or another closely related field of study, with a graduation date of December 2027 or later.
- Must be a current student continuing their education upon completion of the internship term.
- A valid Driver's License.
Desired Qualifications:
- Preference for a student with Sophomore or Junior standing.
- May be required to lift 30 pounds.
- Communication: The ability to communicate information well (both written and spoken) is highly desired.
- Detail-Oriented: All procedures and policies must be understood and followed.
- Autonomous: An independent individual who is self-motivated and needs little supervision.
- Confidence: Not afraid to ask bold questions and be curious.
- Eagerness to learn and grow in the role.
- Previous internship and/or co-op experience related to agriculture is preferred but not required.
- Familiarity with working on a farm, working with crops, or working outdoors is preferred but not required.
Additional Information
Salary for this position ranges between $20 - $45 hourly.
What We Offer:
- A culture that celebrates belonging and collaboration, promotes professional development and strives for a work-life balance that supports the team members.
- Competitive wages
- Ongoing career development resources
- The opportunity to work on meaningful, innovative projects that solve problems
Syngenta is committed to creating a culture that celebrates belonging and collaboration, promotes professional development, and strives for a work-life balance that supports the team members.
Syngenta has been ranked as a top employer by Science Journal. Learn more about our team and our mission here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVCN_51GbNI
Syngenta is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or any other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.
CPT Biotech & Pharma Job Roles in Illinois
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Search Biotech & Pharma Jobs in IllinoisBiotech & Pharma CPT Sponsorship Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
Which biotech & pharma companies sponsor F-1 CPT visas in Illinois?
Illinois has a concentration of established life sciences employers that have historically worked with F-1 CPT students, including AbbVie, Baxter International, Horizon Therapeutics, and Takeda Pharmaceuticals, which has its U.S. headquarters in Deerfield. Smaller contract research organizations and biotech startups in the Chicago innovation corridor also participate in CPT arrangements. Sponsorship availability depends on the individual employer's existing academic partnerships and internship infrastructure, so direct outreach to university career offices with established company relationships is a practical starting point.
Which cities in Illinois have the most biotech & pharma F-1 CPT sponsorship jobs?
The Chicago metropolitan area accounts for the large majority of biotech and pharma CPT opportunities in Illinois. The North Shore suburbs, particularly Deerfield, Lake County, and Abbott Park, host headquarters and R&D facilities for several major pharma companies. Chicago's medical district and Fulton Market neighborhood have attracted life sciences startups and CROs. Rockford and East St. Louis have smaller pharma manufacturing presences, but CPT-eligible internship roles there are less common than in the Chicago metro.
What types of biotech & pharma roles typically qualify for F-1 CPT sponsorship in Illinois?
Roles that fall within a student's degree program field of study are required for CPT eligibility, so the qualifying role type depends heavily on your major. Common CPT-eligible positions in Illinois biotech and pharma include research intern, analytical chemistry intern, regulatory affairs assistant, clinical data analyst, pharmaceutical sciences intern, and bioinformatics intern. Quality assurance and manufacturing operations roles at Illinois facilities also appear regularly. The position must be integral to your curriculum, and your Designated School Official must authorize the CPT before work begins.
How do I find biotech & pharma F-1 CPT sponsorship jobs in Illinois?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for international students seeking CPT-eligible positions and filters jobs by visa type, state, and industry, making it straightforward to browse biotech and pharma F-1 CPT openings in Illinois without manually screening general job postings. Beyond Migrate Mate, university career centers at institutions like University of Illinois Chicago, Northwestern, and University of Chicago often maintain direct relationships with North Shore pharma employers who have structured CPT programs. Starting your search early, well before your intended start date, gives your DSO enough time to process authorization.
Are there any Illinois-specific considerations for F-1 CPT sponsorship in biotech & pharma?
Illinois does not impose state-level restrictions on CPT work beyond federal F-1 requirements, but a few industry-specific factors are worth knowing. Many Illinois pharma employers, particularly in the North Shore corridor, require background checks and drug screening before onboarding, which can add time to your start date. Roles involving controlled substances, select agents, or export-controlled research may require additional compliance clearances. If your placement is at a hospital-affiliated research site, credentialing requirements can extend the pre-start timeline, so confirming all requirements with your employer before your DSO submits CPT authorization is advisable.