Science & Research OPT Jobs in Illinois

F-1 OPT science and research jobs in Illinois span a dense concentration of employers across Chicagoland, Champaign-Urbana, and the North Shore research corridor. Argonne National Laboratory, Fermilab, Northwestern University, and the University of Chicago are among the institutions that consistently hire OPT-eligible researchers, analysts, and scientists across life sciences, physical sciences, and data-driven research roles.

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Overview

Open Jobs73+
Work Type92% On-site
Median Salary$68K
Top LocationChicago, IL
Most JobsArgonne National Laboratory

Showing 5 of 73+ Science & Research OPT Jobs in Illinois

Gotion Illinois New Energy Inc.
QMS Engineer
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Gotion Illinois New Energy Inc.
Added 1d ago
QMS Engineer
Gotion Illinois New Energy Inc.
Manteno, Illinois
Quality Control
Manufacturing Operations
Not listed
On-Site
3+ yrs exp.
Associate's

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EVERSANA
Specialty Pharmaceutical Representative
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EVERSANA
Added 2d ago
Specialty Pharmaceutical Representative
EVERSANA
Chicago, Illinois
Sales
Account Management
Inside Sales
On-Site
1+ yr exp.
Bachelor's

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Frontage Laboratories
Analytical Chemist
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Frontage Laboratories
Added 2d ago
Analytical Chemist
Frontage Laboratories
Chicago, Illinois
Laboratory Research
Biotech & Life Sciences
Clinical Trials & Medical Research
Clinical Trials
$65,000/yr - $80,000/yr
On-Site
2+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's
201-500

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Gotion, Inc.
Junior Lean Engineer
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Gotion, Inc.
Added 2d ago
Junior Lean Engineer
Gotion, Inc.
Manteno, Illinois
Manufacturing Operations
$65,000/yr - $75,000/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
201-500

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Natera
Clinical Nurse Coordinator-Transplant
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Natera
Added 5d ago
Clinical Nurse Coordinator-Transplant
Natera
Chicago, Illinois
Nursing
Healthcare Administration
Patient Services & Wellbeing
On-Site
3+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's
5,001-10,000

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See all 73+ Science & Research OPT Jobs in Illinois

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OPT Science & Research Job Roles in Illinois

Sales18 jobs
Customer Service & Support12 jobs
Inside Sales12 jobs
Laboratory Research12 jobs
Project & Program Management11 jobs
Biotech & Life Sciences10 jobs
Account Management9 jobs
Healthcare Administration9 jobs
Partnerships & Business Development8 jobs
Project Management8 jobs

See all 73+ Science & Research OPT Jobs in Illinois

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Science & Research OPT Sponsorship Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions

Which science and research companies sponsor F-1 OPT visas in Illinois?

Illinois has a wide range of employers that hire F-1 OPT holders in science and research, including Argonne National Laboratory, Fermilab, Abbott Laboratories, AbbVie, Baxter International, and academic research centers at the University of Illinois, Northwestern University, and the University of Chicago. National laboratories and large pharmaceutical employers in the Chicago metro and North Shore have established processes for hiring OPT-eligible candidates.

Which cities in Illinois have the most science and research F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs?

Chicago leads in volume, particularly for biotech, pharmaceutical research, and data science roles concentrated in the Merchandise Mart tech district and medical campuses. The Champaign-Urbana area is significant for academic and computational research, anchored by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The North Shore suburbs, including Waukegan and North Chicago, house major pharmaceutical campuses from employers like AbbVie and Baxter.

What types of science and research roles typically qualify for F-1 OPT sponsorship in Illinois?

Roles that directly apply a student's degree field are eligible under F-1 OPT. In Illinois, qualifying positions commonly include research scientist, laboratory analyst, computational researcher, clinical research associate, environmental scientist, and data scientist roles within life sciences or physical sciences. The key requirement is that the work must be directly related to the major area of study listed on the student's academic program.

How do I find science & research F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in Illinois?

Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically by visa type and industry, so you can search science and research roles in Illinois that are open to F-1 OPT candidates without sorting through positions that don't offer sponsorship. Given the concentration of national labs, pharmaceutical employers, and university research centers in Illinois, filtering by location alongside OPT eligibility on Migrate Mate narrows results to the most relevant opportunities efficiently.

Are there any Illinois-specific considerations for F-1 OPT science and research jobs?

Illinois does not have state-level visa sponsorship requirements beyond federal OPT rules, but the state's life sciences sector is heavily regulated at the federal level, particularly for clinical and pharmaceutical research roles. OPT students in STEM fields may be eligible for a 24-month STEM OPT extension if their employer is enrolled in E-Verify, which many larger Illinois research institutions and pharmaceutical companies already are. Students should verify E-Verify enrollment with each prospective employer.