Biotech & Pharma STEM OPT Jobs in Illinois
Illinois is one of the country's leading biotech and pharma hubs, anchored by the Chicago metro area and research corridors along the North Shore. Companies like AbbVie, Baxter International, and Takeda Pharmaceuticals have established STEM-designated roles that have historically supported F-1 STEM OPT candidates in research, clinical, and regulatory functions.
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Company Description
About AbbVie
AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology and neuroscience - and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
Job Description
Work collaboratively with technology and business groups to conceive, design and implement business technology solutions that solve significant scientific or business problems through the integration, visualization, and analysis of large and complex data. Investigate, identify, develop, and optimize methods, algorithms, and technologies to derive novel, competitive insights from disparate data sources or drive productivity and efficiency gains throughout multiple business areas. Contribute to advancement of technology in area of expertise. Develop productive collaborations and communications with other groups across multiple disciplines.
Responsibilities:
- Conceive, design and implement business technology solutions that solve significant scientific or business problems through the integration, visualization, and analysis of large and complex data. Routinely demonstrate initiative and creativity in developing technology solutions.
- Demonstrate high proficiency across a wide range of technologies related to the storage, transfer, integration, visualization, and analysis of large and complex data sets. Expertise in software development, data warehousing, statistics, and machine learning.
- Demonstrate deep knowledge of the pharmaceutical and healthcare business, and utilize this knowledge in the rapid advancement of agile, impactful, and cost-effective solutions.
- Highly autonomous and productive in performing activities, requiring only minimal direction from or interaction with supervisor.
- May initiate new areas of investigation that are meaningful, reliable, and can be incorporated directly into a scientific or business activity.
- Direct mentorship of others.
- A primary author of publications and presentations.
- Understand and adhere to corporate standards regarding applicable Corporate and Divisional Policies, including code of conduct, safety, GxP compliance, and data security.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree with 6 years’ experience; OR Master’s Degree with 5 years’ experience; OR PhD with 0 years’ experience.
- Possess thorough theoretical and practical understanding of own discipline.
- Proven implementation of creative technology solutions that advanced the business.
- Excellent written and oral English communication skills.
Additional Information
Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law:
- The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location, and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future.
- We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.
- This job is eligible to participate in our short-term incentive programs.
Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, consistent with applicable law.
AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community. Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled.
US & Puerto Rico only - to learn more, visit https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/equal-employment-opportunity-employer.html
US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more:
https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html
STEM OPT Biotech & Pharma Job Roles in Illinois
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Search Biotech & Pharma Jobs in IllinoisBiotech & Pharma STEM OPT Sponsorship Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
Which biotech and pharma companies in Illinois have sponsored F-1 STEM OPT workers?
AbbVie, Baxter International, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, and Horizon Therapeutics are among the Illinois-based employers that have filed Labor Condition Applications for roles. Smaller biotech firms in the Chicago metro and Lake County corridor have also sponsored F-1 STEM OPT candidates, particularly in research and development, quality assurance, and regulatory affairs positions.
Which Illinois cities have the most biotech and pharma F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs?
The Chicago metro area and the North Shore corridor, including North Chicago, Deerfield, and Lake County, concentrate the highest density of biotech and pharma employers in Illinois. Glenview and Mettawa also host significant pharma operations. Downtown Chicago is growing as a life sciences hub, with companies establishing research and commercial offices alongside established academic medical centers.
How do I find biotech & pharma F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs in Illinois?
Migrate Mate filters biotech and pharma job listings in Illinois specifically for F-1 STEM OPT eligibility, showing employers with verified sponsorship history based on DOL filing data. This saves time compared to manually screening postings. Focus on roles with STEM degree classifications in life sciences, such as biochemists, microbiologists, and biomedical engineers, which commonly appear under STEM OPT-qualifying designations.
What types of biotech and pharma roles typically qualify for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship in Illinois?
Roles that qualify are those tied to STEM-designated STEM degree classifications, including research scientist, biomedical engineer, biochemist, clinical data analyst, regulatory affairs specialist, bioinformatics analyst, and quality control chemist. The position must appear on the Department of Homeland Security's STEM OPT designated degree list and match the academic field of the student's qualifying STEM degree for authorization to apply.
Are there Illinois-specific considerations for F-1 STEM OPT in biotech and pharma?
Illinois employers sponsoring STEM OPT workers must be enrolled in E-Verify, a federal requirement for all STEM OPT extensions. Illinois has no state-level visa sponsorship law, but employers must file a formal training plan with the student's DSO. Large pharma campuses in Lake County often have dedicated immigration or global mobility teams familiar with STEM OPT compliance requirements, which can streamline the process.