Scientist Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Illinois
Illinois is a strong market for scientist visa sponsorship jobs, anchored by major research institutions like the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and Argonne National Laboratory, alongside life sciences employers concentrated in the Chicago metropolitan area and the I-290 research corridor. Pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and environmental science roles dominate sponsorship activity across the state.
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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
Role Overview
The Computational Toxicology group is advancing the use of data science, machine learning, and AI to improve the prediction and mechanistic understanding of drug safety across small molecules, biologics, and emerging therapeutic modalities.
This role is intentionally positioned at the intersection of biology and computation. We are seeking a scientist with a strong biological foundation who has developed sufficient computational expertise to independently translate scientific problems into fit-for-purpose analytical solutions.
The successful candidate will understand how biological data are generated, appreciate the experimental and mechanistic context underlying safety findings, and possess the technical judgment to select, design, and implement computational approaches that address real scientific needs. This individual will serve as a scientific bridge across disciplines, partnering closely with toxicologists, pathologists, pharmacologists, clinicians, and data scientists to transform complex scientific questions into actionable insights and scientific tools.
Success in this role requires scientific leadership, cross-functional influence, and the ability to drive projects from problem definition through execution and implementation.
Key Responsibilities
Scientific Problem Solving & Strategy
- Partner with research scientists and safety experts to define critical scientific questions and identify opportunities where computational approaches can accelerate decision-making.
- Translate complex biological and toxicological challenges into analytical strategies that are scientifically grounded, practical, and scalable.
- Evaluate alternative computational approaches and select methods that best align with the biological context, available data, and business objectives.
- Serve as a trusted scientific advisor, providing guidance on study design, data interpretation, and appropriate use of machine learning and AI technologies.
Cross-Functional Scientific Leadership
- Act as a scientific translator between bench scientists, toxicologists, pathologists, clinicians, and computational teams.
- Build strong partnerships across Development Sciences to understand workflows, pain points, and decision-making processes.
- Lead multidisciplinary initiatives from concept through implementation, ensuring solutions are scientifically relevant and broadly adoptable.
- Drive alignment among stakeholders with diverse technical backgrounds and priorities.
Computational Solution Development
- Design, develop, and deploy predictive models, analytical workflows, and decision-support tools that address preclinical and translational safety challenges.
- Integrate and analyze diverse data sources, including toxicology, pathology, pharmacology, genomics, chemistry, molecular profiling, and clinical datasets.
- Develop reproducible computational pipelines and user-friendly applications that enable scientists without programming expertise to leverage advanced analytical methods.
- Collaborate with computational and data engineering teams to ensure solutions are scalable, maintainable, and fit for long-term use.
Communication & Scientific Influence
- Clearly communicate methods, findings, limitations, and recommendations to both technical and non-technical audiences.
- Present scientific insights in a way that facilitates decision-making and advances program strategy.
- Foster adoption of computational approaches by demonstrating scientific value and practical impact.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
Senior Scientist I
- Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent education and typically 10 years of experience, Master’s Degree or equivalent education and typically 8 years of experience, PhD and no experience necessary. PhD in Biology, Toxicology, Pharmacology, Computational Biology, Biochemistry, or a related life sciences discipline ideal.
Senior Scientist II
- Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent education and typically 12 years of experience, Master’s Degree or equivalent education and typically 10 years of experience, PhD and typically 4 years of experience. PhD in Biology, Toxicology, Pharmacology, Computational Biology, Biochemistry, or a related life sciences discipline ideal.
Required Experience and Skills
- Strong scientific foundation in biology, toxicology, pharmacology, or a related discipline with demonstrated ability to critically evaluate experimental data and biological mechanisms.
- Ability to understand scientific objectives, identify key data and knowledge gaps, and translate problems into effective computational strategies.
- Working proficiency in Python and/or R with the ability to develop reproducible analytical workflows and scientific software solutions.
- Experience applying statistical, machine learning, and data analysis methods to biological, translational, or safety-related datasets.
- Demonstrated ability to independently scope projects, prioritize competing needs, and execute complex initiatives across multiple functions.
- Strong understanding of the strengths, limitations, and appropriate application of computational approaches, including classical statistics, machine learning, and AI.
- Proven ability to communicate effectively with scientists from diverse disciplines and levels of computational expertise.
- Experience leading or influencing cross-functional collaborations to deliver scientific outcomes.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working with toxicology, pathology, safety pharmacology, or clinical safety datasets.
- Hands-on laboratory research experience providing direct understanding of experimental design, assay variability, and biological data generation.
- Experience integrating multimodal datasets spanning molecular, cellular, tissue, animal, and clinical domains.
- Familiarity with cloud computing, scalable data processing, and large biological data platforms.
- Experience with modern AI methodologies, including large language models and generative AI applications in scientific research.
- Experience developing visualization tools, dashboards, or user-facing applications for scientific audiences.
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 long-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
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
Role Overview
The Computational Toxicology group is advancing the use of data science, machine learning, and AI to improve the prediction and mechanistic understanding of drug safety across small molecules, biologics, and emerging therapeutic modalities.
This role is intentionally positioned at the intersection of biology and computation. We are seeking a scientist with a strong biological foundation who has developed sufficient computational expertise to independently translate scientific problems into fit-for-purpose analytical solutions.
The successful candidate will understand how biological data are generated, appreciate the experimental and mechanistic context underlying safety findings, and possess the technical judgment to select, design, and implement computational approaches that address real scientific needs. This individual will serve as a scientific bridge across disciplines, partnering closely with toxicologists, pathologists, pharmacologists, clinicians, and data scientists to transform complex scientific questions into actionable insights and scientific tools.
Success in this role requires scientific leadership, cross-functional influence, and the ability to drive projects from problem definition through execution and implementation.
Key Responsibilities
Scientific Problem Solving & Strategy
- Partner with research scientists and safety experts to define critical scientific questions and identify opportunities where computational approaches can accelerate decision-making.
- Translate complex biological and toxicological challenges into analytical strategies that are scientifically grounded, practical, and scalable.
- Evaluate alternative computational approaches and select methods that best align with the biological context, available data, and business objectives.
- Serve as a trusted scientific advisor, providing guidance on study design, data interpretation, and appropriate use of machine learning and AI technologies.
Cross-Functional Scientific Leadership
- Act as a scientific translator between bench scientists, toxicologists, pathologists, clinicians, and computational teams.
- Build strong partnerships across Development Sciences to understand workflows, pain points, and decision-making processes.
- Lead multidisciplinary initiatives from concept through implementation, ensuring solutions are scientifically relevant and broadly adoptable.
- Drive alignment among stakeholders with diverse technical backgrounds and priorities.
Computational Solution Development
- Design, develop, and deploy predictive models, analytical workflows, and decision-support tools that address preclinical and translational safety challenges.
- Integrate and analyze diverse data sources, including toxicology, pathology, pharmacology, genomics, chemistry, molecular profiling, and clinical datasets.
- Develop reproducible computational pipelines and user-friendly applications that enable scientists without programming expertise to leverage advanced analytical methods.
- Collaborate with computational and data engineering teams to ensure solutions are scalable, maintainable, and fit for long-term use.
Communication & Scientific Influence
- Clearly communicate methods, findings, limitations, and recommendations to both technical and non-technical audiences.
- Present scientific insights in a way that facilitates decision-making and advances program strategy.
- Foster adoption of computational approaches by demonstrating scientific value and practical impact.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
Senior Scientist I
- Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent education and typically 10 years of experience, Master’s Degree or equivalent education and typically 8 years of experience, PhD and no experience necessary. PhD in Biology, Toxicology, Pharmacology, Computational Biology, Biochemistry, or a related life sciences discipline ideal.
Senior Scientist II
- Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent education and typically 12 years of experience, Master’s Degree or equivalent education and typically 10 years of experience, PhD and typically 4 years of experience. PhD in Biology, Toxicology, Pharmacology, Computational Biology, Biochemistry, or a related life sciences discipline ideal.
Required Experience and Skills
- Strong scientific foundation in biology, toxicology, pharmacology, or a related discipline with demonstrated ability to critically evaluate experimental data and biological mechanisms.
- Ability to understand scientific objectives, identify key data and knowledge gaps, and translate problems into effective computational strategies.
- Working proficiency in Python and/or R with the ability to develop reproducible analytical workflows and scientific software solutions.
- Experience applying statistical, machine learning, and data analysis methods to biological, translational, or safety-related datasets.
- Demonstrated ability to independently scope projects, prioritize competing needs, and execute complex initiatives across multiple functions.
- Strong understanding of the strengths, limitations, and appropriate application of computational approaches, including classical statistics, machine learning, and AI.
- Proven ability to communicate effectively with scientists from diverse disciplines and levels of computational expertise.
- Experience leading or influencing cross-functional collaborations to deliver scientific outcomes.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working with toxicology, pathology, safety pharmacology, or clinical safety datasets.
- Hands-on laboratory research experience providing direct understanding of experimental design, assay variability, and biological data generation.
- Experience integrating multimodal datasets spanning molecular, cellular, tissue, animal, and clinical domains.
- Familiarity with cloud computing, scalable data processing, and large biological data platforms.
- Experience with modern AI methodologies, including large language models and generative AI applications in scientific research.
- Experience developing visualization tools, dashboards, or user-facing applications for scientific audiences.
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 long-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
Scientist Job Roles in Illinois
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Search Scientist Jobs in IllinoisScientist Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies sponsor visas for scientists in Illinois?
Major sponsors of scientist roles in Illinois include Abbott Laboratories, AbbVie, Baxter International, Dow Chemical, and Archer Daniels Midland, along with national laboratories such as Argonne and Fermilab. Large research universities, including the University of Illinois system and Northwestern, also sponsor scientists through academic and postdoctoral appointments. Sponsorship activity is concentrated in life sciences, materials science, and agricultural research.
Which visa types are most common for scientist roles in Illinois?
The H-1B visa is the most common visa category for scientist positions in Illinois, as most roles require at least a bachelor's degree in a specific scientific discipline, satisfying the specialty occupation standard. Research scientists at universities or national laboratories may also qualify for the O-1A if they have demonstrated extraordinary achievement. Postdoctoral researchers often hold J-1 visa exchange visitor status sponsored through their host institution.
Which cities in Illinois have the most scientist sponsorship jobs?
Chicago and its northern and western suburbs account for the largest share of scientist sponsorship jobs in Illinois. The I-290 and I-294 corridors running through communities like Downers Grove, Waukegan, and Lake County host significant pharmaceutical and biotech employer campuses. Urbana-Champaign is the secondary hub, driven by the University of Illinois and affiliated research spin-offs in materials science and agricultural biotechnology.
How to find scientist visa sponsorship jobs in Illinois?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for international job seekers and filters scientist roles in Illinois by verified visa sponsorship history, saving significant research time. Because sponsorship willingness varies widely by employer and lab, using a platform like Migrate Mate that surfaces confirmed sponsors is more reliable than sifting through general postings. Filter by Illinois and scientific discipline to target pharmaceutical, environmental, or research-focused openings directly.
Are there state-specific considerations for scientists seeking visa sponsorship in Illinois?
Illinois employers filing Labor Condition Applications for H-1B scientists must pay at least the prevailing wage for the specific occupational classification and geographic area as determined by the Department of Labor. The Chicago metropolitan area generally carries higher prevailing wage levels than downstate Illinois. Scientists targeting national laboratory positions, such as Argonne or Fermilab, should note that federal contractor hiring processes can extend sponsorship timelines beyond typical private-sector employers.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored scientist jobs in Illinois?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.