Biotech & Pharma STEM OPT Jobs in Iowa
Iowa's biotech and pharma sector offers F-1 STEM OPT opportunities across research, manufacturing, and quality roles, with employers like Corteva Agriscience, Pfizer, and Boehringer Ingelheim operating in the state. Des Moines, Ames, and the Iowa City corridor are active hiring hubs, drawing candidates from Iowa State University and the University of Iowa's life sciences programs.
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Position Summary
Daily testing of samples received from production. Timely completion of tests to meet the established testing time. Following GMP documentation guidelines. The colleague should have ability to follow detailed instructions and have basic problem-solving skills and ability to troubleshoot issues that may arise when testing. Colleague must be willing to contribute to the teams productivity and overall goals. Maintaining testing schedules and reagent supply.
- Testing of samples from manufacturing to ensure Quality and compliance according to all applicable assays utilizing good aseptic practices.
- Maintaining testing schedules and reagent supply.
- Completion of documentation following cGMP guidelines.
- Cleaning and maintaining lab equipment, instrumentation and facility.
- Following all Zoetis Quality Standards, Policies and Procedures.
- Providing minimum input for laboratory investigations (LIR), minimal project support.
- Understanding of the QC software packages used during routine work.
- Understanding of MODA EM software and zLIMS/SAP software.
- Pipette work.
- Preparation of media and reagents.
- Media Fill inspections.
- Equipment Monitoring.
- Following Safety practices.
Education and Experience
- BA/BS STEM Degree or AA with 1-3 years’ experience.
- General knowledge of the following software programs: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Willingness to positively embrace change and flexibility in adjusting to changing priorities.
- Strong attention to detail, ability to work well independently and as a part of a team, and ability to work effectively with people at all levels within the organization.
- Gain Proficiency in 50% of the testing in a specified area.
- Able to follow detailed instructions with coaching.
- Knowledge of Basic GLP requirements.
- Basic Problem-solving skills and troubleshooting ability.
Physical Position Requirements
- Must be able to walk, sit, or stand for long periods of time.
- Must be able to reach above shoulder level, bend/stoop, kneel, push/pull, and handle/grip frequently.
- Must be able to work scheduled 40 hours with the ability to work overtime as needed.
- Frequent lifting and carrying of 5 to 25 lbs.
- Regular reaching, bending, stooping, and twisting.
- Repetitive motion and substantial movement of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.
- Flexibility to cover rotating weekend duties.
- Ability to grasp and manipulate objects like pipettors, flasks, and bottles.
Full time
Regular
Colleague
Any unsolicited resumes sent to Zoetis from a third party, such as an Agency recruiter, including unsolicited resumes sent to a Zoetis mailing address, fax machine or email address, directly to Zoetis employees, or to Zoetis resume database will be considered Zoetis property. Zoetis will NOT pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume.
Zoetis will consider any candidate for whom an Agency has submitted an unsolicited resume to have been referred by the Agency free of any charges or fees. This includes any Agency that is an approved/engaged vendor but does not have the appropriate approvals to be engaged on a search.
Notice: Zoetis Recruiters will contact candidates via email from an address ending in @zoetis.com and may also initially connect with candidates through LinkedIn, including LinkedIn InMail. Zoetis does not use Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, or other web-based/generic email domains to communicate about job opportunities, interviews, or offers of employment. If you receive a recruitment-related email message claiming to be from Zoetis that does not come from @zoetis.com, please treat it as suspicious. For your security, do not reply, click links, open attachments, share personal or financial information, or send money in response to unexpected or questionable recruitment communications.
Zoetis is committed to equal opportunity in the terms and conditions of employment for all employees and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity or gender expression, national origin, disability or veteran status or any other protected classification. Disabled individuals are given an equal opportunity to use our online application system. We offer reasonable accommodations as an alternative if requested by an individual with a disability. Please contact Zoetis Colleague Services at zoetiscolleagueservices@zoetis.com to request an accommodation. Zoetis also complies with all applicable national, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment as well as employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act. All applicants must possess or obtain authorization to work in the US for Zoetis. Zoetis retains sole and exclusive discretion to pursue sponsorship for the acquisition or maintenance of nonimmigrant status and employment eligibility, considering factors such as availability of qualified US workers. Individuals requiring sponsorship must disclose this fact. Please note that Zoetis seeks information related to job applications from candidates for jobs in the U.S. solely via the following: (1) our company website at www.Zoetis.com/careers site, or (2) via email to/from addresses using only the Zoetis domain of “@zoetis.com”. In addition, Zoetis does not use Google Hangout for any recruitment related activities. Any solicitation or request for information related to job applications with Zoetis via any other means and/or utilizing email addresses with any other domain should be disregarded. In addition, Zoetis will never ask candidates to make any type of personal financial investment related to gaining employment with Zoetis.
STEM OPT Biotech & Pharma Job Roles in Iowa
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Search Biotech & Pharma Jobs in IowaBiotech & Pharma STEM OPT Sponsorship Jobs in Iowa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which biotech & pharma companies sponsor F-1 STEM OPT visas in Iowa?
Iowa-based biotech and pharma employers with a history of sponsoring international work authorization include Corteva Agriscience, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Pfizer, and DuPont. Agricultural biotech firms concentrated in the Des Moines metro and Ames area are particularly active, given Iowa's strong agriscience industry. Sponsorship history varies by role and hiring cycle, so checking each company's current filings is advisable before applying.
Which cities in Iowa have the most biotech & pharma F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs?
Des Moines and its western suburbs, including Johnston and Ankeny, host the highest concentration of biotech and pharma employers in Iowa, particularly in agricultural biotechnology. Ames is a secondary hub driven by proximity to Iowa State University and its research partnerships. Iowa City supports life sciences roles connected to University of Iowa Health Care and affiliated research institutions. These three areas account for most sponsorship-eligible postings in the state.
What types of biotech & pharma roles typically qualify for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship in Iowa?
Roles that commonly qualify include research scientist, computational biologist, bioinformatics analyst, quality assurance engineer, regulatory affairs specialist, and process development associate. Positions must fall under a STEM-designated Classification of Instructional Programs code tied to your degree. Agricultural biotech roles in crop science and genomics are especially prevalent in Iowa, reflecting the state's agriscience focus. O*NET can help confirm whether a specific job title aligns with a qualifying STEM occupation.
How do I find biotech & pharma F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs in Iowa?
Migrate Mate lets you filter biotech and pharma jobs by visa type, including F-1 STEM OPT, and by state, so you can see Iowa-specific openings from employers with verified sponsorship history. This is more targeted than a general job search because it surfaces companies that have previously filed for STEM OPT workers. Combining Migrate Mate with outreach to Iowa State University and University of Iowa career centers can also surface unadvertised roles.
Are there state-specific considerations for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship in biotech & pharma in Iowa?
Iowa does not impose additional state-level visa or work authorization requirements beyond federal STEM OPT rules. However, Iowa's biotech sector skews heavily toward agricultural biotechnology rather than clinical pharma, so candidates with plant science, genomics, or animal health backgrounds may find more relevant openings than those targeting traditional drug development roles. Employers in Iowa who participate in E-Verify are required to do so for STEM OPT extensions, which is a federal compliance requirement your employer must meet before approving the extension.