Laboratory Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Iowa
Iowa's laboratory sector spans life sciences research at the University of Iowa, agricultural testing through companies like Corteva Agriscience, and food safety labs tied to the state's processing industry. Des Moines, Iowa City, and Ames are the primary hiring centers. Many employers in these markets have sponsored H-1B visa and O-1 visas for qualified laboratory professionals.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
At Elanco (NYSE: ELAN) – it all starts with animals! As a global leader in animal health, we are dedicated to innovation and delivering products and services to prevent and treat disease in farm animals and pets. At Elanco, we are driven by our vision of Food and Companionship Enriching Life and our purpose – all to Go Beyond for Animals, Customers, Society and Our People.
At Elanco, we pride ourselves on fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. We believe that diversity is the driving force behind innovation, creativity, and overall business success. Here, you’ll be part of a company that values and champions new ways of thinking, work with dynamic individuals, and acquire new skills and experiences that will propel your career to new heights.
Making animals’ lives better makes life better – join our team today!
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Your Role: Clinical Laboratory Research Scientist
As a Research Scientist on our Clinical Development Sciences team, you will play a crucial role in advancing Elanco’s pipeline. You will be at the forefront of supporting our ongoing clinical studies by planning, conducting, and meticulously documenting pivotal laboratory experiments. This position offers a unique opportunity to not only contribute to the statistical analysis of clinical trials but also to drive innovation by identifying and applying new technologies to enhance our clinical laboratory capabilities.
Your Responsibilities:
- Experimental Design & Execution: Work with Sponsors and Study Managers to define project requirements; develop and review protocols, validation methods, and sample analysis plans to support clinical studies (GRP).
- Methodology & Innovation: Identify, develop, and implement new viral/bacterial culture methodologies, analytical methods, and laboratory technologies to continuously update and improve the clinical laboratory's capabilities.
- Data Integrity & Analysis: Independently review, approve, and prepare raw data and laboratory data packages for statistical analysis, ensuring scientific accuracy, completeness, and compliance with all quality systems and standards (e.g., GxP, SOPs).
- Technical Leadership & Support: Lead troubleshooting efforts to resolve scientific issues, manage complex project workloads, and provide technical support to ensure the successful and timely completion of studies.
- Laboratory Operations: Maintain the laboratory infrastructure, including equipment and a clean, safe, and organized working environment, while preparing and updating SOPs and working procedures.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
What You Need to Succeed (minimum qualifications):
- Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, Microbiology, Immunology, Animal Science, or a related scientific discipline with equivalent experience.
- Experience: A minimum of 5-8 years of hands-on experience in a laboratory setting.
- Top Skills: Demonstrated experience in laboratory techniques (such as cell culture, assay design, and molecular biology) and a strong understanding of experimental design and data analysis.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
What will give you a competitive edge (preferred qualifications):
- Advanced degree (Master's or PhD) in a relevant scientific discipline.
- In-depth knowledge of clinical laboratory study design, execution, and operational workflow in a GxP-regulated environment.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with proven ability to collaborate effectively in a team setting and present complex scientific data.
- Experience in leading troubleshooting efforts, managing complex projects, or mentoring junior scientists.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- Travel: Less than 10%
- Location: Fort Dodge, IA – On-Site Work Environment
Don't meet every single requirement? Studies have shown underrecognized groups are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Elanco we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive work environment. If you think you might be a good fit for a role but don't necessarily meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply. You may be the right candidate for this role or other roles!
ELANCO BENEFITS AND PERKS
We offer a comprehensive benefits package focusing on financial, physical, and mental well-being while encouraging our employees to pursue our purpose! Some highlights include:
- Multiple relocation packages
- Two weeklong shutdowns (mid-summer and year-end) in the US (in addition to PTO)
- 8-week parental leave
- 9 Employee Resource Groups
- Annual bonus offering
- Flexible work arrangements
- Up to 6% 401K matching
Elanco is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status
Elanco may use automated tools, including AI, to support parts of our recruitment process, such as reviewing applications against job-related criteria and/or transferrable skills. These tools help ensure a consistent, structured evaluation, but they do not make hiring decisions. All decisions involve a human reviewer. For more information on how we handle personal data, please see our Elanco Workforce Privacy Notice.
INTRODUCTION
At Elanco (NYSE: ELAN) – it all starts with animals! As a global leader in animal health, we are dedicated to innovation and delivering products and services to prevent and treat disease in farm animals and pets. At Elanco, we are driven by our vision of Food and Companionship Enriching Life and our purpose – all to Go Beyond for Animals, Customers, Society and Our People.
At Elanco, we pride ourselves on fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. We believe that diversity is the driving force behind innovation, creativity, and overall business success. Here, you’ll be part of a company that values and champions new ways of thinking, work with dynamic individuals, and acquire new skills and experiences that will propel your career to new heights.
Making animals’ lives better makes life better – join our team today!
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Your Role: Clinical Laboratory Research Scientist
As a Research Scientist on our Clinical Development Sciences team, you will play a crucial role in advancing Elanco’s pipeline. You will be at the forefront of supporting our ongoing clinical studies by planning, conducting, and meticulously documenting pivotal laboratory experiments. This position offers a unique opportunity to not only contribute to the statistical analysis of clinical trials but also to drive innovation by identifying and applying new technologies to enhance our clinical laboratory capabilities.
Your Responsibilities:
- Experimental Design & Execution: Work with Sponsors and Study Managers to define project requirements; develop and review protocols, validation methods, and sample analysis plans to support clinical studies (GRP).
- Methodology & Innovation: Identify, develop, and implement new viral/bacterial culture methodologies, analytical methods, and laboratory technologies to continuously update and improve the clinical laboratory's capabilities.
- Data Integrity & Analysis: Independently review, approve, and prepare raw data and laboratory data packages for statistical analysis, ensuring scientific accuracy, completeness, and compliance with all quality systems and standards (e.g., GxP, SOPs).
- Technical Leadership & Support: Lead troubleshooting efforts to resolve scientific issues, manage complex project workloads, and provide technical support to ensure the successful and timely completion of studies.
- Laboratory Operations: Maintain the laboratory infrastructure, including equipment and a clean, safe, and organized working environment, while preparing and updating SOPs and working procedures.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
What You Need to Succeed (minimum qualifications):
- Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, Microbiology, Immunology, Animal Science, or a related scientific discipline with equivalent experience.
- Experience: A minimum of 5-8 years of hands-on experience in a laboratory setting.
- Top Skills: Demonstrated experience in laboratory techniques (such as cell culture, assay design, and molecular biology) and a strong understanding of experimental design and data analysis.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
What will give you a competitive edge (preferred qualifications):
- Advanced degree (Master's or PhD) in a relevant scientific discipline.
- In-depth knowledge of clinical laboratory study design, execution, and operational workflow in a GxP-regulated environment.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with proven ability to collaborate effectively in a team setting and present complex scientific data.
- Experience in leading troubleshooting efforts, managing complex projects, or mentoring junior scientists.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- Travel: Less than 10%
- Location: Fort Dodge, IA – On-Site Work Environment
Don't meet every single requirement? Studies have shown underrecognized groups are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Elanco we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive work environment. If you think you might be a good fit for a role but don't necessarily meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply. You may be the right candidate for this role or other roles!
ELANCO BENEFITS AND PERKS
We offer a comprehensive benefits package focusing on financial, physical, and mental well-being while encouraging our employees to pursue our purpose! Some highlights include:
- Multiple relocation packages
- Two weeklong shutdowns (mid-summer and year-end) in the US (in addition to PTO)
- 8-week parental leave
- 9 Employee Resource Groups
- Annual bonus offering
- Flexible work arrangements
- Up to 6% 401K matching
Elanco is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status
Elanco may use automated tools, including AI, to support parts of our recruitment process, such as reviewing applications against job-related criteria and/or transferrable skills. These tools help ensure a consistent, structured evaluation, but they do not make hiring decisions. All decisions involve a human reviewer. For more information on how we handle personal data, please see our Elanco Workforce Privacy Notice.
Laboratory Job Roles in Iowa
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Search Laboratory Jobs in IowaLaboratory Jobs in Iowa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies sponsor visas for laboratory workers in Iowa?
Corteva Agriscience in Johnston, the University of Iowa Health Care system in Iowa City, and Iowa State University in Ames have documented H-1B sponsorship histories for laboratory roles. Food and agricultural testing firms tied to Iowa's processing sector also appear in Department of Labor disclosure data as sponsors for positions such as laboratory scientist, research associate, and quality control analyst.
Which visa types are most common for laboratory roles in Iowa?
The H-1B is the most common visa for laboratory scientists and research roles, requiring a bachelor's degree or higher in a relevant field such as chemistry, biology, or biochemistry. O-1A visas apply to researchers with demonstrated extraordinary ability. J-1 visas are used at university-affiliated research programs, particularly through Iowa's major academic medical and agricultural institutions.
Which cities in Iowa have the most laboratory sponsorship jobs?
Iowa City concentrates the most laboratory sponsorship activity, driven by the University of Iowa and its associated hospitals and research centers. Ames follows closely through Iowa State University and affiliated agricultural research institutes. Des Moines and the Johnston corridor see demand from corporate life sciences and agricultural biotechnology employers, making these three metro areas the primary targets for laboratory job seekers seeking visa sponsorship.
How to find laboratory visa sponsorship jobs in Iowa?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically by visa sponsorship availability, so you can browse laboratory roles in Iowa without sorting through positions that don't offer sponsorship. Search by role type and state to surface openings from research institutions, agricultural biotech firms, and clinical labs actively hiring internationally. Migrate Mate's board is built for international candidates, making it a practical starting point for laboratory professionals targeting Iowa employers.
Are there state-specific considerations for laboratory visa sponsorship in Iowa?
Iowa's laboratory hiring is heavily tied to its agricultural and food science industries, meaning many sponsored roles require specialized knowledge in areas like plant genomics, soil analysis, or food safety microbiology. The state's university system, particularly the University of Iowa and Iowa State University, creates a consistent pipeline of sponsored positions at academic research centers. Employers must meet Department of Labor prevailing wage requirements for the relevant occupation and geographic area when filing H-1B Labor Condition Applications.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored laboratory jobs in Iowa?
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.