STEM OPT Jobs in Kentucky
Kentucky's manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare sectors actively hire F-1 STEM OPT graduates, with Louisville, Lexington, and the Northern Kentucky corridor offering the densest concentration of E-Verify-enrolled employers. Automotive, supply chain technology, and biomedical research roles dominate sponsorship activity across the state.
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Get Access To All JobsJob Title: Laboratory Scientist/UKHC
Requisition Number: RE54949
Working Title: Laboratory Scientist - Special Chemistry Laboratory
Department Name: H3200:Laboratory Services
Work Location: Lexington, KY
Grade Level: 10
Salary Range: $23.25-39.10/hour
Type of Position: Staff
Position Time Status: Full-Time
Required Education:
BS
Required Related Experience:
No experience required.
Required License/Registration/Certification:
None
Physical Requirements:
Sitting and walking for long periods of time, computer use, and repetitive motions.
Shift:
Primary shift may be 1st, 2nd, or 3rd shift including weekends and holidays. May be asked to cover other shifts based on the needs of the department.
Job Summary:
The Laboratory Scientist/UKHC will be responsible for performing laboratory testing in a fast-paced academic medical center. The Laboratory provides services to all aspects of the Level I trauma center and throughout the healthcare enterprise, including solid organ and bone marrow transplant, KY Children’s Hospital, and Markey Cancer Center.
The Special Chemistry Laboratory utilizes advanced LC/MS/MS and GCMS techniques, immunochemistry, and electrophoresis. Laboratory Scientists in this lab are able to grow their skill set in new and advancing testing techniques.
This CAP and AABB-Accredited Laboratory at the University of Kentucky showcase the use of state-of-the-art instrumentation and technology.
IMPORTANT: Resumes and CVs cannot be substituted for a completed application. Incomplete applications could disqualify you from being considered for this position. To be considered for this position you must fully complete the online application being sure to only put one (1) job title for each entry (multiple job titles for one employer must have separate entries), the # of hours worked per week and your ending salary. All job titles and dates must correspond with those appearing on your resume.
Skills / Knowledge / Abilities:
Multitasking, customer service, trouble shooting, and critical thinking skills.
Does this position have supervisory responsibilities? No
Preferred Education/Experience:
Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Biology, or Medical Technology preferred. Experience using gas chromatographs, mass spectrometers, and/or liquid chromatographs preferred.
Deadline to Apply: 07/05/2026
Our University Community:
We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.
The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status.
Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.
Job Title: Laboratory Scientist/UKHC
Requisition Number: RE54949
Working Title: Laboratory Scientist - Special Chemistry Laboratory
Department Name: H3200:Laboratory Services
Work Location: Lexington, KY
Grade Level: 10
Salary Range: $23.25-39.10/hour
Type of Position: Staff
Position Time Status: Full-Time
Required Education:
BS
Required Related Experience:
No experience required.
Required License/Registration/Certification:
None
Physical Requirements:
Sitting and walking for long periods of time, computer use, and repetitive motions.
Shift:
Primary shift may be 1st, 2nd, or 3rd shift including weekends and holidays. May be asked to cover other shifts based on the needs of the department.
Job Summary:
The Laboratory Scientist/UKHC will be responsible for performing laboratory testing in a fast-paced academic medical center. The Laboratory provides services to all aspects of the Level I trauma center and throughout the healthcare enterprise, including solid organ and bone marrow transplant, KY Children’s Hospital, and Markey Cancer Center.
The Special Chemistry Laboratory utilizes advanced LC/MS/MS and GCMS techniques, immunochemistry, and electrophoresis. Laboratory Scientists in this lab are able to grow their skill set in new and advancing testing techniques.
This CAP and AABB-Accredited Laboratory at the University of Kentucky showcase the use of state-of-the-art instrumentation and technology.
IMPORTANT: Resumes and CVs cannot be substituted for a completed application. Incomplete applications could disqualify you from being considered for this position. To be considered for this position you must fully complete the online application being sure to only put one (1) job title for each entry (multiple job titles for one employer must have separate entries), the # of hours worked per week and your ending salary. All job titles and dates must correspond with those appearing on your resume.
Skills / Knowledge / Abilities:
Multitasking, customer service, trouble shooting, and critical thinking skills.
Does this position have supervisory responsibilities? No
Preferred Education/Experience:
Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Biology, or Medical Technology preferred. Experience using gas chromatographs, mass spectrometers, and/or liquid chromatographs preferred.
Deadline to Apply: 07/05/2026
Our University Community:
We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.
The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status.
Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.
Search F-1 STEM OPT Jobs by Industry in Kentucky
Tips for Finding STEM OPT Jobs in Kentucky
Confirm your role qualifies under STEM OPT
Cross-reference your job title against the official STEM-designated degree list before accepting an offer. Use O*NET to verify the occupation code aligns with your degree field, since Kentucky employers in logistics and manufacturing sometimes post hybrid roles that blur eligibility lines.
Target E-Verify-enrolled Kentucky employers early
STEM OPT extension requires your employer to be enrolled in E-Verify before your 60-day application window opens. Filter your search to confirmed E-Verify participants, particularly in Louisville's advanced manufacturing corridor and Northern Kentucky's supply chain hubs, to avoid last-minute eligibility issues.
Use Migrate Mate to find verified sponsorship employers
Search Migrate Mate to identify Kentucky employers with documented F-1 STEM OPT filing history. This filters out companies that say they sponsor but haven't filed for STEM OPT students, saving you weeks of outreach to employers who can't actually complete the process.
Submit your STEM OPT application 90 days before OPT expires
File your I-765 STEM OPT extension application with USCIS no later than 90 days before your current OPT end date. Kentucky university DSOs often have internal deadlines two to three weeks earlier, so confirm your school's I-983 submission cutoff before planning your job start date.
Build your I-983 training plan around measurable outcomes
Kentucky employers unfamiliar with STEM OPT sometimes draft vague I-983 training plans that USCIS may question. Push your employer to list specific learning objectives, supervisor responsibilities, and performance benchmarks tied to your STEM degree field rather than generic job duties.
See all 204+ F-1 STEM OPT jobs in Kentucky
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Get Access To All JobsF-1 STEM OPT Jobs in Kentucky: Frequently Asked Questions
Which industries in Kentucky sponsor the most F-1 STEM OPT visas?
Advanced manufacturing, logistics technology, and healthcare systems are the dominant F-1 STEM OPT sponsoring industries in Kentucky. Toyota's Georgetown operations and suppliers across the Bluegrass region hire engineering and data roles regularly. Louisville's hospital networks and UPS's logistics technology division in the Louisville metro also generate consistent STEM OPT sponsorship activity for qualifying graduates.
Which cities in Kentucky have the most F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs?
Louisville has the highest concentration of F-1 STEM OPT employers, driven by its logistics, healthcare, and financial technology sectors. Lexington follows with biomedical research, agricultural technology, and university-affiliated roles. The Northern Kentucky corridor, adjacent to Cincinnati, adds manufacturing and information technology employers who recruit across both metro areas and are enrolled in E-Verify.
What types of roles typically qualify for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship in Kentucky?
Qualifying roles must directly relate to your STEM-designated degree field. In Kentucky, common qualifying positions include manufacturing process engineers, supply chain data analysts, biomedical research associates, software developers, environmental scientists, and logistics systems analysts. Roles where the STEM connection is indirect, such as general operations management, typically do not qualify even when posted by STEM-heavy Kentucky employers.
How do I find F-1 STEM OPT jobs in Kentucky?
Migrate Mate lets you filter Kentucky job listings by employers with verified F-1 STEM OPT filing history, so you focus outreach on companies that have completed the E-Verify enrollment and I-983 process before. University career centers at the University of Kentucky and University of Louisville also maintain employer relationships with local sponsors, which can shorten your search timeline significantly.
Are there any Kentucky-specific considerations for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship?
Kentucky does not impose state-level work authorization requirements beyond federal STEM OPT rules, but many Kentucky employers outside Louisville and Lexington are smaller manufacturers unfamiliar with the I-983 training plan requirement. Budget extra time to educate HR teams at mid-size employers in secondary markets like Bowling Green or Owensboro, where STEM OPT sponsorship experience is less common than in the major metros.