Biotech & Pharma OPT Jobs in Massachusetts

Massachusetts is one of the top states for biotech and pharma F-1 OPT sponsorship, with major employers like Moderna, Biogen, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals concentrated in the Greater Boston area. The Cambridge and Kendall Square corridor alone hosts hundreds of life sciences companies actively hiring international graduates for research, development, and clinical roles.

Find Biotech & Pharma Jobs

Overview

Open Jobs348+
Work Type74% On-site
Top LocationBoston, MA
Most JobsDana-Farber Cancer Institute

Showing 5 of 348+ Biotech & Pharma OPT Jobs in Massachusetts

Medical Director, Clinical Development Neurology
We won't show you this job again
New 9h ago
Medical Director, Clinical Development Neurology
Alexion Pharmaceuticals
Boston, Massachusetts
Nursing
Medical Specialists
Clinical Support
Healthcare Administration
Physicians
$250k - $375k/yr
Hybrid
Doctorate
1,001-5,000

Have you applied for this role?

Microbiology Analyst I
We won't show you this job again
New 15h ago
Microbiology Analyst I
Cambrex
Agawam, Massachusetts
Laboratory Research
Biotech & Life Sciences
Clinical Trials & Medical Research
Clinical Trials
On-Site
Bachelor's

Have you applied for this role?

Protein ML Senior Principal Data Scientist
We won't show you this job again
New 17h ago
Protein ML Senior Principal Data Scientist
Sanofi
Waltham, Massachusetts
Data Science & Analytics
Software Engineering
Healthcare Administration
Data Science
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
ML (Machine Learning)
$149k - $215k/yr
On-Site
Doctorate
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

Research Technician
We won't show you this job again
Added 1d ago
Research Technician
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Boston, Massachusetts
Laboratory Research
Biotech & Life Sciences
Clinical Trials & Medical Research
Clinical Trials
$48k - $51k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
5,001-10,000

Have you applied for this role?

Data Management Specialist II
We won't show you this job again
Added 1d ago
Data Management Specialist II
Broad Institute
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Data Science & Analytics
Laboratory Research
Data Science
Data Analytics
$70k - $94k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's
1,001-5,000

Have you applied for this role?

See all 348+ Biotech & Pharma OPT Jobs in Massachusetts

Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Biotech & Pharma OPT Jobs in Massachusetts.

Get Access To All Jobs

OPT Biotech & Pharma Job Roles in Massachusetts

Laboratory Research138 jobs
Healthcare Administration121 jobs
Biotech & Life Sciences116 jobs
Clinical Trials & Medical Research72 jobs
Clinical Trials64 jobs
Patient Services & Wellbeing51 jobs
Nursing43 jobs
Project & Program Management41 jobs
Data Science & Analytics34 jobs
Data Science33 jobs

See all 348+ Biotech & Pharma OPT Jobs in Massachusetts

Sign up for free to filter by visa type, set job alerts, and find employers with verified sponsorship history.

Search Biotech & Pharma Jobs in Massachusetts

Biotech & Pharma OPT Sponsorship Jobs in Massachusetts: Frequently Asked Questions

Which biotech and pharma companies sponsor F-1 OPT visas in Massachusetts?

Many of Massachusetts's largest life sciences employers have established track records of hiring F-1 OPT workers, including Biogen, Moderna, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Bristol Myers Squibb, Takeda, and Sanofi Genzyme. Smaller Cambridge-based biotechs and CROs such as Agenus, Editas Medicine, and ICON also regularly hire OPT candidates. Sponsorship patterns vary by company size, role, and department, so it's worth researching each employer's OPT hiring history directly.

Which cities in Massachusetts have the most biotech and pharma F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs?

Cambridge and Boston together form the densest concentration of biotech and pharma OPT jobs in the state, driven by proximity to MIT, Harvard, and major research hospitals. The Kendall Square area in Cambridge is particularly active. Waltham and Lexington host significant pharma operations, including Takeda's U.S. headquarters. Worcester is a growing hub with a strong academic medical presence, and Watertown has attracted several cell and gene therapy companies in recent years.

What types of biotech and pharma roles typically qualify for F-1 OPT sponsorship in Massachusetts?

Roles that directly apply a graduate's field of study qualify for F-1 OPT, so positions in research and development, process development, bioinformatics, regulatory affairs, clinical data management, quality assurance, and computational biology are common fits for life sciences degree holders. Manufacturing and CMC roles qualify for engineering and chemistry graduates. The role must be directly related to the student's major, so a match between job function and degree field is essential.

How do I find biotech and pharma F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in Massachusetts?

Migrate Mate is built specifically for international students and filters biotech and pharma jobs in Massachusetts by visa type, including F-1 OPT, so you're not sorting through roles that don't sponsor. Beyond job boards, attending events at the Kendall Square Association, MassBio networking nights, and university career fairs at MIT and Northeastern can surface opportunities with employers actively seeking OPT candidates. Always confirm OPT eligibility directly with each employer's HR or recruiting team.

Are there any Massachusetts-specific considerations for F-1 OPT sponsorship in biotech and pharma?

Massachusetts life sciences companies are generally experienced with OPT and STEM OPT extensions because of the state's deep ties to universities like MIT, Harvard, Northeastern, and UMass. Many Boston-area biotechs routinely hire from these programs. However, STEM OPT requires a formal training plan and employer enrollment in E-Verify, which is federally mandated. Smaller startups or spinouts may not yet be E-Verify enrolled, so it's worth verifying this before accepting an offer if you plan to pursue a STEM OPT extension.