Biotech & Pharma OPT Jobs in Michigan
Michigan's biotech and pharma sector spans Ann Arbor's life sciences corridor, Grand Rapids' medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturing base, and Detroit's growing biopharma presence. Companies like Pfizer, Perrigo, and Emergent BioSolutions have operations here, alongside University of Michigan spin-offs actively hiring F-1 OPT candidates in research, regulatory, and lab roles.
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Based in Allegan, Michigan the Perrigo Analytical Research and Development team, specializing in solid and liquid Over-the-Counter (OTC) product development, is looking to add a talented colleague to our New Product Development team. Our focus is on the development of analytical methods for small molecules in support of research and characterization of new and reformulated drug products. Chief techniques include HPLC/UPLC-UV stability-indicating methods with various separation chemistries.
The Professional in this role will be responsible for development of assay, impurities, dissolution, and physical characterization methods for oral and nasal drug products. There is an expectation of both direct hands-on laboratory work as well as mentoring/training of colleagues.
This is a great career move for someone who wants to be involved in the entire drug product life cycle, participating from initial concept to commercial production, with opportunities to contribute to a successful global pharmaceutical business focused on Quality, Affordable Self-Care Products.
Scope of the Role
- Perform physical and chemical testing on raw materials, in-process and finished product samples with superior attention to detail and a focus on operational excellence.
- Clearly document and precisely execute analyses and experiments of moderate to high complexity. Analyze and properly interpret data, prepare reports, give presentations, or author other technical communications as necessary.
- Develop, validate and transfer analytical methods of varying complexity on the following platforms: HPLC, UPLC, GC, dissolution, and others as needed.
- Collaborate effectively with other departments and/or sites on project deliverables.
- Participate in/lead cross-functional teams at project-related meetings and technical discussions.
- Carry forward multiple concurrent projects and significantly contribute to product knowledge.
Basic Qualifications
- Proficiency with a variety of analytical instruments for physical and chemical analyses, including but not limited to: HPLC, UPLC, GC, Dissolution.
- Ability to develop, trouble-shoot, and validate complex or innovative analytical methods which are robust and reliable, with minimal supervision, in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.
- Familiarity with calibration, maintenance, installation, and qualification of lab equipment.
- A working understanding of chemical structure at the molecular level.
- Judgement to make clear and concise decisions regarding project execution. Strong organizational, communication, and project management skills are a must.
- Passion for a team-oriented culture focused on shared ownership and responsibility.
- Familiarity with a variety of compendial references including the United States and European Pharmacopeia, as well as FDA Guidances and ICH Guidelines related to analytical methods validation and drug product development.
- Experience with statistical analyses of data and Design of Experiment concepts.
- Waters Empower software experience highly desired.
Experience Required
The skills required for this role are normally acquired through completion of:
- Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry or Pharmaceutical Sciences with 2-4 or more years of cGMP or cGLP laboratory experience, or
- Master's degree in Chemistry or Pharmaceutical Sciences with 1-2 or more years of experience in a cGMP or cGLP laboratory, or
- PhD degree in Chemistry or Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Description Overview
Based in Allegan, Michigan the Perrigo Analytical Research and Development team, specializing in solid and liquid Over-the-Counter (OTC) product development, is looking to add a talented colleague to our New Product Development team. Our focus is on the development of analytical methods for small molecules in support of research and characterization of new and reformulated drug products. Chief techniques include HPLC/UPLC-UV stability-indicating methods with various separation chemistries.
The Professional in this role will be responsible for development of assay, impurities, dissolution, and physical characterization methods for oral and nasal drug products. There is an expectation of both direct hands-on laboratory work as well as mentoring/training of colleagues.
This is a great career move for someone who wants to be involved in the entire drug product life cycle, participating from initial concept to commercial production, with opportunities to contribute to a successful global pharmaceutical business focused on Quality, Affordable Self-Care Products.
Scope of the Role
- Perform physical and chemical testing on raw materials, in-process and finished product samples with superior attention to detail and a focus on operational excellence.
- Clearly document and precisely execute analyses and experiments of moderate to high complexity. Analyze and properly interpret data, prepare reports, give presentations, or author other technical communications as necessary.
- Develop, validate and transfer analytical methods of varying complexity on the following platforms: HPLC, UPLC, GC, dissolution, and others as needed.
- Collaborate effectively with other departments and/or sites on project deliverables.
- Participate in/lead cross-functional teams at project-related meetings and technical discussions.
- Carry forward multiple concurrent projects and significantly contribute to product knowledge.
Basic Qualifications
- Proficiency with a variety of analytical instruments for physical and chemical analyses, including but not limited to: HPLC, UPLC, GC, Dissolution.
- Ability to develop, trouble-shoot, and validate complex or innovative analytical methods which are robust and reliable, with minimal supervision, in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.
- Familiarity with calibration, maintenance, installation, and qualification of lab equipment.
- A working understanding of chemical structure at the molecular level.
- Judgement to make clear and concise decisions regarding project execution. Strong organizational, communication, and project management skills are a must.
- Passion for a team-oriented culture focused on shared ownership and responsibility.
- Familiarity with a variety of compendial references including the United States and European Pharmacopeia, as well as FDA Guidances and ICH Guidelines related to analytical methods validation and drug product development.
- Experience with statistical analyses of data and Design of Experiment concepts.
- Waters Empower software experience highly desired.
Experience Required
The skills required for this role are normally acquired through completion of:
- Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry or Pharmaceutical Sciences with 2-4 or more years of cGMP or cGLP laboratory experience, or
- Master's degree in Chemistry or Pharmaceutical Sciences with 1-2 or more years of experience in a cGMP or cGLP laboratory, or
- PhD degree in Chemistry or Pharmaceutical Sciences.
OPT Biotech & Pharma Job Roles in Michigan
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Search Biotech & Pharma Jobs in MichiganBiotech & Pharma OPT Sponsorship Jobs in Michigan: Frequently Asked Questions
Which biotech and pharma companies in Michigan sponsor F-1 OPT visas?
Several Michigan-based employers have a track record of hiring F-1 OPT workers in life sciences roles. Pfizer's Kalamazoo and Holland facilities, Perrigo in Allegan, Emergent BioSolutions, and numerous Ann Arbor biotech startups connected to University of Michigan research programs regularly hire OPT candidates. Large pharmaceutical manufacturers tend to have established HR processes for OPT, while smaller biotech firms may handle authorization on a case-by-case basis.
Which Michigan cities have the most biotech and pharma F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs?
Ann Arbor consistently leads for biotech and pharma OPT opportunities, driven by University of Michigan's research ecosystem and a dense cluster of life sciences startups and contract research organizations. Grand Rapids has a strong pharmaceutical manufacturing and medical device presence. Kalamazoo is significant given Pfizer's major operations there. Detroit's emerging biopharma scene is smaller but growing, particularly in clinical research and healthcare-adjacent biotech roles.
How do I find biotech and pharma F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in Michigan?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for international students and filters job listings by visa type, including F-1 OPT, and by industry. You can search Michigan biotech and pharma roles directly and see which employers have posted positions open to OPT candidates. This saves significant time compared to manually screening postings that don't address visa authorization. Migrate Mate's filters let you focus only on employers actively seeking candidates with your work authorization status.
What types of biotech and pharma roles typically qualify for F-1 OPT sponsorship in Michigan?
F-1 OPT is tied to STEM degree fields, so roles that directly apply life sciences training qualify most cleanly. In Michigan's biotech and pharma sector, this includes research associate positions, analytical chemistry and formulation roles, regulatory affairs coordinator positions, quality assurance and quality control analyst roles, and clinical data management. Roles in bioinformatics and computational biology also qualify under STEM OPT for students with relevant degree backgrounds. The position must be directly related to the student's field of study.
Are there any Michigan-specific considerations for F-1 OPT in biotech and pharma?
Michigan's biotech and pharma industry includes a mix of large manufacturers, university spin-outs, and contract research organizations, each with different HR infrastructure for managing OPT authorization. Employers near university research hubs like Ann Arbor and East Lansing tend to be more experienced with OPT paperwork given high volumes of international graduates from Michigan State University and University of Michigan. STEM OPT extension applications require a formal training plan, and employers in regulated pharma environments may need additional time to prepare the required documentation.