Biotech & Pharma STEM OPT Jobs in Michigan

Michigan's biotech and pharma sector spans Ann Arbor's research corridor, Kalamazoo's legacy pharmaceutical hub anchored by Pfizer and Perrigo, and Detroit's growing life sciences cluster. F-1 students on STEM OPT will find employers here filing Labor Condition Applications across research, manufacturing, and regulatory roles, with state university partnerships adding additional recruiting pipelines.

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Overview

Open Jobs13+
Work Type100% On-site
Top LocationGrand Rapids, MI
Most JobsGRAND RIVER ASEPTIC MANUFACTURING, INC.

Showing 5 of 13+ Biotech & Pharma STEM OPT Jobs in Michigan

Revolution Medicines
Project Manager
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Revolution Medicines
Added 1d ago
Project Manager
Revolution Medicines
Detroit, Michigan
Project & Program Management
Project Management
On-Site
Bachelor's

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Zoetis
QC Lab Analyst I-III
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Zoetis
Added 3d ago
QC Lab Analyst I-III
Zoetis
Kalamazoo, Michigan
Quality Control
Allied Health
On-Site
Associate's
5,001-10,000

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Abbott
Manufacturing Controls Engineer
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Abbott
Added 1w ago
Manufacturing Controls Engineer
Abbott
Sturgis, Michigan
Specialized Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering
Project & Program Management
Engineering (Non-Software)
Manufacturing Engineering
Project Management
$61k - $123k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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GRAND RIVER ASEPTIC MANUFACTURING, INC.
Sterility Assurance Validation Engineer/Specialist I/II/III
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GRAND RIVER ASEPTIC MANUFACTURING, INC.
Added 1w ago
Sterility Assurance Validation Engineer/Specialist I/II/III
GRAND RIVER ASEPTIC MANUFACTURING, INC.
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Quality Control
Manufacturing Operations
Healthcare Administration
On-Site
Bachelor's

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AbbVie
Engineer, Automation I
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AbbVie
Added 1w ago
Engineer, Automation I
AbbVie
Wyandotte, Michigan
Specialized Engineering
Quality Assurance & Testing (QA Testing)
Engineering (Non-Software)
Automation QA
$66k - $126k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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STEM OPT Biotech & Pharma Job Roles in Michigan

Quality Control6 jobs
Specialized Engineering4 jobs
Engineering (Non-Software)4 jobs
Project Management3 jobs
Manufacturing Engineering3 jobs
Project & Program Management3 jobs
Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering3 jobs
Data Science2 jobs
Allied Health2 jobs
Business Analysis2 jobs

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Biotech & Pharma STEM OPT Sponsorship Jobs in Michigan: Frequently Asked Questions

Which biotech and pharma companies in Michigan sponsor F-1 STEM OPT workers?

Michigan has a concentrated base of biotech and pharma employers with documented STEM OPT sponsorship activity. Pfizer's Kalamazoo operations, Perrigo, Stryker, and Zoetis have all appeared in DOL Labor Condition Application disclosures for life sciences roles. Ann Arbor hosts several mid-size biotech firms and contract research organizations that regularly recruit from University of Michigan's graduate programs and hire on OPT authorization.

Which Michigan cities have the most biotech and pharma F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs?

Ann Arbor is Michigan's most active city for biotech and pharma STEM OPT hiring, driven by proximity to the University of Michigan and a dense cluster of research-stage companies and contract research organizations. Kalamazoo ranks second, supported by established pharmaceutical manufacturers. Grand Rapids has a growing medical device and life sciences presence, while Detroit's Midtown and New Center areas are attracting early-stage biotech tenants.

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

Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically by visa type and industry, making it straightforward to search for biotech and pharma roles in Michigan where employers have verified F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship history. Because STEM OPT authorization is employer-initiated, filtering by companies with prior DOL Labor Condition Application filings in Michigan life sciences, which Migrate Mate surfaces, saves significant time compared to applying broadly and asking about sponsorship later.

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

Roles that qualify for STEM OPT must fall under a STEM-designated Classification of Instructional Programs code tied to the student's degree. In Michigan's biotech and pharma sector, qualifying positions commonly include research scientist, computational biologist, process development engineer, regulatory affairs specialist, quality assurance engineer, and data analyst roles, provided the degree field aligns with the position. O*NET occupation profiles can help confirm whether a specific role meets the STEM designation criteria.

Are there Michigan-specific considerations for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship in biotech and pharma?

Michigan employers sponsoring STEM OPT workers must be enrolled in E-Verify, a federal requirement that applies statewide. Michigan's biotech sector is split between large established manufacturers in Kalamazoo and smaller research-stage firms in Ann Arbor, and sponsorship capacity can differ significantly between these employer types. STEM OPT extensions require a formal training plan submitted through your Designated School Official, and University of Michigan and Michigan State University both have ISSO offices that guide students through this process.