Biotech & Pharma OPT Jobs in Missouri
Missouri's biotech and pharma sector offers F-1 OPT holders meaningful entry points, with employers like Pfizer, Bayer, and Sigma-Aldrich (part of MilliporeSigma) operating research and manufacturing facilities across the state. Kansas City and St. Louis anchor most hiring activity, supported by university research commercialization and a growing network of life sciences companies actively recruiting international talent.
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Catalent’s Kansas City facility is home to our Oral & Specialty Drug Delivery, Biologics Analytical Services and Clinical Supply Services businesses.
Position Summary
We have an opportunity for a Pharmaceutical Development Senior Associate Scientist II to join our team. In this role, you will support formulation and process design for oral solid dosage forms and participate in clinical trial manufacturing. You will ensure all work meets regulatory and good manufacturing practice standards while maintaining high-quality documentation. This position offers the chance to work with advanced technologies and collaborate with skilled professionals in a dynamic environment.
Shift: M-F 8am-5pm
Location: Kansas City, MO
100% Onsite
The Role
- Train others on procedures and laboratory techniques.
- Execute efficiency improvement projects with guidance.
- Apply knowledge of principles and concepts within the discipline.
- Use technical and functional expertise to complete assignments within the group or project team.
- Conduct work in Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) areas under minimal supervision.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
The Candidate
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in a related life science or physical science field with 4+ years of related work experience preferred, or a Master’s degree in a related life science or physical science field with 2+ years of related work experience preferred.
- Ability to proactively address work issues at both individual and team levels.
- Sound judgment in proposing deviations from established procedures and methods.
- Ability to develop and execute procedures, methods, and manufacturing processes with minimal complexity and high quality.
- Demonstrated ability to lead small team projects and identify unmet departmental needs.
- Basic to moderate understanding of manufacturing equipment operations and troubleshooting skills in multiple techniques.
Why You Should Join Catalent
- Defined career path and annual performance review and feedback process.
- Diverse, inclusive culture.
- Potential for career growth on an expanding team within an organization dedicated to preserving and bettering lives.
- Competitive paid time off plus 8 paid holidays.
- Community engagement and green initiatives.
- Medical, dental, and vision benefits effective day one of employment.
- Tuition reimbursement.
Catalent offers rewarding opportunities to further your career! Join the global drug development and delivery leader and help us bring over 7,000 life-saving and life-enhancing products to patients around the world. Catalent is an exciting and growing international company where employees work directly with pharma, biopharma and consumer health companies of all sizes to advance new medicines from early development to clinical trials and to the market. Catalent produces more than 70 billion doses per year, and each one will be used by someone who is counting on us. Join us in making a difference.
personal initiative. dynamic pace. meaningful work.
Visit Catalent Careers to explore career opportunities.
Catalent is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and veterans.
If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process due to a disability, you may submit your request by sending an email, and confirming your request for an accommodation and include the job number, title and location to DisabilityAccommodations@catalent.com. This option is reserved for individuals who require accommodation due to a disability. Information received will be processed by a U.S. Catalent employee and then routed to a local recruiter who will provide assistance to ensure appropriate consideration in the application or hiring process.
Notice to Agency and Search Firm Representatives: Catalent Pharma Solutions (Catalent) is not accepting unsolicited resumes from agencies and/or search firms for this job posting. Resumes submitted to any Catalent employee by a third party agency and/or search firm without a valid written & signed search agreement, will become the sole property of Catalent. No fee will be paid if a candidate is hired for this position as a result of an unsolicited agency or search firm referral. Thank you.
Important Security Notice to U.S. Job Seekers:
Catalent NEVER asks candidates to provide any type of payment, bank details, photocopies of identification, social security number or other highly sensitive personal information during the offer process, and we NEVER do so via email or social media. If you receive any such request, DO NOT respond— it is a fraudulent request. Please forward such requests to spam@catalent.com for us to investigate with local authorities.
California Job Seekers can find our California Job Applicant Notice HERE.
Volunteer Work Disclosure: Applicants for employment in Massachusetts may include in their employment history any verified work performed on a volunteer basis.
Massachusetts Lie Detector Test Notice: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law may be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. Consistent with Massachusetts law, Catalent does not require or administer lie detector tests as a condition of employment or continued employment.
About Site
Catalent’s Kansas City facility is home to our Oral & Specialty Drug Delivery, Biologics Analytical Services and Clinical Supply Services businesses.
Position Summary
We have an opportunity for a Pharmaceutical Development Senior Associate Scientist II to join our team. In this role, you will support formulation and process design for oral solid dosage forms and participate in clinical trial manufacturing. You will ensure all work meets regulatory and good manufacturing practice standards while maintaining high-quality documentation. This position offers the chance to work with advanced technologies and collaborate with skilled professionals in a dynamic environment.
Shift: M-F 8am-5pm
Location: Kansas City, MO
100% Onsite
The Role
- Train others on procedures and laboratory techniques.
- Execute efficiency improvement projects with guidance.
- Apply knowledge of principles and concepts within the discipline.
- Use technical and functional expertise to complete assignments within the group or project team.
- Conduct work in Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) areas under minimal supervision.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
The Candidate
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in a related life science or physical science field with 4+ years of related work experience preferred, or a Master’s degree in a related life science or physical science field with 2+ years of related work experience preferred.
- Ability to proactively address work issues at both individual and team levels.
- Sound judgment in proposing deviations from established procedures and methods.
- Ability to develop and execute procedures, methods, and manufacturing processes with minimal complexity and high quality.
- Demonstrated ability to lead small team projects and identify unmet departmental needs.
- Basic to moderate understanding of manufacturing equipment operations and troubleshooting skills in multiple techniques.
Why You Should Join Catalent
- Defined career path and annual performance review and feedback process.
- Diverse, inclusive culture.
- Potential for career growth on an expanding team within an organization dedicated to preserving and bettering lives.
- Competitive paid time off plus 8 paid holidays.
- Community engagement and green initiatives.
- Medical, dental, and vision benefits effective day one of employment.
- Tuition reimbursement.
Catalent offers rewarding opportunities to further your career! Join the global drug development and delivery leader and help us bring over 7,000 life-saving and life-enhancing products to patients around the world. Catalent is an exciting and growing international company where employees work directly with pharma, biopharma and consumer health companies of all sizes to advance new medicines from early development to clinical trials and to the market. Catalent produces more than 70 billion doses per year, and each one will be used by someone who is counting on us. Join us in making a difference.
personal initiative. dynamic pace. meaningful work.
Visit Catalent Careers to explore career opportunities.
Catalent is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and veterans.
If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process due to a disability, you may submit your request by sending an email, and confirming your request for an accommodation and include the job number, title and location to DisabilityAccommodations@catalent.com. This option is reserved for individuals who require accommodation due to a disability. Information received will be processed by a U.S. Catalent employee and then routed to a local recruiter who will provide assistance to ensure appropriate consideration in the application or hiring process.
Notice to Agency and Search Firm Representatives: Catalent Pharma Solutions (Catalent) is not accepting unsolicited resumes from agencies and/or search firms for this job posting. Resumes submitted to any Catalent employee by a third party agency and/or search firm without a valid written & signed search agreement, will become the sole property of Catalent. No fee will be paid if a candidate is hired for this position as a result of an unsolicited agency or search firm referral. Thank you.
Important Security Notice to U.S. Job Seekers:
Catalent NEVER asks candidates to provide any type of payment, bank details, photocopies of identification, social security number or other highly sensitive personal information during the offer process, and we NEVER do so via email or social media. If you receive any such request, DO NOT respond— it is a fraudulent request. Please forward such requests to spam@catalent.com for us to investigate with local authorities.
California Job Seekers can find our California Job Applicant Notice HERE.
Volunteer Work Disclosure: Applicants for employment in Massachusetts may include in their employment history any verified work performed on a volunteer basis.
Massachusetts Lie Detector Test Notice: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law may be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. Consistent with Massachusetts law, Catalent does not require or administer lie detector tests as a condition of employment or continued employment.
OPT Biotech & Pharma Job Roles in Missouri
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Search Biotech & Pharma Jobs in MissouriBiotech & Pharma OPT Sponsorship Jobs in Missouri: Frequently Asked Questions
Which biotech and pharma companies sponsor F-1 OPT visas in Missouri?
Missouri has a number of established biotech and pharma employers with histories of hiring international graduates on OPT, including Bayer CropScience, MilliporeSigma, Pfizer, and Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals. Larger companies with dedicated HR and legal infrastructure tend to process OPT authorizations more routinely than smaller startups. Sponsorship patterns vary by role, department, and business need, so it is worth researching each employer's recent hiring activity directly.
Which cities in Missouri have the most biotech and pharma F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs?
St. Louis is Missouri's primary life sciences hub, home to a dense cluster of pharma manufacturers, agricultural biotech firms, and medical research institutions connected to Washington University and Saint Louis University. Kansas City is the state's second-largest market, with activity in pharmaceutical distribution, contract research organizations, and diagnostics. Smaller concentrations exist in Columbia, which benefits from University of Missouri research commercialization.
What types of biotech and pharma roles typically qualify for F-1 OPT sponsorship?
Roles that align with STEM-designated degree programs qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, which is particularly relevant for biotech and pharma. Common qualifying positions include research associate, quality control analyst, process development scientist, regulatory affairs associate, and bioinformatics specialist. These roles typically require degrees in biology, chemistry, biochemistry, biomedical engineering, or related fields. Positions must be directly related to the graduate's major area of study to satisfy OPT employment requirements.
How do I find biotech and pharma F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in Missouri?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for international students and graduates seeking OPT-friendly employers, including biotech and pharma roles in Missouri. You can filter jobs by visa type, state, and industry to surface positions where employers have demonstrated sponsorship activity. Because OPT authorization requirements and timelines are strict, using a platform that surfaces relevant employers and roles by visa type saves significant research time compared to general job boards.
Are there any Missouri-specific considerations for F-1 OPT sponsorship in biotech and pharma?
Missouri's agricultural biotech sector, concentrated around St. Louis, includes companies working with genetically modified organisms and crop science, which may involve federal contractor status or security considerations that can affect OPT eligibility for certain roles. Additionally, Missouri life sciences employers hiring through research partnerships with state universities may have specific onboarding timelines that intersect with OPT start date requirements. Verifying that your employment start date falls within your authorized OPT period is essential before accepting any offer.