Science & Research STEM OPT Jobs in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's science and research sector spans pharmaceutical giants in Philadelphia's University City, life sciences clusters in the Lehigh Valley, and university-affiliated research institutions in Pittsburgh. Employers like GSK, Merck, and the University of Pennsylvania regularly hire F-1 STEM OPT candidates into research roles across biology, chemistry, materials science, and data science disciplines.
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Work Schedule
Standard (Mon-Fri)
Environmental Conditions
Will work with hazardous/toxic materials
Job Description
Field Application Scientist (LCMS, Small Molecule)
R-01356232
Field Based Role - East Coast
Travel 75%
As part of the Thermo Fisher Scientific team, you will discover meaningful work that makes a positive impact on a global scale. Join our colleagues in bringing our Mission to life every single day to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer! We provide our global teams with the resources needed to achieve individual career goals while helping to take science a step beyond by developing solutions for some of the world’s toughest challenges, like protecting the environment, making sure our food is safe or helping find cures for cancer.
The Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry business develops and manufactures leading-edge instruments, consumables, and software solutions for customers working in the analytical sciences (routine testing markets) and scientific research. We play a crucial role in various scientific fields, including chemistry, pharmaceuticals, forensics, environmental analysis, and biochemistry, among others.
How will you make an impact?
This opening is for a highly qualified and self-motivated individual to support our LC-MS instrumentation as a Field Application Scientist, with a strong focus on small molecule quantitation. As a member of the Thermo Fisher Scientific North Americas application support team, the candidate will work within a multi-disciplinary matrix team that includes regional sales representatives, marketing and service professionals, product development scientists, and engineers.
Primary responsibilities will be to support the commercial field sales team by providing support for LC-MS instrumentation, focusing mainly on the small molecule mass spectrometry market, with an emphasis on either pharma or environmental applications. The support will mainly be at customer sites (within North America) and focus on rapidly jump-starting customers for future success.
Working across multiple technology platforms, you'll provide comprehensive pre- and post-sales technical expertise, conduct product demonstrations, develop new applications, troubleshoot complex issues, and build relationships with customers. Your role will involve working with cross-functional teams including sales, marketing, R&D, and product management to ensure customer success and drive business growth through technical excellence.
What will you do?
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Product Training: Conduct product training for customers virtually or remotely, in their laboratories, or at another onsite training center on the accurate use and application of instruments and software.
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Application Optimization: Collaborate with customers and internal teams to customize applications and methodologies. This includes troubleshooting, method development, and data interpretation. May be responsible for collecting data from customer experiments or field trials, analyzing the data using statistical methods, and providing insights or recommendations based on the findings. They should be able to interpret scientific data accurately and communicate the results effectively. Resolves and/or escalates customer issues & complaints.
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Technical Presentations: Deliver presentations to highlight the capabilities and benefits of solutions for various applications. Effectively communicate complex scientific concepts to diverse audiences.
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Drive Collaboration: Work cross-functionally with internal teams, including marketing and sales, to support strategic execution of the customer training process.
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Scientific Support: Stay informed about the latest scientific literature, methodologies, and regulatory requirements. Acts as a trusted expert to our customers to increase customer satisfaction and loyalty which contributes to the overall success of the business. Provide scientific support and counsel to internal teams and customers and identify improvement opportunities.
How will you get here?
- A bachelor’s degree (or higher) in chemistry, biochemistry, or a related scientific field and/or equivalent work experience.
Experience
- 2-3 years of hands-on technical experience with liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry instruments, software, data analysis, and techniques.
- Experience with quantitative LCMS workflows (e.g. Pharma QA/QC labs, US EPA methods) and associated sample preparation techniques.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities
- Ability to work independently, manage multiple projects simultaneously, and meet deadlines.
- Outstanding teamwork and collaboration skills to foster creativity and contribute to the team's success.
- Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to troubleshoot technical issues and provide guidance on product usage and optimization.
- This position requires extensive contact with customers and therefore outstanding verbal and written communication skills with the ability to effectively convey complex scientific concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
- A proven track record to work independently and a strong work ethic is critical.
- This position may require up to 75% travel.
- This position is not approved for relocation assistance.
Compensation and Benefits
The salary range estimated for this position based in Massachusetts is $83,300.00–$125,000.00. This position may also be eligible to receive a variable annual bonus based on company, team, and/or individual performance results in accordance with company policy. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards package that our U.S. colleagues and their families can count on, which includes:
- A choice of national medical and dental plans, and a national vision plan, including health incentive programs
- Employee assistance and family support programs, including commuter benefits and tuition reimbursement
- At least 120 hours paid time off (PTO), 10 paid holidays annually, paid parental leave (3 weeks for bonding and 8 weeks for caregiver leave), accident and life insurance, and short- and long-term disability in accordance with company policy
- Retirement and savings programs, such as our competitive 401(k) U.S. retirement savings plan
- Employees’ Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) offers eligible colleagues the opportunity to purchase company stock at a discount
For more information on our benefits, please visit: https://jobs.thermofisher.com/global/en/total-rewards
STEM OPT Science & Research Job Roles in Pennsylvania
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Search Science & Research Jobs in PennsylvaniaScience & Research STEM OPT Sponsorship Jobs in Pennsylvania: Frequently Asked Questions
Which science and research companies in Pennsylvania sponsor F-1 STEM OPT workers?
Pennsylvania has a strong concentration of life sciences and research employers with documented STEM OPT sponsorship history. GSK, Merck, Johnson & Johnson's Janssen division, Incyte, and West Pharmaceutical Services have filed Labor Condition Applications for research roles in the state. University-affiliated research centers at Penn, Carnegie Mellon, and Drexel also hire F-1 STEM OPT candidates into qualifying positions across biological sciences, chemistry, and engineering.
Which Pennsylvania cities have the most science and research F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs?
Philadelphia leads Pennsylvania for science and research sponsorship opportunities, anchored by University City's dense cluster of research hospitals, biotech firms, and pharmaceutical campuses. The Lehigh Valley corridor around Allentown and Bethlehem holds a growing life sciences presence. Pittsburgh adds a second major hub, with Carnegie Mellon and the University of Pittsburgh driving demand for research scientists, data analysts, and biomedical engineers with F-1 STEM OPT authorization.
What types of science and research roles typically qualify for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship in Pennsylvania?
Roles that qualify must fall under a STEM-designated Classification of Instructional Programs code tied to the graduate's degree. In Pennsylvania's research sector, common qualifying positions include research scientist, computational biologist, materials scientist, biostatistician, environmental scientist, and laboratory analyst. The position must be directly related to the student's degree field, paid, and supervised by a U.S. employer enrolled in E-Verify. O*NET profiles can help confirm whether a specific job title is STEM-aligned.
How do I find science and research F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs in Pennsylvania?
Migrate Mate filters science and research jobs in Pennsylvania specifically by F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship history, drawing on DOL Labor Condition Application data to surface employers who have actively sponsored workers in comparable roles. Rather than sorting through general postings, you can search by industry, role type, and Pennsylvania location to identify employers with a documented track record of STEM OPT sponsorship in the sciences.
Are there any Pennsylvania-specific considerations for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship in science and research?
Pennsylvania employers in life sciences and research often operate under federal contracts or grant funding, which can affect E-Verify compliance timelines and sponsorship decisions. Research roles tied to federally funded labs or NIH-backed programs require the employer to be E-Verify enrolled before STEM OPT can begin. Pennsylvania also has a dense network of contract research organizations and academic medical centers where STEM OPT is commonly used but sponsorship decisions can depend on grant cycles and departmental hiring authority rather than centralized HR policy.