Thermo Fisher Scientific: Hiring, Background Check & Employment Verification FAQs

Thermo Fisher Scientific traces its roots to two distinct predecessor companies. Fisher Scientific was founded in 1902 by Chester Garfield Fisher, who purchased the scientific materials stock of the Pittsburgh Testing Laboratory to supply American labs that had previously relied heavily on European imports for equipment. Separately, Thermo Electron Corporation was co-founded in 1956 by Dr. George N. Hatsopoulos, an MIT PhD in mechanical engineering, and Peter M. Nomikos, a Harvard Business School graduate who provided initial funding, starting with a $50,000 loan to commercialize thermionic energy conversion technology and advanced scientific instrumentation.

Both companies grew substantially over the following decades along different paths: Fisher Scientific expanded primarily through catalog sales and distribution networks, going public in 1965 with $58 million in sales, while Thermo Electron focused on engineering, R&D, government contracts, and high-end analytical instruments. On May 14, 2006, Thermo Electron and Fisher Scientific announced a tax-free, stock-for-stock merger, which was completed on November 9, 2006, forming Thermo Fisher Scientific. The Federal Trade Commission required Fisher to divest its Genevac subsidiary as a condition of approving the deal, given anticompetitive concerns in the centrifugal evaporator market; that divestiture was completed in April 2007.

Since the merger, Thermo Fisher Scientific has continued to grow substantially through acquisitions, adding brands and businesses such as Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Unity Lab Services, Patheon, and PPD to its portfolio. Today, Thermo Fisher Scientific is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts, generates more than $40 billion in annual revenue, and employs approximately 125,000 people worldwide, serving customers in pharmaceutical and biotech companies, hospitals and clinical diagnostic labs, universities, research institutions, and government agencies. Thermo Fisher's workforce spans laboratory equipment manufacturing and quality control roles, scientific and research and development staff, clinical trial and pharmaceutical services personnel, and sales and distribution teams supporting its global scientific supply network.

Company culture and employee programs: Thermo Fisher Scientific describes its mission as enabling customers to make the world healthier, cleaner, and safer, emphasizing continuous investment in research and development, manufacturing capacity, and strategic acquisitions to expand its broad scientific product and service portfolio. The company operates at massive global scale across life sciences, healthcare, and industrial and applied science markets. Benefits, training, and advancement opportunities can vary by role and facility, so candidates should confirm specifics with a recruiter during the hiring process.

Yes. Employers in the scientific and laboratory equipment industry, including Thermo Fisher Scientific, are legally permitted to conduct pre-employment background checks on job candidates, provided they comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws. In the United States, employment screening is governed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which requires employers to obtain written consent, provide disclosures, and follow adverse action procedures.

Thermo Fisher Scientific is generally reported to conduct background checks as part of its hiring process, which is standard for large scientific, healthcare, and manufacturing employers, particularly given regulatory requirements in pharmaceutical and clinical research settings.

The hiring process for roles at Thermo Fisher Scientific typically includes an application, one or more interviews, and a background check prior to a final offer. Certain scientific and clinical roles may also require education and credential verification.

Background check timelines can vary based on the type of screening requested and how quickly records can be verified. Learn more about typical background check turnaround times to understand what factors can affect the process.

A typical pre-employment background check for a scientific or manufacturing role may include:

Under the FCRA, criminal history reporting is generally limited to seven years for most background checks, though state laws may extend or restrict this timeframe, and certain regulated pharmaceutical or clinical trial roles may involve additional background review.

Hiring decisions involving candidates with criminal records are generally made on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the nature of the offense, how much time has passed, and its relevance to the role, particularly for positions involving access to regulated pharmaceutical products or sensitive research materials. Some states have adopted "ban-the-box" laws that restrict when employers can ask about criminal history during the hiring process.

Candidates can generally expect to provide personal information such as full legal name, date of birth, and Social Security number, along with signed consent authorizing the background check, in compliance with FCRA requirements.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a federal law that regulates how employers can use background check information in hiring decisions. It requires employers to notify candidates before running a check, obtain written consent, and follow specific adverse action procedures if a decision is made based on background check results.

Running a personal background check with Checkr lets you preview what Thermo Fisher Scientific may see during the hiring process, helping you address any concerns before you apply. A personal background check can include:

Learn more about Checkr Personal Background Checks and explore your Checkr Profile to see what information may appear in your own background check.

If you're a candidate with a background check in progress through Checkr as part of your application to Thermo Fisher Scientific or another employer, you can check your status through the Candidate Portal. For additional support, visit the Checkr Help Center.

The information provided in this article does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. All information is for general informational purposes only. Checkr does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of this information and is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. This article may contain links to other third-party websites. Such links are only for the convenience of the reader. Checkr does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites and disclaims any affiliation with the companies mentioned in this article unless otherwise stated.