Research Fellow Jobs at Mayo Clinic with Visa Sponsorship
Research Fellow jobs at Mayo Clinic sit at the intersection of clinical medicine and scientific investigation, drawing candidates with advanced degrees who want protected time to pursue original research. Mayo has a broad history of supporting international researchers through multiple visa pathways, making it a realistic target for sponsorship-seeking applicants.
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Get Access To All JobsWhy Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is top-ranked in more specialties than any other care provider according to U.S. News & World Report. As we work together to put the needs of the patient first, we are also dedicated to our employees, investing in competitive compensation and comprehensive benefit plans – to take care of you and your family, now and in the future. And with continuing education and advancement opportunities at every turn, you can build a long, successful career with Mayo Clinic.
Benefits Highlights
- Medical: Multiple plan options.
- Dental: Delta Dental or reimbursement account for flexible coverage.
- Vision: Affordable plan with national network.
- Pre-Tax Savings: HSA and FSAs for eligible expenses.
- Retirement: Competitive retirement package to secure your future.
Responsibilities
The Cousin Lab at Mayo Clinic is seeking a postdoctoral fellow who will contribute to a growing rare disease therapeutics program with an initial emphasis on POLR2A-related disorders. This work will also support broader efforts in the lab, including genetic forms of ALS and other monogenic neurologic conditions. Projects may include iPSC-derived neural models, variant-mechanism studies, RNA-targeted therapies, genome editing, sequencing-based biomarkers, and collaboration with Mayo Clinic precision medicine and N-of-1 therapeutic programs, core facilities, and external academic partners.
The Cousin Lab at Mayo Clinic develops mechanism-guided, gene-targeted therapeutic strategies for rare neurogenetic diseases. Our work integrates clinical genetics, patient-derived biospecimens, functional genomics, iPSC-based disease modeling, preclinical therapeutic testing, and clinical translation.
Position Overview
The fellow will lead experimental and analytical components of translational rare disease projects. The role includes developing and characterizing patient-derived and engineered cell models; defining variant effects and disease mechanisms; designing and evaluating RNA-targeted and gene-editing therapeutic strategies; and integrating functional, genomic, and clinical data to prioritize treatment approaches. The position involves substantial wet-lab research, quantitative data analysis, manuscript and grant preparation, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
The fellow will join a collaborative Mayo Clinic environment with access to clinical expertise, core facilities, genomic and sequencing resources, translational infrastructure, and multi-institutional rare disease networks. This position offers the opportunity to develop an independent research niche at the interface of rare disease biology, human neural modeling, and targeted therapeutic development; publish first-author manuscripts; present at national and international meetings; and pursue external fellowship or career-development funding.
Key Responsibilities
- Disease Modeling & Assay Development: Develop and characterize patient-derived and engineered disease models, including fibroblasts, iPSCs, isogenic controls, iPSC-derived neural cell types, and organoid or multicellular systems.
- Mechanistic & Functional Studies: Design and execute molecular, cellular, imaging, electrophysiologic, and functional genomics assays to define variant effects, disease mechanisms, cellular phenotypes, biomarkers, and therapeutic response.
- Therapeutic Development: Develop and evaluate RNA-targeted and gene-editing strategies, including ASO/siRNA, allele-selective or splice-modifying approaches, CRISPR/base-editing platforms, delivery systems, and target-engagement or rescue assays.
- Genomic Data Integration: Integrate variant interpretation, sequencing data, and functional readouts to prioritize therapeutic strategies and evaluate loss-of-function, dominant-negative, allele-specific, and related mechanisms.
- Collaboration & Translation: Coordinate with the PI, clinicians, partners, core facilities, biobanks, and external collaborators to align patient samples, disease models, assays, and preclinical workflows.
- Scientific Communication & Mentorship: Manage projects with rigor and reproducibility; prepare figures, reports, manuscripts, presentations, and grant/fellowship applications; and contribute to mentoring junior team members.
Qualifications
Education: Ph.D., M.D./Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree in neuroscience, genetics/genomics, molecular or cell biology, stem cell biology, biomedical engineering, pharmacology, RNA biology, bioengineering, or a related field.
- Research Expertise: Demonstrated productivity in cell-based disease modeling, molecular biology, functional genomics, therapeutic development, neurogenetics, or rare disease biology.
- Technical Skills: Strong wet-lab skills in aseptic cell culture, molecular biology, assay development, sequencing workflows, microscopy/imaging, and experimental documentation.
- Quantitative & Analytical Skills: Ability to analyze, interpret, and communicate complex data; familiarity with Prism, R, Python, or related statistical and visualization tools is helpful.
- Professional Skills: Excellent organization, independence, attention to detail, and communication skills, with the ability to thrive in a collaborative translational research environment.
Experience in one or more of the following areas is preferred:
- iPSC & Neural Models: Experience with human iPSC culture, genome-edited/isogenic lines, neural differentiation, neurons, glia, organoids, or related iPSC-derived neural models.
- Therapeutic Platforms: Experience with RNA-targeted therapeutic development, genome engineering, or delivery platforms, including ASOs, siRNA, CRISPR/Cas, base or prime editing, AAV, or LNPs.
- Rare Disease Translation: Experience with rare genetic, neurodevelopmental, or neuromuscular disease models; patient-derived biospecimens; variant interpretation; genotype-phenotype analysis; or individualized/N-of-1 therapeutic approaches.
- Genomics & Biomarkers: Experience with RNA-seq, long-read sequencing, phasing/haplotype analysis, single-cell or multi-omic workflows, biomarker discovery, bioinformatics, or high-content/high-throughput screening.
- Scientific Leadership: Experience in translational or preclinical research, collaborative project management, manuscript preparation, grant writing, and mentoring.
Candidates should submit a CV, a brief cover letter describing research interests and relevant experience, and contact information for 2-3 references.
Exemption Status
Exempt
Compensation Detail
$67,282 - $78,711 / year; Education, experience and tenure may be considered along with internal equity when job offers are extended.
Benefits Eligible
Yes
Schedule
Full Time
Hours/Pay Period
80
Schedule Details
Varies
International Assignment
No
Site Description
Just as our reputation has spread beyond our Minnesota roots, so have our locations. Today, our employees are located at our three major campuses in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona, Jacksonville, Florida, Rochester, Minnesota, and at Mayo Clinic Health System campuses throughout Midwestern communities, and at our international locations. Each Mayo Clinic location is a special place where our employees thrive in both their work and personal lives. Learn more about what each unique Mayo Clinic campus has to offer, and where your best fit is.
Equal Opportunity
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, protected veteran status or disability status. Learn more about the "EOE is the Law". Mayo Clinic participates in E-Verify and may provide the Social Security Administration and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security with information from each new employee's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization.
Recruiter
Amy Hoffman
Why Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is top-ranked in more specialties than any other care provider according to U.S. News & World Report. As we work together to put the needs of the patient first, we are also dedicated to our employees, investing in competitive compensation and comprehensive benefit plans – to take care of you and your family, now and in the future. And with continuing education and advancement opportunities at every turn, you can build a long, successful career with Mayo Clinic.
Benefits Highlights
- Medical: Multiple plan options.
- Dental: Delta Dental or reimbursement account for flexible coverage.
- Vision: Affordable plan with national network.
- Pre-Tax Savings: HSA and FSAs for eligible expenses.
- Retirement: Competitive retirement package to secure your future.
Responsibilities
The Cousin Lab at Mayo Clinic is seeking a postdoctoral fellow who will contribute to a growing rare disease therapeutics program with an initial emphasis on POLR2A-related disorders. This work will also support broader efforts in the lab, including genetic forms of ALS and other monogenic neurologic conditions. Projects may include iPSC-derived neural models, variant-mechanism studies, RNA-targeted therapies, genome editing, sequencing-based biomarkers, and collaboration with Mayo Clinic precision medicine and N-of-1 therapeutic programs, core facilities, and external academic partners.
The Cousin Lab at Mayo Clinic develops mechanism-guided, gene-targeted therapeutic strategies for rare neurogenetic diseases. Our work integrates clinical genetics, patient-derived biospecimens, functional genomics, iPSC-based disease modeling, preclinical therapeutic testing, and clinical translation.
Position Overview
The fellow will lead experimental and analytical components of translational rare disease projects. The role includes developing and characterizing patient-derived and engineered cell models; defining variant effects and disease mechanisms; designing and evaluating RNA-targeted and gene-editing therapeutic strategies; and integrating functional, genomic, and clinical data to prioritize treatment approaches. The position involves substantial wet-lab research, quantitative data analysis, manuscript and grant preparation, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
The fellow will join a collaborative Mayo Clinic environment with access to clinical expertise, core facilities, genomic and sequencing resources, translational infrastructure, and multi-institutional rare disease networks. This position offers the opportunity to develop an independent research niche at the interface of rare disease biology, human neural modeling, and targeted therapeutic development; publish first-author manuscripts; present at national and international meetings; and pursue external fellowship or career-development funding.
Key Responsibilities
- Disease Modeling & Assay Development: Develop and characterize patient-derived and engineered disease models, including fibroblasts, iPSCs, isogenic controls, iPSC-derived neural cell types, and organoid or multicellular systems.
- Mechanistic & Functional Studies: Design and execute molecular, cellular, imaging, electrophysiologic, and functional genomics assays to define variant effects, disease mechanisms, cellular phenotypes, biomarkers, and therapeutic response.
- Therapeutic Development: Develop and evaluate RNA-targeted and gene-editing strategies, including ASO/siRNA, allele-selective or splice-modifying approaches, CRISPR/base-editing platforms, delivery systems, and target-engagement or rescue assays.
- Genomic Data Integration: Integrate variant interpretation, sequencing data, and functional readouts to prioritize therapeutic strategies and evaluate loss-of-function, dominant-negative, allele-specific, and related mechanisms.
- Collaboration & Translation: Coordinate with the PI, clinicians, partners, core facilities, biobanks, and external collaborators to align patient samples, disease models, assays, and preclinical workflows.
- Scientific Communication & Mentorship: Manage projects with rigor and reproducibility; prepare figures, reports, manuscripts, presentations, and grant/fellowship applications; and contribute to mentoring junior team members.
Qualifications
Education: Ph.D., M.D./Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree in neuroscience, genetics/genomics, molecular or cell biology, stem cell biology, biomedical engineering, pharmacology, RNA biology, bioengineering, or a related field.
- Research Expertise: Demonstrated productivity in cell-based disease modeling, molecular biology, functional genomics, therapeutic development, neurogenetics, or rare disease biology.
- Technical Skills: Strong wet-lab skills in aseptic cell culture, molecular biology, assay development, sequencing workflows, microscopy/imaging, and experimental documentation.
- Quantitative & Analytical Skills: Ability to analyze, interpret, and communicate complex data; familiarity with Prism, R, Python, or related statistical and visualization tools is helpful.
- Professional Skills: Excellent organization, independence, attention to detail, and communication skills, with the ability to thrive in a collaborative translational research environment.
Experience in one or more of the following areas is preferred:
- iPSC & Neural Models: Experience with human iPSC culture, genome-edited/isogenic lines, neural differentiation, neurons, glia, organoids, or related iPSC-derived neural models.
- Therapeutic Platforms: Experience with RNA-targeted therapeutic development, genome engineering, or delivery platforms, including ASOs, siRNA, CRISPR/Cas, base or prime editing, AAV, or LNPs.
- Rare Disease Translation: Experience with rare genetic, neurodevelopmental, or neuromuscular disease models; patient-derived biospecimens; variant interpretation; genotype-phenotype analysis; or individualized/N-of-1 therapeutic approaches.
- Genomics & Biomarkers: Experience with RNA-seq, long-read sequencing, phasing/haplotype analysis, single-cell or multi-omic workflows, biomarker discovery, bioinformatics, or high-content/high-throughput screening.
- Scientific Leadership: Experience in translational or preclinical research, collaborative project management, manuscript preparation, grant writing, and mentoring.
Candidates should submit a CV, a brief cover letter describing research interests and relevant experience, and contact information for 2-3 references.
Exemption Status
Exempt
Compensation Detail
$67,282 - $78,711 / year; Education, experience and tenure may be considered along with internal equity when job offers are extended.
Benefits Eligible
Yes
Schedule
Full Time
Hours/Pay Period
80
Schedule Details
Varies
International Assignment
No
Site Description
Just as our reputation has spread beyond our Minnesota roots, so have our locations. Today, our employees are located at our three major campuses in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona, Jacksonville, Florida, Rochester, Minnesota, and at Mayo Clinic Health System campuses throughout Midwestern communities, and at our international locations. Each Mayo Clinic location is a special place where our employees thrive in both their work and personal lives. Learn more about what each unique Mayo Clinic campus has to offer, and where your best fit is.
Equal Opportunity
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, protected veteran status or disability status. Learn more about the "EOE is the Law". Mayo Clinic participates in E-Verify and may provide the Social Security Administration and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security with information from each new employee's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization.
Recruiter
Amy Hoffman
See all 45+ Research Fellow Jobs at Mayo Clinic
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Research Fellow Jobs at Mayo Clinic.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Research Fellow Jobs at Mayo Clinic
Align your CV to Mayo's research priorities
Mayo Clinic's Research Fellow postings are grouped by department and principal investigator. Tailor your CV to match the specific lab's published work, not the generic job description. Reviewers are scientists who will check for methodological overlap.
Confirm J-1 waiver eligibility before accepting offers
Many Research Fellow roles at academic medical centers default to J-1 sponsorship. If you have a two-year home residency requirement on a prior J-1, resolve it through a no-objection statement or Conrad 30 waiver before Mayo's HR initiates your visa process.
Request the LCA wage tier in writing
When an offer arrives, ask which Department of Labor prevailing wage level the Labor Condition Application is filed at. Research Fellow roles at Mayo are often filed at Level I or II, and confirming this early prevents surprises about salary alignment with your competing offers.
Target labs with active NIH-funded grants
Principal investigators holding active NIH R01 or R01-equivalent grants have dedicated budget lines for personnel, making them far more likely to initiate H-1B or E-3 sponsorship. Search NIH Reporter for Mayo faculty before reaching out to prospective supervisors.
Use Migrate Mate to identify current Research Fellow openings
Research Fellow positions at Mayo Clinic open and close quickly, often tied to grant cycles. Use Migrate Mate to filter for verified Research Fellow roles at Mayo with confirmed visa sponsorship, so you apply while positions are still active.
Build your O-1 or EB-2 NIW record during your fellowship
A Research Fellow appointment at Mayo Clinic generates peer-reviewed publications, citation records, and institutional letters that directly satisfy USCIS criteria for O-1 visa or EB-2 National Interest Waiver petitions. Document every contribution from day one with permanent residency in mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Mayo Clinic sponsor H-1B visas for Research Fellows?
Yes. Mayo Clinic sponsors H-1B visas for Research Fellow positions when the role qualifies as a specialty occupation requiring at least a bachelor's degree in a specific field. Because Research Fellows typically hold doctoral or medical degrees in a directly relevant discipline, these roles generally meet the specialty occupation standard USCIS applies. Sponsorship is coordinated through Mayo's immigration team once an offer is extended.
How do I apply for Research Fellow jobs at Mayo Clinic?
Applications are submitted through Mayo Clinic's careers portal, where Research Fellow postings are listed by department and research focus. Each posting is tied to a specific principal investigator or program, so a targeted cover letter addressing the lab's current research agenda carries significant weight. You can also browse current Research Fellow openings at Mayo Clinic filtered by visa sponsorship type on Migrate Mate before applying directly.
Which visa types are commonly used for Research Fellow roles at Mayo Clinic?
Research Fellow positions at Mayo Clinic are commonly supported through H-1B, J-1 visa, E-3 visa (for Australian citizens), TN visa (for Canadian and Mexican nationals in qualifying occupations), and F-1 OPT or CPT for candidates completing U.S. degrees. The J-1 visa exchange visitor visa is frequently used for postdoctoral and clinical research fellows, though candidates with a two-year home residency obligation on a prior J-1 should clarify waiver options before accepting an offer.
What qualifications does Mayo Clinic expect for Research Fellow positions?
Most Research Fellow roles at Mayo Clinic require a doctoral degree (Ph.D., M.D., or equivalent) in a field directly relevant to the hiring lab's work. Candidates are expected to have peer-reviewed publications, demonstrated laboratory or clinical research skills, and a clear research proposal or area of interest that aligns with the supervising investigator's active projects. Postdoctoral-level applicants with prior fellowship experience in a related subspecialty are competitive.
How do I understand the timeline from offer to visa approval for a Research Fellow role at Mayo Clinic?
For H-1B sponsorship, Mayo must file a Labor Condition Application with the Department of Labor before submitting the I-129 petition to USCIS. Standard USCIS processing runs several months; premium processing reduces that to 15 business days. J-1 sponsorship through Mayo's Exchange Visitor program is often faster. Plan for at least two to four months between receiving a written offer and having an approved work authorization in hand, depending on visa type.