Research Associate Jobs at University of Virginia with Visa Sponsorship
Research Associate jobs at University of Virginia sit at the intersection of academic research and professional development, spanning fields from biomedical sciences to social policy. UVA has a consistent track record of sponsoring international researchers, making it a realistic target if you're building a U.S. research career on a work visa.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
The Department of Medicine at the University of Virginia is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to work in the laboratory of Dr. Jeffrey Sturek, MD, PhD. The Sturek Laboratory is an exciting NIH-funded group which focuses on translational pulmonary immunology and fibrosis. The laboratory utilizes both human and patient samples to explore disease phenotypes and associations as well as murine and in vitro model systems to test novel biological mechanisms. Techniques of interest focus around high-dimensional immunophenotyping via mass cytometry and spectral flow cytometry, immunofluorescence and imaging mass cytometry, and RNA sequencing. Disease areas of interest are fibrotic lung diseases such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary graft-vs-host disease, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and respiratory infections.
The successful candidate will serve as a leader of laboratory projects, provide scientific and technical guidance on experimental design, conduct and interpretation, and also perform studies needed to advance the missions of our research program. This is a leadership position within the lab, and the successful candidate will serve as the principal investigator's scientific partner. They should possess strong organizational skills to enable the administrative, regulatory, and operational needs of the lab, and they should be willing and eager to learn new techniques to bring to the lab. They will be expected to help teach other trainees rotating in the laboratory, including pulmonary and critical care fellows, medicine residents, PhD candidates, medical students, and undergraduates. They should also possess excellent verbal and written communication skills to facilitate our training mission and to contribute to preparation of research proposals and manuscripts. The candidate may submit for individual postdoctoral research fellowship funding if consistent with their career goals. The specific focus of projects for this posting are related to the role of B cells and IgA in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and are supported by a recently awarded NIH R01.
Postdoctoral employment is temporary and is normally limited to an individual who has been awarded a Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate within the previous five years and who will be involved in full-time research or scholarship at the University. Employment as a Postdoctoral Research Associate is viewed as training and is preparatory for a full-time academic or research career, is supervised by a senior scholar, and allows the appointee to publish the results of his/her research or scholarship during the training period.
The position is a 12-month appointment with the possibility of renewal contingent upon satisfactory performance and the availability of funding.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Education: PhD in the Biosciences or an MD with a research emphasis is required at the time of hire
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE:
The ideal candidate will have demonstrated experience with either mouse models of pulmonary disease, or murine or human immunology, flow cytometry and histology. Experience with primary cell culture, functional analyses in vitro and in vivo and characterization of the molecular features of cells (DNA/RNA/Protein) is essential. Likewise, experience with retro- and lenti-viral production and transduction, RNAi-based strategies for post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression and CRISPR/Cas9 techniques are desired. Additionally, experience with or interest in modern techniques in high-dimensional data analysis such as mass cytometry, spectral flow, and RNAseq is strongly preferred.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally require traveling some distance to attend meetings, and programs.
This is an exempt-level, benefited position. For more information on the benefits available to postdoctoral associates at UVA, visit postdoc.virginia.edu and hr.virginia.edu/benefits.
This position is based in Charlottesville, VA, and must be performed fully on-site.
To learn more about UVA and the Charlottesville area, visit UVA Life and Embark CVA.
Background checks and pre-employment health screenings will be conducted on all new hires prior to employment.
HOW TO APPLY
Please apply online, by searching for requisition number R0078174. Complete an application with the following documents:
- Resume
- Cover Letter
Upload all materials into the resume submission field. You can submit multiple documents into this one field or combine them into one PDF. Applications without all required documents will not receive full consideration.
Internal applicants: Search and apply for jobs on the UVA Internal Careers website.
Reference checks will be completed by UVA’s third-party partner, SkillSurvey, during the final phase of the interview. Five references will be requested, with at least three responses required.
For questions about the application process, please contact Jessica Russo, Senior Recruiter, sxv9zv@virginia.edu.
The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Learn more about UVA’s commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment.
INTRODUCTION
The Department of Medicine at the University of Virginia is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to work in the laboratory of Dr. Jeffrey Sturek, MD, PhD. The Sturek Laboratory is an exciting NIH-funded group which focuses on translational pulmonary immunology and fibrosis. The laboratory utilizes both human and patient samples to explore disease phenotypes and associations as well as murine and in vitro model systems to test novel biological mechanisms. Techniques of interest focus around high-dimensional immunophenotyping via mass cytometry and spectral flow cytometry, immunofluorescence and imaging mass cytometry, and RNA sequencing. Disease areas of interest are fibrotic lung diseases such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary graft-vs-host disease, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and respiratory infections.
The successful candidate will serve as a leader of laboratory projects, provide scientific and technical guidance on experimental design, conduct and interpretation, and also perform studies needed to advance the missions of our research program. This is a leadership position within the lab, and the successful candidate will serve as the principal investigator's scientific partner. They should possess strong organizational skills to enable the administrative, regulatory, and operational needs of the lab, and they should be willing and eager to learn new techniques to bring to the lab. They will be expected to help teach other trainees rotating in the laboratory, including pulmonary and critical care fellows, medicine residents, PhD candidates, medical students, and undergraduates. They should also possess excellent verbal and written communication skills to facilitate our training mission and to contribute to preparation of research proposals and manuscripts. The candidate may submit for individual postdoctoral research fellowship funding if consistent with their career goals. The specific focus of projects for this posting are related to the role of B cells and IgA in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and are supported by a recently awarded NIH R01.
Postdoctoral employment is temporary and is normally limited to an individual who has been awarded a Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate within the previous five years and who will be involved in full-time research or scholarship at the University. Employment as a Postdoctoral Research Associate is viewed as training and is preparatory for a full-time academic or research career, is supervised by a senior scholar, and allows the appointee to publish the results of his/her research or scholarship during the training period.
The position is a 12-month appointment with the possibility of renewal contingent upon satisfactory performance and the availability of funding.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Education: PhD in the Biosciences or an MD with a research emphasis is required at the time of hire
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE:
The ideal candidate will have demonstrated experience with either mouse models of pulmonary disease, or murine or human immunology, flow cytometry and histology. Experience with primary cell culture, functional analyses in vitro and in vivo and characterization of the molecular features of cells (DNA/RNA/Protein) is essential. Likewise, experience with retro- and lenti-viral production and transduction, RNAi-based strategies for post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression and CRISPR/Cas9 techniques are desired. Additionally, experience with or interest in modern techniques in high-dimensional data analysis such as mass cytometry, spectral flow, and RNAseq is strongly preferred.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally require traveling some distance to attend meetings, and programs.
This is an exempt-level, benefited position. For more information on the benefits available to postdoctoral associates at UVA, visit postdoc.virginia.edu and hr.virginia.edu/benefits.
This position is based in Charlottesville, VA, and must be performed fully on-site.
To learn more about UVA and the Charlottesville area, visit UVA Life and Embark CVA.
Background checks and pre-employment health screenings will be conducted on all new hires prior to employment.
HOW TO APPLY
Please apply online, by searching for requisition number R0078174. Complete an application with the following documents:
- Resume
- Cover Letter
Upload all materials into the resume submission field. You can submit multiple documents into this one field or combine them into one PDF. Applications without all required documents will not receive full consideration.
Internal applicants: Search and apply for jobs on the UVA Internal Careers website.
Reference checks will be completed by UVA’s third-party partner, SkillSurvey, during the final phase of the interview. Five references will be requested, with at least three responses required.
For questions about the application process, please contact Jessica Russo, Senior Recruiter, sxv9zv@virginia.edu.
The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Learn more about UVA’s commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment.
Tips for Finding Research Associate Jobs at University of Virginia
Tailor your CV to UVA research priorities
UVA Research Associate postings frequently specify lab affiliations or funded project areas. Align your CV to the department's active grants and research themes, not just the generic job description, to signal you're a fit for the specific work being sponsored.
Confirm your degree meets specialty occupation standards
USCIS requires a direct relationship between your degree field and the Research Associate role. A degree adjacent to the position's core discipline can trigger a Request for Evidence, so document how your academic background maps precisely to the listed research duties.
Identify which UVA department is actively hiring internationally
UVA's Schools of Medicine, Engineering, and Arts and Sciences each hire Research Associates at different volumes. Target departments with active federal grants, since externally funded projects are more likely to carry budget for H-1B or E-3 petition filing fees.
Use Migrate Mate to filter verified UVA Research Associate openings
Not every UVA Research Associate listing includes visa sponsorship language. Use Migrate Mate to surface roles where UVA has confirmed sponsorship intent, so you spend your application effort where the path to a petition is already open.
Ask about LCA filing timelines before accepting an offer
Your start date depends on DOL certifying a Labor Condition Application before UVA can file the H-1B petition. Clarify with UVA's International Faculty and Scholars office how far in advance they initiate LCA filings to avoid gaps in your authorization.
Understand how E-3 eligibility affects your UVA application strategy
If you're an Australian citizen, the E-3 visa processes faster and avoids the H-1B lottery entirely. Raise your eligibility with UVA's HR team early, since some departments default to H-1B workflows without realizing E-3 is a simpler path for qualifying candidates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does University of Virginia sponsor H-1B visas for Research Associates?
Yes, University of Virginia sponsors H-1B visas for Research Associates. UVA's International Faculty and Scholars office manages petitions, and sponsorship is most common for roles tied to externally funded research projects. Because H-1B cap-subject petitions depend on the annual lottery, some positions may instead use cap-exempt status if the role is based at a qualifying research unit within the university.
How do I apply for Research Associate jobs at University of Virginia?
Applications go through UVA's official jobs portal at jobs.virginia.edu. Research Associate postings typically require a CV, cover letter, and contact information for references. You can also browse verified UVA Research Associate openings filtered by visa sponsorship status on Migrate Mate, which helps you identify which roles are actively open to international candidates before you apply.
Which visa types does University of Virginia commonly use for Research Associates?
UVA most commonly sponsors Research Associates on H-1B and E-3 visas for nonimmigrant work authorization. For permanent residency pathways, EB-2 and EB-3 classifications are used, often after a period of employment. Australian citizens are eligible for the E-3 visa, which bypasses the H-1B lottery and typically processes faster through the consular route.
What qualifications does University of Virginia expect for Research Associate roles?
Most UVA Research Associate positions require at minimum a master's degree, though a Ph.D. is expected for roles with significant independent research responsibilities. Lab-specific technical skills, familiarity with the department's research methodology, and prior publications or project experience are common differentiators. USCIS also requires that your degree field directly corresponds to the duties listed in the position description for H-1B specialty occupation approval.
How long does the visa sponsorship process take for a UVA Research Associate role?
For H-1B petitions, UVA must first file a Labor Condition Application with the DOL, which takes up to seven business days under standard processing. The USCIS petition review adds several months under regular processing, or two to three weeks with premium processing. E-3 visas for Australian citizens can move faster through consular processing. Plan for a minimum of three to four months from offer acceptance to authorized start date under standard timelines.