Research Jobs at Wayne State University with Visa Sponsorship
Research jobs at Wayne State University span science, medicine, engineering, and social sciences, with roles ranging from postdoctoral fellowships to principal investigator positions. The university has an established international hiring presence and actively supports visa sponsorship for qualified research professionals.
Find Research Jobs at Wayne State UniversityOverview
Showing 5 of 33+ Research Jobs at Wayne State University
See all 33+ Research Jobs at Wayne State University
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Research Jobs at Wayne State University.
Get Access To All JobsResearch Development Officer, Division of Research & Innovation
Wayne State University is searching for an experienced Research Development Officer, Division of Research & Innovation at its Detroit campus location.
Wayne State is a premier, public, urban research university located in the heart of Detroit, Michigan where students from all backgrounds are offered a rich, high-quality education. Our deep-rooted commitment to excellence, collaboration, integrity, diversity and inclusion creates exceptional educational opportunities which prepare students for success in a global society.
Position Purpose:
The Research Development (RD) Officer will be a member of the Research Development team in the Division of Research & Innovation (DORI) reporting to the Assistant Vice President for Research. The Office of Research Development (ORD) empowers Wayne State University faculty and researchers to pursue bold, competitive funding opportunities that advance discovery and impact. Through proposal development support, strategic partnership building, and faculty recognition initiatives, ORD provides the infrastructure and expertise researchers need to compete successfully for external funding, helping WSU strengthen its standing as an urban R1 research institution committed to excellence and community impact.
Essential Functions:
Project management on large-scale proposals: work with faculty and staff teams to develop well-organized, polished, competitive grant proposals that are responsive to funder requests.
Related activities include, but are not limited to:
- Providing grantsmanship guidance.
- Establishing a timeline for items required for proposal submission.
- Drafting templates for proposal and supporting documents.
- Coordinating and collecting required materials from external partners and stakeholders.
- Organizing and running red team reviews.
- Facilitating connections to external partners and partnership management.
Develop programming and resources for faculty and staff, such as toolkits, workshops, mentoring programs, etc. with the goal of helping position teams for success in pursuing external research funding.
Work with AVP on forecasting and strategic planning for proactively responding to large-scale funding opportunities.
Track federal funding opportunities and work with the Communications team to advertise those that are relevant to the WSU community. Work with WSU’s government relations firm on strategic opportunity discovery and matching.
Perform other related duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications:
Education: Bachelor’s degree
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Ph.D. or other advanced degree preferred.
Experience: Expert (established subject matter expert, 7+ years’ experience).
7+ years' experience in Research Development, proposal development, and/or grant writing in higher education or master’s degree with 5+ years' experience in Research Development, proposal development, and/or grant writing in higher education.
Experience in grant proposal development and scholarly writing and editing preferred.
Demonstrated success working with teams to submit large-scale proposals (> $5 million) preferred.
Training and/or experience in a variety of participatory facilitation practices (e.g., Strategic Doing, Liberating Structures, Ideas Labs, design sprints, or other facilitation methods and tools) that invite participants to share diverse perspectives/ideas and develop a shared vision preferred.
Significant experience with conduct and/or management of sponsored research, e.g., familiarity with funders and/or funding mechanisms, peer review, federal merit review processes, etc.
Program/project management experience with demonstrated ability to carry out projects to completion.
Experience with administrative aspects of activity and event planning.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Knowledge of federal and non-federal research sponsors’ common requirements and anticipated funding goals.
Ability to effectively provide training to others in the form of workshops and individual instruction.
Strong initiative and demonstrated ability to work independently and in collaborative settings is essential.
Must be able to work in a sensitive and confidential manner with proposals and research data, using independent judgment and professionalism.
Commitment to strengthening broader impacts/societal impacts/community engagement and an understanding of the importance of these critical factors to the research community.
Ability to collaboratively and professionally work with a wide variety of faculty, staff, and stakeholders with a range of personalities, opinions, perspectives, and approaches to the work.
Preferred Qualifications:
Ph.D. or other advanced degree preferred.
School/College/Division:
The Division of Research & Innovation
Primary Department:
H0905 - VP Research
Employment type:
- Regular Employee
- Job type: Full Time
- Job category: Staff/Administrative
Funding/Salary Information:
- Compensation type: Annual Salary
- Annual Salary: To be determined
Working Conditions:
Work is primarily performed in an office environment.
Job Openings:
- Number of openings: 1
- Reposted position: No
Background check requirements:
University policy requires certain persons who are offered employment to undergo a background check, including a criminal history check, before starting work. If you are offered employment, the university will inform you if a background check is required.
Research Development Officer, Division of Research & Innovation
Wayne State University is searching for an experienced Research Development Officer, Division of Research & Innovation at its Detroit campus location.
Wayne State is a premier, public, urban research university located in the heart of Detroit, Michigan where students from all backgrounds are offered a rich, high-quality education. Our deep-rooted commitment to excellence, collaboration, integrity, diversity and inclusion creates exceptional educational opportunities which prepare students for success in a global society.
Position Purpose:
The Research Development (RD) Officer will be a member of the Research Development team in the Division of Research & Innovation (DORI) reporting to the Assistant Vice President for Research. The Office of Research Development (ORD) empowers Wayne State University faculty and researchers to pursue bold, competitive funding opportunities that advance discovery and impact. Through proposal development support, strategic partnership building, and faculty recognition initiatives, ORD provides the infrastructure and expertise researchers need to compete successfully for external funding, helping WSU strengthen its standing as an urban R1 research institution committed to excellence and community impact.
Essential Functions:
Project management on large-scale proposals: work with faculty and staff teams to develop well-organized, polished, competitive grant proposals that are responsive to funder requests.
Related activities include, but are not limited to:
- Providing grantsmanship guidance.
- Establishing a timeline for items required for proposal submission.
- Drafting templates for proposal and supporting documents.
- Coordinating and collecting required materials from external partners and stakeholders.
- Organizing and running red team reviews.
- Facilitating connections to external partners and partnership management.
Develop programming and resources for faculty and staff, such as toolkits, workshops, mentoring programs, etc. with the goal of helping position teams for success in pursuing external research funding.
Work with AVP on forecasting and strategic planning for proactively responding to large-scale funding opportunities.
Track federal funding opportunities and work with the Communications team to advertise those that are relevant to the WSU community. Work with WSU’s government relations firm on strategic opportunity discovery and matching.
Perform other related duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications:
Education: Bachelor’s degree
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Ph.D. or other advanced degree preferred.
Experience: Expert (established subject matter expert, 7+ years’ experience).
7+ years' experience in Research Development, proposal development, and/or grant writing in higher education or master’s degree with 5+ years' experience in Research Development, proposal development, and/or grant writing in higher education.
Experience in grant proposal development and scholarly writing and editing preferred.
Demonstrated success working with teams to submit large-scale proposals (> $5 million) preferred.
Training and/or experience in a variety of participatory facilitation practices (e.g., Strategic Doing, Liberating Structures, Ideas Labs, design sprints, or other facilitation methods and tools) that invite participants to share diverse perspectives/ideas and develop a shared vision preferred.
Significant experience with conduct and/or management of sponsored research, e.g., familiarity with funders and/or funding mechanisms, peer review, federal merit review processes, etc.
Program/project management experience with demonstrated ability to carry out projects to completion.
Experience with administrative aspects of activity and event planning.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Knowledge of federal and non-federal research sponsors’ common requirements and anticipated funding goals.
Ability to effectively provide training to others in the form of workshops and individual instruction.
Strong initiative and demonstrated ability to work independently and in collaborative settings is essential.
Must be able to work in a sensitive and confidential manner with proposals and research data, using independent judgment and professionalism.
Commitment to strengthening broader impacts/societal impacts/community engagement and an understanding of the importance of these critical factors to the research community.
Ability to collaboratively and professionally work with a wide variety of faculty, staff, and stakeholders with a range of personalities, opinions, perspectives, and approaches to the work.
Preferred Qualifications:
Ph.D. or other advanced degree preferred.
School/College/Division:
The Division of Research & Innovation
Primary Department:
H0905 - VP Research
Employment type:
- Regular Employee
- Job type: Full Time
- Job category: Staff/Administrative
Funding/Salary Information:
- Compensation type: Annual Salary
- Annual Salary: To be determined
Working Conditions:
Work is primarily performed in an office environment.
Job Openings:
- Number of openings: 1
- Reposted position: No
Background check requirements:
University policy requires certain persons who are offered employment to undergo a background check, including a criminal history check, before starting work. If you are offered employment, the university will inform you if a background check is required.
Tips for Finding Research Jobs at Wayne State University
Align your credentials to U.S. specialty occupation standards
Research roles at universities must meet USCIS specialty occupation criteria. Make sure your degree field directly maps to your research focus area, since a mismatch between your degree and the posted position is one of the most common H-1B RFE triggers at academic institutions.
Target Wayne State's grant-funded research postings specifically
Grant-funded research positions are more likely to move quickly through the sponsorship process because funding is already secured. Filter your search for roles tied to specific grants or labs, where hiring managers have budget authority and aren't waiting on departmental approval cycles.
Engage the hiring department before HR gets involved
At research universities, principal investigators and lab directors often drive hiring decisions before a formal offer reaches HR. Reaching out directly about ongoing research projects signals genuine academic fit and gives you visibility before sponsorship conversations even begin.
Use Migrate Mate to find open Research roles at Wayne State
Sorting through academic job boards for visa-friendly postings is time-consuming. Migrate Mate filters Research positions at Wayne State University by sponsorship history, so you can focus your applications on roles where international candidates have actually been hired.
Confirm your OPT or TN timeline before accepting an offer
Wayne State sponsors TN visas in addition to H-1B, which can be a faster path if you're Canadian or Mexican. If you're on F-1 OPT, confirm exactly how many days of authorized employment remain before your H-1B cap-gap or new status begins, since research start dates rarely flex.
Prepare your I-129 supporting documents before the offer stage
Universities typically rely on internal immigration offices rather than outside counsel, which means processing timelines can be longer. Having your degree evaluations, publications list, and prior visa records organized in advance lets Wayne State's immigration office move faster once your offer is finalized.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Wayne State University sponsor H-1B visas for Researchs?
Yes, Wayne State University sponsors H-1B visas for Research roles. As a large public research university, Wayne State qualifies as a cap-exempt H-1B employer, meaning it can file H-1B petitions with USCIS at any time of year without being subject to the annual lottery. This is a significant advantage for researchers who need predictable start dates tied to grant cycles or academic calendars.
How do I apply for Research jobs at Wayne State University?
Research positions at Wayne State are posted through the university's careers portal and on academic job boards. You can also browse open roles filtered by sponsorship history on Migrate Mate. When applying, tailor your CV to the specific research area and, where possible, identify the faculty lead or principal investigator overseeing the role, since research hires are often driven at the department level.
Which visa types does Wayne State University use for Research roles?
Wayne State University sponsors H-1B, F-1 OPT, F-1 CPT, and TN visas for Research positions. H-1B is the most common pathway for long-term research hires. TN is available to Canadian and Mexican nationals in qualifying research occupations. F-1 OPT and CPT are typically used for students completing degrees at Wayne State or nearby institutions before transitioning to full employment.
What qualifications does Wayne State University expect for Research roles?
Most Research positions at Wayne State require at minimum a master's degree, and postdoctoral or principal investigator roles typically require a Ph.D. in a field directly relevant to the position. For H-1B sponsorship, USCIS requires that the role qualifies as a specialty occupation, so your degree must correspond specifically to the research area listed in the job description, not just to research broadly.
How do I navigate the sponsorship timeline for a Research role at Wayne State?
Because Wayne State is cap-exempt, H-1B petitions can be filed year-round rather than only in April. That said, university immigration offices typically need 60 to 90 days to prepare and file an I-129 petition. If you're transitioning from OPT, factor in your OPT expiration date and confirm whether cap-gap protection applies during the processing window. Starting the paperwork conversation with HR as early as possible prevents delays tied to academic start dates.