Green Card Research Fellow Jobs
Research Fellow roles at U.S. universities, hospitals, and research institutes can qualify for EB-2 or EB-3 green card sponsorship through the PERM labor certification process. Many institutions sponsor permanent residency for postdoctoral and staff researchers. Understanding how your publication record and degree level affect your sponsorship pathway matters before you apply.
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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
A Research Fellow position in Life Sciences (LS) will require knowledge of either clinical-based research or laboratory-based research often obtained from a postdoctoral program.
A Research Fellow at Mayo Clinic is a temporary position intended to provide training and education in research. Individuals will train in the research program of a Mayo Clinic principal investigator. Qualified individuals will demonstrate the potential for research as evidenced by their training and peer-reviewed publications and should become competitive for national research grants. Upon background check and CCATS Executive Committee approval, Research Fellow may have patient/research subject contact directly relating to and incidental to the original research program. Proof of English proficiency is required for J-1 Short-Term Scholars, Research Scholars, Professors, Specialists, and Student Interns sponsored by Mayo Clinic.
Qualifications
Must have a Ph.D., M.D., or equivalent doctoral degree in a field deemed relevant by the program. Research Fellow is appropriate for individuals who have completed no more than one prior postdoctoral fellowship, at Mayo Clinic or elsewhere.
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
Monday - Friday with some weekends
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
A Research Fellow position in Life Sciences (LS) will require knowledge of either clinical-based research or laboratory-based research often obtained from a postdoctoral program.
A Research Fellow at Mayo Clinic is a temporary position intended to provide training and education in research. Individuals will train in the research program of a Mayo Clinic principal investigator. Qualified individuals will demonstrate the potential for research as evidenced by their training and peer-reviewed publications and should become competitive for national research grants. Upon background check and CCATS Executive Committee approval, Research Fellow may have patient/research subject contact directly relating to and incidental to the original research program. Proof of English proficiency is required for J-1 Short-Term Scholars, Research Scholars, Professors, Specialists, and Student Interns sponsored by Mayo Clinic.
Qualifications
Must have a Ph.D., M.D., or equivalent doctoral degree in a field deemed relevant by the program. Research Fellow is appropriate for individuals who have completed no more than one prior postdoctoral fellowship, at Mayo Clinic or elsewhere.
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
Monday - Friday with some weekends
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 483+ Green Card Research Fellow Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Green Card Sponsorship in Research Fellow
Match your degree to the right EB category
EB-2 requires a master's degree or higher, or a bachelor's plus five years of progressive research experience. If your foreign doctorate is pending U.S. equivalency evaluation, get a credential assessment before targeting EB-2 roles to avoid mismatches at the I-140 stage.
Target institutions with active PERM filing histories
Universities, teaching hospitals, and federally funded research centers file PERM regularly for Research Fellows. Check DOL's OFLC disclosure data to confirm an institution has sponsored similar roles before reaching out, not after receiving an offer.
Use Migrate Mate to filter by sponsorship history
Searching broadly wastes time on employers who have never filed a green card petition. Use Migrate Mate to identify Research Fellow openings specifically at employers with documented EB-2 and EB-3 sponsorship activity, so every application is strategically placed.
Negotiate PERM filing into your offer letter
Employers are not required to initiate PERM immediately after hiring. Clarify during the offer stage whether sponsorship is part of your employment terms, which form it takes, and approximately when the labor certification process will begin.
Verify the prevailing wage before your PERM audit
PERM requires your employer to pay at least the prevailing wage for your SOC code and work location. Use the OFLC Wage Search to check wage levels before your employer files, since underpaying even by a small margin can trigger a PERM denial.
Document your research outputs for the I-140 petition
For EB-2 petitions, USCIS evaluates your advanced degree and specialized expertise. Compile peer-reviewed publications, grant contributions, conference presentations, and citation records now, since gathering this evidence after PERM is certified delays the I-140 filing.
Green Card Research Fellow: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Research Fellow role qualify for EB-2 or EB-3 green card sponsorship?
Research Fellow positions typically qualify under EB-2 when the role requires a master's degree or doctorate in a specific scientific or academic field. EB-3 covers roles where a bachelor's degree satisfies the minimum requirement. Your employer's PERM application must document the actual degree requirement for the specific position, so the job description wording matters significantly.
How does green card sponsorship differ from H-1B sponsorship for a Research Fellow?
H-1B visa sponsorship is temporary, capped at 85,000 per year for most petitions, and requires renewal every three years. PERM-based green card sponsorship is permanent, has no annual cap at the EB-3 level for most nationalities, and leads to lawful permanent residency. The PERM process is longer, typically 18 to 36 months from labor certification through I-485 approval, but the outcome is permanent work authorization rather than a renewable temporary status.
Which employers sponsor Research Fellows for green cards?
R1 universities, academic medical centers, federally funded national laboratories, and large pharmaceutical or biotechnology research divisions are the most consistent PERM filers for research roles. Use Migrate Mate to search Research Fellow openings filtered by employers with verified green card sponsorship history, so you can focus your applications on institutions that have completed the process before.
What is the PERM labor certification process for a Research Fellow position?
PERM, or Program Electronic Review Management, is a DOL process where your employer proves no qualified U.S. worker is available for your role at the prevailing wage. The employer conducts a supervised recruitment campaign, files the ETA Form 9089 with DOL, and if certified, proceeds to the I-140 immigrant petition with USCIS. For research positions, DOL occasionally audits applications, which can add several months to the timeline.
Can a postdoctoral researcher transition directly from OPT or H-1B to a green card?
Yes. PERM sponsorship can begin while you are on OPT, H-1B, or any other valid work authorization status. Many institutions start PERM during a postdoctoral appointment, and you can continue working under your existing status while the green card process proceeds. If your OPT or H-1B expires before the I-485 is approved, your employer may need to extend your temporary status concurrently to maintain your work authorization.