H-1B Visa Analytical Chemist Jobs
Analytical Chemist roles qualify as H-1B visa specialty occupations under USCIS guidelines because the position requires at least a bachelor's degree in chemistry, biochemistry, or a directly related field. Pharmaceutical, materials testing, and environmental labs are among the most active H-1B visa filers for this occupation.
Find H-1B Visa Analytical Chemist JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 25+ Analytical Chemist jobs
See all Analytical Chemist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Analytical Chemist roles.
Get Access To All JobsPosition Summary:
The Environmental Analytical Chemist is responsible for carrying out and facilitating advanced chemical analysis of aqueous solutions for environmental pollutants of concern including but not limited to semi-volatile, non-volatile and volatile organic compounds, inorganic constituents (e.g., heavy metals) and water quality parameters (e.g., anions, total organic carbon). The successful applicant provides operational, educational and research support in the laboratory areas related to faculty research and duties, develops and implements instrument-based and wet-chemistry-based analytical procedures, maintains and operates equipment, documents and communicates laboratory policies and ensures compliance with federal quality assurance/quality control requirements (QA-QC).
About the Work Unit:
Vanderbilt’s Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) department vision is to be one of the foremost Civil and Environmental Engineering programs in effecting tangible change to resolve problems of critical importance to humanity in the built environment and the natural world through inspired teaching, research and service, and to maintain a culture of leadership within an educational setting that values research innovation and impact. CEE prepares students to be leaders in Civil and Environmental Engineering in an era of rapid evolution of the profession, to perform innovative basic and applied research that will meet critical challenges in infrastructure and natural resources, and provides service to institutions and government agencies that assists in resolving societal problems. The specific research group provides extensive research and support for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Energy, along with other federal agencies and non-federal research sponsors.
Key Functions and Expected Performance:
-
Implement EPA standard methods for analysis of semi-volatile, non-volatile and volatile organic compounds by GC-MS, including sample preparation by solvent exchange or solid phase extraction and meeting all applicable QA-QC requirements.
-
Implement EPA standard methods for inorganic elemental analysis by ICP-MS, ICP-OES and ion chromatography, including sample preparation and meeting all applicable QA-QC requirements.
-
Develop or modify existing methods as necessary for organic and inorganic analyses to account for complex background matrices.
-
Assist with leaching test methods development and implementation.
-
Participate in standard operating procedures (SOPs) and/or sample preparation technique development (including documentation) on an as-needed basis to support faculty and student needs for selected analytical instrumentation.
-
Responsible for the training of students, post docs, and visiting scholars in the proper SOP for selected analytical instrumentation and procedures.
-
Report to lab leadership any major instrument, equipment, or process issue. Clearly present the problem and participate with resolving the problem.
-
Support ongoing safety culture in the Environmental Engineering Laboratory. Maintaining situational awareness is a critical component of a safety culture.
-
Additional duties as assigned.
Supervisory Relationships:
This position does not have line supervisory responsibility. This position reports administratively and functionally to the Environmental Engineering Laboratory Manager.
Education and Certifications:
Bachelor’s in chemistry or related field is necessary. Advanced degree (MS or PhD) preferred. Required to maintain all training certifications necessary and deemed appropriate for the position.
Experience and Skills:
-
At least 5 years’ experience with one or more of the following instruments: gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS), inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS), inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES).
-
Analytical Experience
a. GC-MS (preferred)
b. ICP-MS (preferred)
c. ICP-OES (secondary preferred)
d. Familiar with EPA Standard Methods is preferred
e. Ion Chromatography
f. GC-FID -
Technical understanding of basic lab procedures, safety culture and compliance requirements is necessary.
-
Analytical and quantitative skills with meticulous attention to detail are necessary.
-
Ability to work collaboratively and independently.
-
Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel is necessary.
-
Good written and oral communication skills are necessary.
-
Good interpersonal skills are necessary.
Position Summary:
The Environmental Analytical Chemist is responsible for carrying out and facilitating advanced chemical analysis of aqueous solutions for environmental pollutants of concern including but not limited to semi-volatile, non-volatile and volatile organic compounds, inorganic constituents (e.g., heavy metals) and water quality parameters (e.g., anions, total organic carbon). The successful applicant provides operational, educational and research support in the laboratory areas related to faculty research and duties, develops and implements instrument-based and wet-chemistry-based analytical procedures, maintains and operates equipment, documents and communicates laboratory policies and ensures compliance with federal quality assurance/quality control requirements (QA-QC).
About the Work Unit:
Vanderbilt’s Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) department vision is to be one of the foremost Civil and Environmental Engineering programs in effecting tangible change to resolve problems of critical importance to humanity in the built environment and the natural world through inspired teaching, research and service, and to maintain a culture of leadership within an educational setting that values research innovation and impact. CEE prepares students to be leaders in Civil and Environmental Engineering in an era of rapid evolution of the profession, to perform innovative basic and applied research that will meet critical challenges in infrastructure and natural resources, and provides service to institutions and government agencies that assists in resolving societal problems. The specific research group provides extensive research and support for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Energy, along with other federal agencies and non-federal research sponsors.
Key Functions and Expected Performance:
-
Implement EPA standard methods for analysis of semi-volatile, non-volatile and volatile organic compounds by GC-MS, including sample preparation by solvent exchange or solid phase extraction and meeting all applicable QA-QC requirements.
-
Implement EPA standard methods for inorganic elemental analysis by ICP-MS, ICP-OES and ion chromatography, including sample preparation and meeting all applicable QA-QC requirements.
-
Develop or modify existing methods as necessary for organic and inorganic analyses to account for complex background matrices.
-
Assist with leaching test methods development and implementation.
-
Participate in standard operating procedures (SOPs) and/or sample preparation technique development (including documentation) on an as-needed basis to support faculty and student needs for selected analytical instrumentation.
-
Responsible for the training of students, post docs, and visiting scholars in the proper SOP for selected analytical instrumentation and procedures.
-
Report to lab leadership any major instrument, equipment, or process issue. Clearly present the problem and participate with resolving the problem.
-
Support ongoing safety culture in the Environmental Engineering Laboratory. Maintaining situational awareness is a critical component of a safety culture.
-
Additional duties as assigned.
Supervisory Relationships:
This position does not have line supervisory responsibility. This position reports administratively and functionally to the Environmental Engineering Laboratory Manager.
Education and Certifications:
Bachelor’s in chemistry or related field is necessary. Advanced degree (MS or PhD) preferred. Required to maintain all training certifications necessary and deemed appropriate for the position.
Experience and Skills:
-
At least 5 years’ experience with one or more of the following instruments: gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS), inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS), inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES).
-
Analytical Experience
a. GC-MS (preferred)
b. ICP-MS (preferred)
c. ICP-OES (secondary preferred)
d. Familiar with EPA Standard Methods is preferred
e. Ion Chromatography
f. GC-FID -
Technical understanding of basic lab procedures, safety culture and compliance requirements is necessary.
-
Analytical and quantitative skills with meticulous attention to detail are necessary.
-
Ability to work collaboratively and independently.
-
Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel is necessary.
-
Good written and oral communication skills are necessary.
-
Good interpersonal skills are necessary.
See all H-1B Visa Analytical Chemist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new H-1B Visa Analytical Chemist Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship as an Analytical Chemist
Verify your degree meets specialty occupation standards
USCIS requires your degree field to directly relate to analytical chemistry work. A biochemistry or chemistry degree maps cleanly; a general science degree may trigger an RFE, so gather transcript evaluations and course descriptions before applying.
Target labs with active LCA filing histories
Use Migrate Mate to filter Analytical Chemist roles by employers who have filed Labor Condition Applications for this occupation, so you're targeting companies with a proven H-1B sponsorship track record rather than guessing from job listings.
Check prevailing wage levels before negotiating offers
Run your target job title and location through the OFLC Wage Search before salary discussions. Your offered wage must meet DOL prevailing wage Level I through IV, and knowing your level upfront prevents offer letters that USCIS will flag.
Distinguish GMP versus research roles during job search
Pharmaceutical manufacturers filing H-1Bs for Good Manufacturing Practice roles face different specialty occupation documentation than R&D labs. Confirm whether the employer's petition will cover bench research, quality control, or regulatory compliance work before accepting.
Request cap-exempt filing if the employer qualifies
Universities, nonprofit research institutions, and government research facilities can file H-1B petitions outside the annual cap and lottery. Analytical Chemists at these organizations can start on H-1B status year-round without waiting for an October 1 start date.
Use O*NET to document specialty occupation evidence
Pull the Analytical Chemist occupation profile from O*NET and share it with your employer's immigration counsel. It documents the degree requirements and job zone classification that support the specialty occupation argument in your I-129 petition.
H-1B Visa Analytical Chemist: Frequently Asked Questions
Does an Analytical Chemist role qualify as an H-1B specialty occupation?
Yes. USCIS consistently recognizes Analytical Chemist positions as specialty occupations because the role requires at least a bachelor's degree in chemistry, biochemistry, or a closely related field. Your employer must document in the I-129 petition that the specific position requires that theoretical and practical application of highly specialized knowledge.
Which industries sponsor H-1B visas most frequently for Analytical Chemists?
Pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical manufacturers, environmental testing laboratories, materials science firms, food and beverage quality labs, and petrochemical companies are the most active H-1B filers for this occupation. You can search Analytical Chemist roles filtered by sponsoring employer on Migrate Mate to see which companies have active LCA filing histories for this job title.
Can my employer file my H-1B petition before the lottery if I'm on OPT?
Yes. If you're an F-1 student on OPT, your employer can submit your H-1B registration during the March lottery window. If selected and approved, your H-1B status begins October 1. A cap-gap provision extends your OPT work authorization automatically if it expires between April 1 and September 30 while your petition is pending.
What prevailing wage level applies to most Analytical Chemist H-1B filings?
Most entry-level Analytical Chemist H-1B filings use DOL prevailing wage Level I or Level II, which correspond to positions with routine duties under supervision. Senior or principal chemist roles with independent project responsibility typically require Level III or IV wages. Run your specific job title and work location through the OFLC Wage Search to confirm the applicable level before the offer letter is issued.
Does my chemistry degree from outside the U.S. satisfy the H-1B specialty occupation requirement?
A foreign chemistry or biochemistry degree can satisfy the requirement if a credential evaluation service confirms it is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree in a directly related field. USCIS accepts evaluations from recognized credential assessment organizations. Australian three-year bachelor's degrees in chemistry are generally accepted as equivalent. Include your transcripts and the evaluation with the I-129 filing.