H-1B Visa Assistant Scientist Jobs
Assistant Scientist jobs qualify as H-1B visa specialty occupations because they require at least a bachelor's degree in biology, chemistry, environmental science, or a directly related field. Employers sponsor H-1B status for up to three years, extendable to six, covering research, laboratory, and analytical roles across academic, government, and private sectors.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Terracon is a 100 percent employee-owned multidiscipline consulting firm comprised of more than 8,000 curious minds focused on solving engineering and technical challenges from more than 200 locations nationwide. Since 1965, Terracon has evolved into a successful multi-discipline firm specializing in environmental, facilities, geotechnical, and materials services. Terracon’s growth is due to our talented employee-owners exceeding expectations in client service and growing their careers with new and exciting opportunities in the marketplace. Terracon was recognized as the #1 firm in Asbestos and Lead Abatement.
Terracon’s vision of “Together, we are best at people” is demonstrated through our excellent compensation and benefits package. Based on eligibility, role and job status, we offer many programs including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401(k) plan, paid time off and holidays, education reimbursement, and various bonus programs.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
General Responsibilities:
Conduct environmental site investigations, assessments and surveys to sample, measure and analyze air, water, material, and soil. Identify, evaluate and recommend risk and remediation strategies/designs to ensure compliance with federal, state and local regulations. Prepare applicable permit applications, risk assessments and technical documents including proposals, reports and regulatory agency correspondence. Design systems and environmental protection plans. Projects may include Phase I/II environmental site assessments, ecological and natural resource field surveys, tank closure assessments, asbestos abatement, storm water management, and site planning and permitting.
Essential Roles and Responsibilities:
- Follow safety rules, guidelines and standards for all projects. Participate in pre-task planning. Report any safety issues or concerns to management.
- Understand and practice quality acumen.
- Support consistent quality standards on proposal and project delivery.
- Entry level scientific professional responsible for gathering data and information to be evaluated by other team members.
- Performs testing and sampling of environmental materials including soil, air, groundwater, building materials, and noise.
- Tabulate and prepare data for written reports.
- May assist with report preparation by summarizing data and information within reports.
- Operates field monitoring equipment.
- Assists with operation and maintenance of remediation systems.
- May assist with asbestos surveys, abatement projects and Phase I site assessments.
- Transport material samples or documents to the lab for further testing and analysis.
- Maintains and calibrates field monitoring equipment.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science or related science field. Or, in lieu of a degree, a minimum of 4 years’ related experience.
- A valid driver’s license with acceptable violation history may be required.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATION
- Certification in field of expertise preferred.
ABOUT THE TEAM
Our national environmental team helps our clients do the right thing for their projects, and for our planet. Our professionals include environmental architects, archaeologists, biologists, engineers, geologists, historians, industrial hygienists, planners, and scientists. Working together in the field, office, or lab, we help guide clients through the steps and processes to address environmental challenges and move their projects forward as quickly, safely, and sustainably as possible. With services including site assessment, planning and permitting including cultural and natural resources, sustainability and resiliency, regulatory compliance, and industrial hygiene and safety, we’re at the forefront of helping clients succeed and communities thrive.
EEO Statement
Terracon is an EEO employer. We encourage qualified minority, female, veteran and disabled candidates to apply and be considered for open positions. We do not discriminate against any applicant for employment, or any employee because of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender, disability, age, or military status.
INTRODUCTION
Terracon is a 100 percent employee-owned multidiscipline consulting firm comprised of more than 8,000 curious minds focused on solving engineering and technical challenges from more than 200 locations nationwide. Since 1965, Terracon has evolved into a successful multi-discipline firm specializing in environmental, facilities, geotechnical, and materials services. Terracon’s growth is due to our talented employee-owners exceeding expectations in client service and growing their careers with new and exciting opportunities in the marketplace. Terracon was recognized as the #1 firm in Asbestos and Lead Abatement.
Terracon’s vision of “Together, we are best at people” is demonstrated through our excellent compensation and benefits package. Based on eligibility, role and job status, we offer many programs including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401(k) plan, paid time off and holidays, education reimbursement, and various bonus programs.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
General Responsibilities:
Conduct environmental site investigations, assessments and surveys to sample, measure and analyze air, water, material, and soil. Identify, evaluate and recommend risk and remediation strategies/designs to ensure compliance with federal, state and local regulations. Prepare applicable permit applications, risk assessments and technical documents including proposals, reports and regulatory agency correspondence. Design systems and environmental protection plans. Projects may include Phase I/II environmental site assessments, ecological and natural resource field surveys, tank closure assessments, asbestos abatement, storm water management, and site planning and permitting.
Essential Roles and Responsibilities:
- Follow safety rules, guidelines and standards for all projects. Participate in pre-task planning. Report any safety issues or concerns to management.
- Understand and practice quality acumen.
- Support consistent quality standards on proposal and project delivery.
- Entry level scientific professional responsible for gathering data and information to be evaluated by other team members.
- Performs testing and sampling of environmental materials including soil, air, groundwater, building materials, and noise.
- Tabulate and prepare data for written reports.
- May assist with report preparation by summarizing data and information within reports.
- Operates field monitoring equipment.
- Assists with operation and maintenance of remediation systems.
- May assist with asbestos surveys, abatement projects and Phase I site assessments.
- Transport material samples or documents to the lab for further testing and analysis.
- Maintains and calibrates field monitoring equipment.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science or related science field. Or, in lieu of a degree, a minimum of 4 years’ related experience.
- A valid driver’s license with acceptable violation history may be required.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATION
- Certification in field of expertise preferred.
ABOUT THE TEAM
Our national environmental team helps our clients do the right thing for their projects, and for our planet. Our professionals include environmental architects, archaeologists, biologists, engineers, geologists, historians, industrial hygienists, planners, and scientists. Working together in the field, office, or lab, we help guide clients through the steps and processes to address environmental challenges and move their projects forward as quickly, safely, and sustainably as possible. With services including site assessment, planning and permitting including cultural and natural resources, sustainability and resiliency, regulatory compliance, and industrial hygiene and safety, we’re at the forefront of helping clients succeed and communities thrive.
EEO Statement
Terracon is an EEO employer. We encourage qualified minority, female, veteran and disabled candidates to apply and be considered for open positions. We do not discriminate against any applicant for employment, or any employee because of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender, disability, age, or military status.
See all 133+ H-1B Visa Assistant Scientist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new H-1B Visa Assistant Scientist Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship as an Assistant Scientist
Align your degree to your research duties
USCIS evaluates whether your specific degree field directly relates to your Assistant Scientist duties. Document how your coursework connects to your lab methods and research focus area before your employer files the I-129 petition.
Verify prevailing wages before accepting offers
Your employer's LCA must certify a wage at or above the DOL prevailing wage for your SOC code and work location. Run the OFLC Wage Search using your job title and county to confirm the offer meets Wage Level I or II requirements.
Find sponsors through Migrate Mate by role
Search Migrate Mate by 'Assistant Scientist' to surface employers with verified H-1B LCA filing history for that exact title. This shows you which research institutions, biotech firms, and labs have already navigated the specialty occupation determination for this role.
Confirm each worksite gets its own LCA
If you rotate between lab facilities or field sites, your employer must file a separate certified LCA for each worksite address before you work there. A single LCA tied to headquarters doesn't cover additional locations, even temporarily.
Review your O*NET profile before interviews
O*NET lists the core tasks and required knowledge domains for life and physical science technician roles adjacent to Assistant Scientist. Framing your experience around those descriptors strengthens the specialty occupation argument your employer makes in the I-129.
Build your cap-gap timeline around grant cycles
If you're on OPT and selected in the H-1B cap, your cap-gap extension covers you through September 30. Coordinate with your PI or hiring manager so project funding and your start date align with that transition window, avoiding a gap in authorized employment.
H-1B Visa Assistant Scientist: Frequently Asked Questions
Does an Assistant Scientist role qualify as an H-1B specialty occupation?
Yes, Assistant Scientist positions typically qualify as H-1B specialty occupations because they require at least a bachelor's degree in a directly related field such as biology, chemistry, biochemistry, or environmental science. The employer must demonstrate in the I-129 petition that the role's duties, not just its title, require that specific theoretical and applied knowledge base.
Which employers sponsor H-1B visas for Assistant Scientist positions?
Universities, federal research agencies, pharmaceutical companies, environmental consulting firms, and biotech laboratories are among the most active H-1B sponsors for Assistant Scientist roles. Migrate Mate shows employers with verified H-1B LCA filing history for this title, so you can focus your applications on organizations that have already gone through the sponsorship process for comparable positions.
What happens to my H-1B status if my research grant ends?
H-1B status is tied to your sponsoring employer, not to a specific funding source. If your grant ends and your employer can no longer support your position, your H-1B authorization ends with it. You have a 60-day grace period to find a new H-1B sponsor, change status, or depart. Starting your job search before funding lapses gives you the most time to secure a transfer.
Can my employer file my H-1B petition while I'm on OPT?
Yes, and timing matters. Your employer must file the I-129 petition before your OPT expires. If you're selected in the H-1B cap, the cap-gap rule automatically extends your OPT work authorization through September 30 of that year, bridging the gap until your H-1B status begins. USCIS issues a cap-gap notation on your I-20 to document this extension.
Does my employer need to file a new LCA if I move to a different research facility?
Yes. Each worksite where you perform H-1B duties requires its own DOL-certified Labor Condition Application listing that specific address. If you transfer to a new lab location, your employer must obtain a certified LCA for that site before your first day of work there. This applies even to temporary assignments at a client site or affiliated institution.