H-1B Visa Associate Research Scientist Jobs
Associate Research Scientist jobs at H-1B visa-sponsoring employers demand a master's or doctoral degree in a directly related field, making the role a strong fit for specialty occupation classification. Employers file a Labor Condition Application with DOL and an I-129 petition with USCIS, covering up to three years of status with extensions to six.
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Get Access To All JobsJob Posting Title:
Research Engineering/ Scientist Associate V, Hildebrand Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering
Hiring Department:
Hildebrand Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering
Position Open To:
All Applicants
Weekly Scheduled Hours:
40
FLSA Status:
Exempt from FLSA
Earliest Start Date:
Immediately
Position Duration:
Expected to Continue
Location:
UT MAIN CAMPUS
Job Details:
General Notes
As a top-10 engineering school with the No. 1 program in Texas, the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) has been a global leader in technology innovation and engineering education for over a century. With 11 undergraduate and 13 graduate programs, over 20 research centers and a faculty community that boasts one of the highest number of National Academy of Engineering members among U.S. universities, Texas Engineering has launched some of the nation’s most accomplished leaders and pioneered world-changing solutions in virtually every industry, from space exploration to energy to health care. Situated in the heart of Austin — named “America’s Coolest City” by Expedia and “The Best Place to Live in the U.S.” by U.S. News and World Report — the Cockrell School embodies the city’s innovative spirit. Major companies with Austin campuses, such as Dell, National Instruments, Apple, IBM, Samsung, Google and many others, continue to recruit Cockrell School students at a remarkable rate, launching thousands of successful careers and developing Texas Engineers into industry leaders.
Purpose
Advance computational methods and research software for quantitative formation evaluation, emphasizing multidimensional borehole electromagnetic modeling and resistivity inversion. Develop reliable, efficient tools that translate research advances into practical subsurface interpretation workflows and support consortium research and technology transfer.
Responsibilities
- Develop and validate electromagnetic forward models and inversion methods for formation evaluation.
- Improve numerical solvers and performance through parallel and high-performance computing.
- Integrate modeling, inversion, and visualization capabilities into consortium software, including 3D UTAPWeLS.
- Analyze subsurface data and assess model sensitivity and uncertainty.
- Collaborate with researchers and sponsors; prepare documentation, publications, presentations, and user support.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree plus eight (8) years of related experience.
- Research experience in borehole electromagnetic modeling and inversion.
- Proficiency in MATLAB and Python; experience with Fortran or a comparable compiled language.
- Experience in numerical methods, scientific data analysis, parallel computing, and collaborative software development.
- Strong technical communication and teamwork skills.
- Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.
Preferred Qualifications
- Ph.D. in petroleum engineering, energy resources engineering, earth science and engineering, or a related field; postdoctoral research experience.
- Experience with gradient-based and stochastic inversion, UDAR interpretation, 3D anisotropic electromagnetic solvers, and OpenMP, MPI, or GPU computing.
- Experience with UTAPWeLS or comparable software, reservoir simulation, production forecasting, or large well datasets.
- Scientific publications or conference contributions.
Salary Range
$80,000 + depending on qualifications
Working Conditions
- Work is performed in a standard office environment.
- Repetitive use of keyboard at workstation.
Work Shift
- Standard business hours are Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Work outside of normal business hours may be required on an occasional basis during peak times.
Required Materials
- Resume/CV
- Letter of interest
- 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor
Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded. Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.
Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.
Employment Eligibility:
Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.
Retirement Plan Eligibility:
The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.
Background Checks:
A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.
Equal Opportunity Employer:
The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.
Pay Transparency:
The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.
Employment Eligibility Verification:
If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.
E-Verify:
The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:
- E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF]
- Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF]
- Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]
Compliance:
Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.
The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.
Job Posting Title:
Research Engineering/ Scientist Associate V, Hildebrand Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering
Hiring Department:
Hildebrand Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering
Position Open To:
All Applicants
Weekly Scheduled Hours:
40
FLSA Status:
Exempt from FLSA
Earliest Start Date:
Immediately
Position Duration:
Expected to Continue
Location:
UT MAIN CAMPUS
Job Details:
General Notes
As a top-10 engineering school with the No. 1 program in Texas, the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) has been a global leader in technology innovation and engineering education for over a century. With 11 undergraduate and 13 graduate programs, over 20 research centers and a faculty community that boasts one of the highest number of National Academy of Engineering members among U.S. universities, Texas Engineering has launched some of the nation’s most accomplished leaders and pioneered world-changing solutions in virtually every industry, from space exploration to energy to health care. Situated in the heart of Austin — named “America’s Coolest City” by Expedia and “The Best Place to Live in the U.S.” by U.S. News and World Report — the Cockrell School embodies the city’s innovative spirit. Major companies with Austin campuses, such as Dell, National Instruments, Apple, IBM, Samsung, Google and many others, continue to recruit Cockrell School students at a remarkable rate, launching thousands of successful careers and developing Texas Engineers into industry leaders.
Purpose
Advance computational methods and research software for quantitative formation evaluation, emphasizing multidimensional borehole electromagnetic modeling and resistivity inversion. Develop reliable, efficient tools that translate research advances into practical subsurface interpretation workflows and support consortium research and technology transfer.
Responsibilities
- Develop and validate electromagnetic forward models and inversion methods for formation evaluation.
- Improve numerical solvers and performance through parallel and high-performance computing.
- Integrate modeling, inversion, and visualization capabilities into consortium software, including 3D UTAPWeLS.
- Analyze subsurface data and assess model sensitivity and uncertainty.
- Collaborate with researchers and sponsors; prepare documentation, publications, presentations, and user support.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree plus eight (8) years of related experience.
- Research experience in borehole electromagnetic modeling and inversion.
- Proficiency in MATLAB and Python; experience with Fortran or a comparable compiled language.
- Experience in numerical methods, scientific data analysis, parallel computing, and collaborative software development.
- Strong technical communication and teamwork skills.
- Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.
Preferred Qualifications
- Ph.D. in petroleum engineering, energy resources engineering, earth science and engineering, or a related field; postdoctoral research experience.
- Experience with gradient-based and stochastic inversion, UDAR interpretation, 3D anisotropic electromagnetic solvers, and OpenMP, MPI, or GPU computing.
- Experience with UTAPWeLS or comparable software, reservoir simulation, production forecasting, or large well datasets.
- Scientific publications or conference contributions.
Salary Range
$80,000 + depending on qualifications
Working Conditions
- Work is performed in a standard office environment.
- Repetitive use of keyboard at workstation.
Work Shift
- Standard business hours are Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Work outside of normal business hours may be required on an occasional basis during peak times.
Required Materials
- Resume/CV
- Letter of interest
- 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor
Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded. Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.
Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.
Employment Eligibility:
Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.
Retirement Plan Eligibility:
The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.
Background Checks:
A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.
Equal Opportunity Employer:
The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.
Pay Transparency:
The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.
Employment Eligibility Verification:
If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.
E-Verify:
The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:
- E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF]
- Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF]
- Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]
Compliance:
Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.
The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.
See all 384+ H-1B Visa Associate Research Scientist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new H-1B Visa Associate Research Scientist Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship as an Associate Research Scientist
Align your degree to your research specialty
USCIS evaluates whether your highest degree directly relates to your specific research domain. A biochemistry PhD supports a molecular biology role, but a general biology degree may draw an RFE for a computational genomics position. Document the coursework overlap explicitly in your CV.
Verify prevailing wage before accepting an offer
Run your SOC code and work location through the OFLC Wage Search before salary negotiations. Your employer's LCA must certify wages at or above the prevailing level, and accepting an underfunded offer delays certification or triggers a DOL audit later.
Search employers with active H-1B LCA filings
Target research institutions and biotech firms with a documented history of sponsoring H-1B roles at your SOC code. Migrate Mate lists employers with verified H-1B LCA filing history by role, so you can focus applications on organizations already set up to sponsor.
Confirm each worksite gets its own LCA
If your research involves field sites, clinical facilities, or partner campuses beyond your primary lab, each location needs a separately certified LCA before you work there. Raise this with HR during offer negotiations so filings don't stall your start date.
Use O*NET to build your specialty occupation case
The O*NET profile for your occupational code lists the degree requirements and core tasks USCIS weighs when evaluating specialty occupation status. Cross-reference your job description against that profile to ensure your duties and education requirements are framed to match.
Account for cap timing when planning your start
H-1B cap selection rules have changed recently, so confirm the current registration window with USCIS before your employer submits. Status is granted for up to three years, with a path to extend to six, so build your research project timeline around those intervals.
H-1B Visa Associate Research Scientist: Frequently Asked Questions
Does an Associate Research Scientist role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes, Associate Research Scientist positions typically qualify as specialty occupations because they require at least a bachelor's degree, and in practice a master's or doctorate, in a directly related scientific field such as biochemistry, molecular biology, or computational biology. USCIS looks for a direct relationship between the degree field and the specific research duties, so your employer's job description should reflect degree-level work throughout.
How do I find employers who actively sponsor H-1B visas for research scientist roles?
Start with Migrate Mate, which lists employers with verified H-1B LCA filing history searchable by role type. Research universities, national laboratories, pharmaceutical companies, and biotech firms are the most consistent sponsors for Associate Research Scientist positions, since they have dedicated HR and legal infrastructure built around H-1B petitions.
What documents should I have ready before an employer starts my H-1B petition?
Prepare official transcripts and degree certificates for every credential you plan to list, a credential evaluation if any degree is from outside the United States, your current CV with research publications and grant contributions, and your most recent I-94 record. Gaps between degree field and job duties are the leading cause of Requests for Evidence, so assembling documentation that connects the two is worth doing before the employer files.
Can I switch research institutions after my H-1B is approved?
Yes, but H-1B portability under AC21 requires your new employer to file a new I-129 petition before or when you start. The new institution must also certify a fresh LCA at the prevailing wage for your new worksite. You can begin work once the new petition is filed, but you cannot work at the new institution before that filing is submitted to USCIS.
How long does H-1B status last for a research scientist position?
H-1B status is initially granted for up to three years and can be extended to a six-year maximum. Beyond six years, continued extensions are possible only if you have an approved I-140 immigrant petition or a PERM labor certification that has been pending for at least 365 days. Planning your research career milestones around those intervals helps avoid gaps in authorization.