H-1B Visa Biologist Jobs
Biologist roles qualify as H-1B specialty occupations when the position requires at least a bachelor's degree in biology or a directly related field. Pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, federal contractors, and research universities are among the most consistent H-1B sponsors for bench and field biology positions.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Environmental Science Associates (ESA) is a 100% employee-owned environmental consulting firm. We plan, design, permit, mitigate, and restore for projects across our communities, infrastructure systems, open spaces, and wildlands. We are 50 years strong in 21 offices across California, the Pacific Northwest, and the Southeastern United States.
ESA is seeking a mid-level biologist with 2-7 years of experience in relevant scientific or environmental consulting environment. This is an exempt, full-time, salaried role with hybrid flexible expectations. Qualified candidates must be located in the San Francisco Bay Area, vicinity of Sacramento, Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, Central Valley, or within 3 hours commute. All qualified candidates must be willing & able to travel as needed. Preference given to candidates located in the bay area and central valley of CA. This role involves travel for site visits, projects, and in-person team collaboration as needed.
Who You Are
- Qualified candidates should have previous experience performing natural resource-related evaluations, technical studies, analyses and tasks requiring knowledge based on education and at least two years of professional experience.
- Previous construction compliance monitoring experience required.
- Qualified candidates must demonstrate the ability to perform all aspects of biological monitoring on small to large, complex construction projects. Some night and/or weekend work may be assigned. General experience with wildlife and vegetation species from the geographic area of work: California Central Valley and San Francisco Bay Area.
- Qualified candidates must have experience surveying and monitoring CA nesting birds.
- Preference given to candidates with direct experience surveying, handling, and monitoring for, or with monitoring approvals by state and federal agencies for one or more of the following species: San Joaquin kit fox, California tiger salamander, California red-legged frog, northwestern pond turtle, San Francisco garter snake, giant garter snake, California black rail, western burrowing owl, western spadefoot, vernal pool brachiopods, Swainson's hawk and/or other nesting birds, Crotch's bumble bee, and bats.
- You enjoy fieldwork and can walk long distances carrying a backpack; and are able to lift at least 50 pounds. You are confident working outside, in remote and rural settings, as well as in urban environments. Physical outdoor work may include, but may not be limited to, work in all types of weather, traversing uneven ground and sometimes steep terrain in vegetated environments, agricultural fields, arid lands, and along stream banks. You may be exposed to inclement weather and uncomfortable working conditions. Some early morning, late night and/or weekend work, as well as long hours may be required.
- Must possess a valid driver's license and have own transportation to project sites.
- Must have a smart phone with sufficient data plan to collect necessary data on-site.
What You Will Do for ESA
- Perform biological compliance monitoring and reporting at active construction sites to ensure conformance with environmental/permit requirements.
- Conduct special-status species surveys and nesting bird surveys.
- Construction compliance monitoring.
- Identify and may relocate sensitive species, when needed and if agency-approved.
- Effectively communicate with senior ESA staff, construction crews, project personnel, and project management staff.
- Take initiative and contribute to a respectful, feedback-driven team culture.
- Maintain daily written monitoring and inspection logs, including utilizing electronic data collection tools, such as Fulcrum and Trello.
- Enter data into an on-line GIS mapping application, such as Fieldmaps, Collector, Survey 123.
- Deliver worker environmental awareness training to on-site staff.
- Comply with all safety requirements and policies.
- Field work outside, potentially in remote or rural settings, as well as in urban environments.
- Desk-based data processing, technical evaluations, and a range of client deliverables.
- Training/mentoring early career biologists.
- Other ad hoc tasks as needed.
What's Special About Our Biology Team
Our Biology Team includes biologists, restoration ecologists, permitting specialists, conservation biologists, and environmental scientists that provide expertise for many municipalities throughout California. Our work matters because it helps communities shape a positive future for their citizens in balance with conserving our state's sensitive natural resources. We value creative thinking, teamwork, and multi-disciplinary and cross-disciplinary engagement and integration.
We encourage you to read about some of the exciting projects we have recently completed.
What's Special About ESA
Joining ESA means becoming part of a close-knit team of environmental professionals who contribute to outstanding projects, improve environmental stewardship, and advance a more sustainable and resilient future for our communities and wild places.
At ESA, we provide benefits such as medical, dental, and vision insurance (paid at 70% for you AND your family), annual allocations of company share through our ESOP, a 401(k) plan with company match, and paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays, to name a few.
We also provide specific programs whether you want to further your technical expertise, sharpen your business acumen, or help lead the next generation of employee-owners. We want to support you in reaching your career goals through tuition reimbursement, professional development bonuses, and attendance at conferences.
Who We Are
We are a 100% employee-owned environmental consulting firm who values diversity and inclusion and celebrate the differences that make each of us unique. Our culture is built on mutual respect, recognizing that our variety of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives leads to better solutions, which fosters our continued success for our employee-owners and clients.
In accordance with ESA's duty and responsibility to provide and maintain a safe workplace that is free of known hazards and to minimize the exposure to potential hazards, any employee who works from an ESA office or conducts any other in-person ESA work-related activity is required to submit their proof of vaccination status or have received an approved exemption and accommodation in states which this applies.
If you are an applicant with a disability that requires a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process or are limited in the ability—or unable to use—the online application system and need an alternative method for applying, you may contact our Human Resources Department via email: humanresources@esassoc.com for assistance.
Please include the following in your message so we can promptly address your request:
- Full name
- The best method to contact you (phone number and/or email address)
- Title of Job Position Applied
- Description of your accommodation request
ESA is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment. (EOE M/V/F/D)
INTRODUCTION
Environmental Science Associates (ESA) is a 100% employee-owned environmental consulting firm. We plan, design, permit, mitigate, and restore for projects across our communities, infrastructure systems, open spaces, and wildlands. We are 50 years strong in 21 offices across California, the Pacific Northwest, and the Southeastern United States.
ESA is seeking a mid-level biologist with 2-7 years of experience in relevant scientific or environmental consulting environment. This is an exempt, full-time, salaried role with hybrid flexible expectations. Qualified candidates must be located in the San Francisco Bay Area, vicinity of Sacramento, Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, Central Valley, or within 3 hours commute. All qualified candidates must be willing & able to travel as needed. Preference given to candidates located in the bay area and central valley of CA. This role involves travel for site visits, projects, and in-person team collaboration as needed.
Who You Are
- Qualified candidates should have previous experience performing natural resource-related evaluations, technical studies, analyses and tasks requiring knowledge based on education and at least two years of professional experience.
- Previous construction compliance monitoring experience required.
- Qualified candidates must demonstrate the ability to perform all aspects of biological monitoring on small to large, complex construction projects. Some night and/or weekend work may be assigned. General experience with wildlife and vegetation species from the geographic area of work: California Central Valley and San Francisco Bay Area.
- Qualified candidates must have experience surveying and monitoring CA nesting birds.
- Preference given to candidates with direct experience surveying, handling, and monitoring for, or with monitoring approvals by state and federal agencies for one or more of the following species: San Joaquin kit fox, California tiger salamander, California red-legged frog, northwestern pond turtle, San Francisco garter snake, giant garter snake, California black rail, western burrowing owl, western spadefoot, vernal pool brachiopods, Swainson's hawk and/or other nesting birds, Crotch's bumble bee, and bats.
- You enjoy fieldwork and can walk long distances carrying a backpack; and are able to lift at least 50 pounds. You are confident working outside, in remote and rural settings, as well as in urban environments. Physical outdoor work may include, but may not be limited to, work in all types of weather, traversing uneven ground and sometimes steep terrain in vegetated environments, agricultural fields, arid lands, and along stream banks. You may be exposed to inclement weather and uncomfortable working conditions. Some early morning, late night and/or weekend work, as well as long hours may be required.
- Must possess a valid driver's license and have own transportation to project sites.
- Must have a smart phone with sufficient data plan to collect necessary data on-site.
What You Will Do for ESA
- Perform biological compliance monitoring and reporting at active construction sites to ensure conformance with environmental/permit requirements.
- Conduct special-status species surveys and nesting bird surveys.
- Construction compliance monitoring.
- Identify and may relocate sensitive species, when needed and if agency-approved.
- Effectively communicate with senior ESA staff, construction crews, project personnel, and project management staff.
- Take initiative and contribute to a respectful, feedback-driven team culture.
- Maintain daily written monitoring and inspection logs, including utilizing electronic data collection tools, such as Fulcrum and Trello.
- Enter data into an on-line GIS mapping application, such as Fieldmaps, Collector, Survey 123.
- Deliver worker environmental awareness training to on-site staff.
- Comply with all safety requirements and policies.
- Field work outside, potentially in remote or rural settings, as well as in urban environments.
- Desk-based data processing, technical evaluations, and a range of client deliverables.
- Training/mentoring early career biologists.
- Other ad hoc tasks as needed.
What's Special About Our Biology Team
Our Biology Team includes biologists, restoration ecologists, permitting specialists, conservation biologists, and environmental scientists that provide expertise for many municipalities throughout California. Our work matters because it helps communities shape a positive future for their citizens in balance with conserving our state's sensitive natural resources. We value creative thinking, teamwork, and multi-disciplinary and cross-disciplinary engagement and integration.
We encourage you to read about some of the exciting projects we have recently completed.
What's Special About ESA
Joining ESA means becoming part of a close-knit team of environmental professionals who contribute to outstanding projects, improve environmental stewardship, and advance a more sustainable and resilient future for our communities and wild places.
At ESA, we provide benefits such as medical, dental, and vision insurance (paid at 70% for you AND your family), annual allocations of company share through our ESOP, a 401(k) plan with company match, and paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays, to name a few.
We also provide specific programs whether you want to further your technical expertise, sharpen your business acumen, or help lead the next generation of employee-owners. We want to support you in reaching your career goals through tuition reimbursement, professional development bonuses, and attendance at conferences.
Who We Are
We are a 100% employee-owned environmental consulting firm who values diversity and inclusion and celebrate the differences that make each of us unique. Our culture is built on mutual respect, recognizing that our variety of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives leads to better solutions, which fosters our continued success for our employee-owners and clients.
In accordance with ESA's duty and responsibility to provide and maintain a safe workplace that is free of known hazards and to minimize the exposure to potential hazards, any employee who works from an ESA office or conducts any other in-person ESA work-related activity is required to submit their proof of vaccination status or have received an approved exemption and accommodation in states which this applies.
If you are an applicant with a disability that requires a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process or are limited in the ability—or unable to use—the online application system and need an alternative method for applying, you may contact our Human Resources Department via email: humanresources@esassoc.com for assistance.
Please include the following in your message so we can promptly address your request:
- Full name
- The best method to contact you (phone number and/or email address)
- Title of Job Position Applied
- Description of your accommodation request
ESA is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment. (EOE M/V/F/D)
See all 62+ Biologist jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship in Biologist
Verify your degree meets specialty occupation standards
USCIS evaluates whether your biology degree directly relates to the duties of your specific role. A general biology degree supporting a molecular biology position is strong; a mismatch between field and function invites a Request for Evidence.
Target employers with PERM and LCA filing history
Search DOL's Labor Condition Application disclosure data to identify which research institutions, biotech companies, and CROs have filed LCAs for biologist roles. Consistent filing history signals an employer already understands the H-1B process.
Use Migrate Mate to find verified sponsoring employers
Filter Migrate Mate's job board by biologist roles and confirmed H-1B filing history. This surfaces employers who have actively sponsored the visa for biology positions, cutting out companies unlikely to start the process from scratch.
Check prevailing wage level before accepting an offer
Run your job title and work location through the OFLC Wage Search before negotiations. The DOL assigns wage levels I through IV; your offered salary must meet the certified level, and Level I roles draw more USCIS scrutiny for specialty occupation.
Clarify cap-exempt status with research or nonprofit employers
Universities, nonprofit research organizations, and government research entities are cap-exempt, meaning your H-1B petition bypasses the annual lottery entirely. Confirm the employer qualifies under USCIS cap-exemption rules before the petition is filed.
Document fieldwork and lab duties for specialty occupation evidence
If your biologist role involves field surveys, environmental sampling, or cross-disciplinary work, your employer's support letter must explain why each duty requires a degree-level biology background. Vague job descriptions are the leading cause of specialty occupation RFEs for biology petitions.
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Find Biologist JobsBiologist H-1B Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Do biologist roles qualify as H-1B specialty occupations?
Most biologist positions qualify when the role requires at least a bachelor's degree in biology, ecology, microbiology, or a directly related field as a minimum entry requirement. USCIS looks at whether the degree requirement is standard across the industry for that role. Positions where any bachelor's degree is acceptable, regardless of field, are harder to support. Your employer's job description and offer letter must tie specific duties to biology-specific knowledge.
Which types of employers sponsor H-1B visas for biologists?
Pharmaceutical and biotech companies, contract research organizations, federal agencies, university research departments, environmental consulting firms, and public health organizations are the most active H-1B sponsors for biologist roles. Research-intensive employers and federal contractors tend to have established immigration processes and are more likely to sponsor. Use Migrate Mate to browse biologist openings filtered to employers with confirmed H-1B filing history.
How does the H-1B cap lottery affect biologists applying to research institutions?
Biologists employed by universities, nonprofit research organizations, or government-affiliated research entities may be exempt from the annual H-1B cap and lottery. Cap-exempt employers can file petitions at any time of year without waiting for the April registration window. Confirm the employer's cap-exempt status with USCIS before your petition is prepared, since not every university affiliate or research partner qualifies automatically.
Can a biologist with a three-year bachelor's degree qualify for H-1B sponsorship?
A three-year degree from a recognized university can qualify if it is accepted as equivalent to a U.S. four-year bachelor's degree in a relevant field. Your employer will typically need a credential evaluation from a recognized evaluation service to document the equivalency. USCIS reviews the evaluation as part of the specialty occupation determination. Gaps between your degree field and the job duties are harder to bridge with a foreign credential evaluation alone.
What happens to an H-1B biologist's status if their research grant ends or their lab loses funding?
If your position ends because of lost funding, you enter a 60-day grace period from your last day of employment. You can use that window to find a new sponsoring employer and have them file an H-1B transfer petition before the grace period expires. The new employer's petition maintains your H-1B status if filed while the grace period is active. Starting your job search as soon as you know funding is at risk significantly improves your options.
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