H-1B Visa Postdoctoral Associate Jobs
Postdoctoral Associate roles at U.S. universities and research institutions are among the most reliable H-1B visa sponsorship pathways in academia. Many universities are cap-exempt employers, meaning your H-1B petition bypasses the annual lottery and can be filed at any point in the year.
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INTRODUCTION
Mass General Brigham relies on a wide range of professionals, including doctors, nurses, business people, tech experts, researchers, and systems analysts to advance our mission. As a not-for-profit, we support patient care, research, teaching, and community service, striving to provide exceptional care. We believe that high-performing teams drive groundbreaking medical discoveries and invite all applicants to join us and experience what it means to be part of Mass General Brigham.
Job Summary
The Cognitive-Motor Behavior Lab at the MGH Institute of Health Professions (Principal Investigator: Dr. Prudence Plummer) is seeking a postdoctoral scholar (40 hours per week) to work on clinical and rehabilitation research in multiple sclerosis (MS). The position is funded by a National MS Society Mentor-Based Postdoctoral Training Grant.
The postdoctoral fellow will be responsible for aspects of project management across several types of projects, new project design and development, data analysis, and dissemination activities. Initially, the postdoctoral fellow will play a crucial role in managing an ongoing clinical trial of combined pharmacological and rehabilitation interventions in people with MS and other studies investigating mechanisms of fatigue, visual attention during postural control tasks, and intervention-related clinical outcomes under different models of care. Information about the lab and projects can be found here: https://www.mghihp.edu/research/labs-facilities/cognitive-motor-behavior-lab.
The Mass General Brigham community is an outstanding environment for training in clinical and rehabilitation research. The successful fellow will receive training in developing scientific concepts and related analytical designs with a focus on rehabilitation clinical trials, mixed methods, hybrid trials, and implementation science to prepare the postdoctoral fellow to contribute significantly to the field of rehabilitation research in MS.
QUALIFICATIONS
Principal duties and responsibilities
- Mentor-directed research activities (50%)
- Dalfampridine combined with physical therapy for improving mobility impairment in people with MS
- Sensorimotor mechanisms of fatigue in MS
- Visual attention and postural stability during distracted walking
- Examination of longitudinal rehabilitation outcome data in people with progressive MS
- Identifying barriers to accessing rehabilitation by people with progressive MS
- Other lab projects
- Postdoctoral fellow directed research activities (30%)
- Development of an independent project related to MS rehabilitation and aligned with the focus of the Cognitive-Motor Behavior Lab
- Professional development (10%)
- Participation in weekly lab meetings
- Supervisory responsibility and mentorship of doctoral and masters students
- Conference attendance and participation
- Attendance at weekly doctoral seminar
- Selected courses, training workshops, seminars (10%), may include:
- Responsible Conduct of Research
- Statistical methods
- Implementation Science workshops
- Design and conduct of clinical trials
- Grant writing courses and workshops
- Navigating NIH pathway to independence
Education, experience, qualifications
- PhD in a health or rehabilitation field.
- Clinical training in a health or rehabilitation specialty (e.g., physical therapy) or well-aligned expertise without a clinical degree (e.g., kinesiology, human movement science).
- Interest in pursuing a career in rehabilitation research in MS.
- Ability and willingness to commit to a minimum of 2 years to the postdoctoral fellowship.
Skills required
- Excellent critical thinking and appraisal skills
- Ability to learn quickly with sufficient resources and training, analytical thinker
- Strong background in statistics, biostatistics
- Experience with movement analysis systems and/or cognitive assessment
- First author of one or more peer-reviewed scientific publications or preprint
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Strong problem-solving skills
- Ability to collaborate with other lab members and scientists
ADDITIONAL JOB DETAILS (if applicable)
The compensation range for this role is between $70,000-$71,750 with the final offer determined by the candidate’s years of experience and qualifications.
Remote Type
Onsite
Work Location
Two Constitution Wharf
Scheduled Weekly Hours
40
Employee Type
Regular
Work Shift
Day (United States of America)
EEO Statement:
1700 The MGH Institute of Health Professions, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, military service, genetic information, and/or other status protected under law. We will ensure that all individuals with a disability are provided a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. To ensure reasonable accommodation for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Veteran’s Readjustment Act of 1974, and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, applicants who require accommodation in the job application process may contact Human Resources at (857)-282-7642.
Mass General Brigham Competency Framework
At Mass General Brigham, our competency framework defines what effective leadership “looks like” by specifying which behaviors are most critical for successful performance at each job level. The framework is comprised of ten competencies (half People-Focused, half Performance-Focused) and are defined by observable and measurable skills and behaviors that contribute to workplace effectiveness and career success. These competencies are used to evaluate performance, make hiring decisions, identify development needs, mobilize employees across our system, and establish a strong talent pipeline.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship as a Postdoctoral Associate
Target cap-exempt institutions first
Universities, nonprofit research organizations, and government research labs can file H-1B petitions year-round without competing in the lottery. Prioritize postdoc openings at these employers before pursuing industry research positions subject to the annual cap.
Verify your degree meets specialty occupation standards
USCIS requires a direct relationship between your doctoral degree field and the postdoc role. If your degree is in a closely related but not identical discipline, gather syllabi, transcripts, and an expert opinion letter to preempt an RFE.
Check prevailing wage before accepting an offer
Use the OFLC Wage Search to confirm your offered salary meets the Level I or Level II prevailing wage for your occupation code and work location. Postdoc salaries at some institutions fall short, which can delay LCA certification.
Search verified H-1B sponsors on Migrate Mate
Filter postdoc openings by employers with confirmed H-1B LCA filing history using Migrate Mate. This lets you focus applications on institutions that have actively sponsored researchers, not just those that list sponsorship as possible.
Ask about concurrent H-1B filing with your OPT
If you're transitioning from an F-1 OPT postdoc appointment at a cap-subject employer, confirm your employer will file the H-1B petition before your OPT expires. The 60-day grace period does not extend your work authorization while a petition is pending.
Document your research role's specialty occupation clearly
Postdoc titles are sometimes classified by USCIS as generalist research positions. Work with your institution's HR or international office to ensure the job description explicitly ties required duties to your specific doctoral field, reducing denial risk.
H-1B Visa Postdoctoral Associate: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Postdoctoral Associate positions qualify for H-1B sponsorship?
Yes. Postdoctoral Associate roles typically qualify as specialty occupations under H-1B rules because they require a doctoral degree in a specific research field. The key is that the position description must demonstrate a direct relationship between the required degree and the duties performed. Institutions that file your petition need to document this clearly in the I-129 support letter.
Are university postdoc employers exempt from the H-1B lottery?
Most are. Accredited universities, affiliated nonprofit research institutions, and government research organizations are cap-exempt H-1B employers. This means they can file your H-1B petition at any time of year without entering the April lottery. Industry or startup research positions do not share this advantage and are subject to the 85,000-slot annual cap.
How do I find Postdoctoral Associate jobs at employers who sponsor H-1B visas?
Migrate Mate surfaces postdoc openings filtered by employers with verified H-1B LCA filing history, so you can identify institutions that have actively sponsored researchers rather than relying on general sponsorship claims. Pairing this with the OFLC Wage Search helps you confirm that the offered salary meets prevailing wage requirements before you apply.
Can I switch from an F-1 OPT postdoc to H-1B status at the same institution?
Yes, and cap-exempt employers make this transition significantly smoother. Because universities can file at any time, your institution can submit the H-1B petition before your OPT authorization expires, avoiding a work gap. You'll need a new I-129 petition even if you're staying in the same role, and your employer's international office typically coordinates the filing.
What if my postdoc title is generic but the work is highly specialized?
Generic titles like 'Postdoctoral Associate' or 'Research Scientist' can attract USCIS scrutiny during H-1B adjudication if the position sounds non-specific. Your employer should supplement the I-129 with a detailed support letter tying every core duty to a specific degree requirement. An O*NET occupation profile for your research discipline can strengthen the specialty occupation argument.