J-1 Visa Chemist Jobs
Chemist roles in the United States are available to exchange visitors through J-1 visa Research Scholar, Trainee, and Intern program categories, depending on your career stage. Finding a host employer willing to work with a designated sponsor organization for J-1 sponsorship is the critical first step.
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JOB NO:
540236
WORK TYPE:
Post Doc Associate
LOCATION:
Main Campus (Gainesville, FL)
CATEGORIES:
Grant or Research Administration, Physical/Mathematical Sciences
DEPARTMENT:
16120100 - LS-CHEMISTRY-GENERAL
CLASSIFICATION TITLE:
Post-Doctoral Associate in Synthetic Organic Chemistry
CLASSIFICATION MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
Ph.D. in chemistry or a closely related discipline, completed by the appointment start date.
JOB DESCRIPTION:
A Post-doctoral Associate in Synthetic Organic Chemistry position is available for a highly motivated researcher to work on a project on the development of new catalytic reactions and methods led by Dr. Daniel Seidel in the Department of Chemistry. The successful candidate will contribute to the design, development, and optimization of new catalytic transformations and their application in modern synthetic organic chemistry. Responsibilities include planning and carrying out multistep syntheses, developing and optimizing catalytic reactions, conducting mechanistic studies, and characterizing reaction intermediates using a comprehensive range of spectroscopic and analytical techniques, as well as the routine setup and handling of highly air- and moisture-sensitive reactions. The successful candidate is expected to work both independently and as part of a collaborative team, to maintain detailed and accurate records, to disseminate results through peer-reviewed publications and presentations, and to assist in mentoring graduate and undergraduate researchers.
Must have PhD in Chemistry or a closely related field. This position will be initially awarded for one year, and, contingent upon strong performance and conduct and availability of funds, may be renewed for up to three years.
EXPECTED SALARY:
The salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, and the compensation includes a full benefits package. To see more, visit, benefits.hr.ufl.edu.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
A Ph.D. in chemistry or a closely related field and a strong research background in synthetic organic chemistry.
PREFERRED:
The ideal candidate will also demonstrate the following:
- A strong foundation in modern synthetic organic chemistry, including multistep synthesis, late-stage functionalization, and the scale-up of synthetic routes.
- Demonstrated expertise in reaction optimization, mechanistic analysis, and the characterization of reaction intermediates using a comprehensive range of spectroscopic and analytical methods.
- Hands-on experience in the setup and handling of highly air- and moisture-sensitive organic reactions.
- Experience in the development of catalytic and/or asymmetric transformations.
- A record of peer-reviewed publications and excellent written and oral communication skills.
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS:
For full consideration, applications must be submitted online. Click on at the top of this posting.
A complete application includes (1) a letter of application summarizing the applicant's qualifications, interests, and suitability for the position, (2) a complete curriculum vitae, (3) a statement of research interests and goals, and (4) a list of at least three references. After initial review, letters of recommendation will be requested from the references for selected applicants.
Applications will be reviewed beginning June 12, 2026, and the position will remain open until filled. Only complete applications will be reviewed at this time. Applications received after this date may be considered at the discretion of the committee and/or hiring authority.
All candidates for employment are subject to a pre-employment screening, which includes a review of criminal records, reference checks, and verification of education.
The selected candidate will be required to provide an official transcript to the hiring department upon hire. A transcript will not be considered “official” if a designation of “Issued to Student” is visible. Degrees earned from an educational institution outside of the United States require evaluation by a professional credentialing service provider approved by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES), which can be found at http://www.naces.org/.
HEALTH ASSESSMENT REQUIRED:
No
ADVERTISED:
15 Jun 2026 Eastern Daylight Time
APPLICATIONS CLOSE:
13 Jul 2026 Eastern Daylight Time
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship as a Chemist
Align your degree with SOC codes
J-1 Trainee and Research Scholar programs require your chemistry credentials to match the occupational category. Cross-reference your specialization against O*NET profiles for Chemical Technicians and Chemists to confirm your degree field maps cleanly before applying.
Flag the two-year home residency rule early
Many J-1 chemists are subject to the two-year home-country residency requirement if their training is government-funded or their country appears on the Exchange Visitor Skills List. Confirm your status before accepting any host employer offer.
Target labs that have hosted J-1 trainees before
University research departments, national laboratories, and chemical manufacturing R&D divisions regularly host J-1 exchange visitors. Search Migrate Mate to find employers in these sectors that actively list roles aligned with J-1 Research Scholar and Trainee categories.
Build a training plan before outreach begins
Your designated sponsor issues the DS-2019 based on an approved training plan. Draft a phase-by-phase plan outlining your lab techniques, equipment exposure, and learning objectives so host employers can see exactly what the J-1 Trainee program requires from their end.
Confirm the host employer understands DS-2019 obligations
The hiring lab or company is the host, not the visa sponsor. During offer negotiations, verify that the employer is willing to cooperate with your designated sponsor organization on insurance verification, site visits, and training plan sign-offs.
Use prevailing wage data to anchor salary conversations
J-1 hosts are expected to pay exchange visitors comparably to U.S. workers in equivalent roles. Pull the current wage for your chemistry specialty and region from the OFLC Wage Search or Bureau of Labor Statistics before discussing compensation with a host employer.
Chemist J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category fits a chemist or chemistry researcher?
The right category depends on your career stage. Current chemistry students or recent graduates seeking lab experience typically use the Intern category. Post-degree professionals seeking structured training in a U.S. lab qualify for the Trainee category. Faculty-level researchers or scientists affiliated with an academic or research institution generally apply under the Research Scholar or Short-Term Scholar category.
Who actually sponsors the J-1 visa for a chemist role?
The visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated organization, not the hiring lab or company. Organizations like IIE, Cultural Vistas, and AIPT issue the DS-2019 form that authorizes your exchange visitor status. The employer where you conduct your research or training is the host. Both parties have distinct obligations, and you need both to proceed.
How do I find chemistry host employers open to J-1 exchange visitors?
University research departments, federal and private laboratories, and specialty chemical manufacturing companies are common host environments for J-1 chemists. Migrate Mate lets you search for U.S. employer roles aligned with J-1 Research Scholar and Trainee categories, filtering by industry and role type so you can identify hosts already familiar with exchange visitor programs.
Does the two-year home residency requirement apply to J-1 chemists?
It can. Chemists whose J-1 training is funded by their home-country government, the U.S. government, or who are citizens of countries on the Exchange Visitor Skills List are typically subject to the two-year home residency requirement under INA Section 212(e). This means you must return home for two years before changing to most other nonimmigrant or immigrant visa categories. A waiver is possible but requires a separate DOL or State Department process.
What does a J-1 training plan need to include for a chemistry role?
The training plan must detail the specific techniques, equipment, and competencies you'll develop at the host site, broken into phases with timelines. For chemistry roles this typically covers instrumentation such as GC-MS or NMR, laboratory safety protocols, data analysis methods, and any collaborative research objectives. The designated sponsor organization reviews and approves this plan before issuing the DS-2019, and the host employer must sign it.