J-1 Visa Clinical Research Associate Jobs
Clinical Research Associate roles in the United States are accessible through J-1 visa sponsorship under the Research Scholar or Trainee program category, depending on your career stage. Designated sponsors issue the DS-2019 form and oversee compliance while you conduct clinical trials work at a U.S. host institution.
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At the forefront of medical discovery as it relates to understanding the causes of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and dementia, Pennington Biomedical Research Center is a campus of Louisiana State University and conducts basic, clinical and population research. The Center includes Basic Science, Clinical Research, and Population and Public Health, enabling both focused research and translational science. Research at Pennington Biomedical is supported broadly by multiple NIH Research Centers, and includes approximately 65 faculty and 20 postdoctoral fellows who comprise a network of 44 laboratories and 13 highly specialized core service facilities. Pennington Biomedical is located within state-of-the-art research facilities on a 222-acre campus in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
All Job Postings will close at 12: 01a.m. CST (1:01a.m. EST) on the specified Closing Date (if designated).
If you close the browser or exit your application prior to submitting, the application progress will be saved as a draft. You will be able to access and complete the application through “My Draft Applications” located on your Candidate Home page.
Job Posting Title:
Postdoctoral Researcher - Mitochondrial Energetics and Nutrient Utilization (MENU) Lab
Position Type:
Other Academic
Department:
LSUPBRC Clinic - MENU Lab (Jacob Mey (00053188))
Work Location:
LSU - Pennington Biomedical
Pay Grade:
Other Academic
Job Description:
Pennington Biomedical Research Center, a world-renowned academic research institute of Louisiana State University, is seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Mitochondrial Energetics and Nutrient Utilization (MENU) Laboratory.
The Postdoctoral Researcher will conduct advanced, independent, and collaborative research focused on clinical dietetics, precision nutrition and underlying biological mechanisms underlying the relationships between diet and health. This position is responsible for designing and executing innovative research studies, analyzing and interpreting complex experimental data, with particular focus on multi-omics platforms and bioinformatics, and disseminating findings through peer-reviewed publications and scientific presentations. The Postdoctoral Researcher mentors students and research staff, collaborates with multidisciplinary investigators, and supports the laboratory's overall research mission while ensuring compliance with institutional, regulatory, and laboratory safety standards.
Major Responsibilities
- Design, develop, and conduct independent and collaborative research studies investigating the physiological mechanisms underlying diet-health and diet-disease relationships using advanced experimental approaches.
- Analyze high dimensional datasets utilizing modern bioinformatics techniques, especially pertaining to metabolic and nutrient utilization pathways.
- Plan, execute, troubleshoot, and optimize complex metabolic assessment techniques, including hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps, oral glucose tolerance tests and mixed meal tolerance tests.
- Design and implement research studies involving analyzing large-scale datasets on diet and health e.g. NHANES and other specialized databases necessary to achieve research objectives.
- Plan, execute, troubleshoot, and optimize complex laboratory techniques, including mass spectrometry, molecular biology, protein analysis, histological and immunohistochemical methods, metabolic assays, and other specialized techniques necessary to achieve research objectives.
- Collect, process, and analyze biological specimens, including blood, breath, tissue, and cultured cells, ensuring sample integrity and adherence to established laboratory, biosafety, and quality assurance procedures.
- Analyze, interpret, and integrate complex experimental data using appropriate statistical methods and scientific software to generate meaningful conclusions and identify future research directions.
- Prepare manuscripts, abstracts, scientific reports, and presentations for publication in peer-reviewed journals and presentation at local, national, and international scientific conferences.
- Contribute to the development of grant proposals, fellowship applications, progress reports, and other sponsored research activities by generating preliminary data, drafting scientific content, and assisting with research planning.
- Collaborate with principal investigators, faculty, clinicians, and multidisciplinary research teams to develop innovative research strategies, establish new methodologies, and advance the overall scientific goals of the laboratory and institution.
- Mentor graduate students, research associates, technicians, and other trainees by providing scientific guidance, technical instruction, and oversight of laboratory activities while fostering a collaborative research environment.
- Maintain accurate, comprehensive, and well-organized research records, ensuring compliance with institutional policies, funding agency requirements, laboratory safety regulations, and Good Laboratory Practices (GLP), where applicable.
- Assist with laboratory management activities, including maintenance and calibration of research equipment, inventory management, protocol development, regulatory documentation, and implementation of quality control procedures to support efficient laboratory operations.
- Remain current with emerging scientific literature, technological advances, and best practices nutrition, metabolism, and related disciplines by participating in laboratory meetings, seminars, journal clubs, professional development activities, and scientific conferences.
- Other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications
- PhD in nutrition, physiology, or closely related biomedical discipline.
- Two (2) years of experience conducting independent laboratory research in nutrition, metabolism, or related biomedical discipline, which can include internships, academic research, or work in a clinical or research lab setting.
- Proficiency in a variety of molecular, cellular, biochemical, and physiological laboratory techniques, with the ability to develop, optimize, and troubleshoot experimental protocols.
- Experience analyzing and interpreting complex scientific data using appropriate statistical methods and scientific software, with a focus on bioinformatics.
- Record of scholarly achievement, including peer-reviewed publications and scientific presentations commensurate with career stage.
- Knowledge of experimental design, research methodology, and scientific principles applicable to translational or basic biomedical research.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently while contributing effectively within a multidisciplinary research team.
- Strong scientific writing, verbal communication, and presentation skills, with the ability to prepare manuscripts, reports, and grant-related materials.
- Experience in mentoring or training students, research staff, or laboratory personnel is preferred.
- Commitment to maintaining compliance with laboratory safety procedures, institutional policies, and applicable regulatory and funding agency requirements.
Preferred Experience
- Clinical dietetics, human nutrition and metabolism, and bioinformatics related to plasma metabolomics and multi-omics platforms.
Pennington Biomedical Research Center seeks to recruit a highly productive workforce with a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives and will provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and prospective employees. Employment decisions shall be based strictly on merit and without regard to religious or political beliefs, sex, race, or any other non-merit factor.
Additional Job Description:
Competencies:
None
Special Instructions:
Interested candidates should include a curriculum vitae and a statement of research interests (one or two pages). Official transcripts are required prior to hire and are not required at the time of application.
Posting Date:
September 17, 2026
Closing Date (Open Until Filled if No Date Specified):
October 1, 2026
Additional Position Information:
Pennington Biomedical is located within state-of-the-art research facilities on a 222-acre campus in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. For more information, visit PBRC.
Questions regarding career opportunities at Pennington Biomedical should be sent to hrm@pbrc.edu.
Background Check - An offer of employment is contingent on a satisfactory pre-employment background check.
Benefits - Pennington Biomedical Research Center offers outstanding benefits to eligible employees and their dependents including health, life, dental, and vision insurance; flexible spending accounts; retirement options; various leave options; paid holidays; wellness benefits; tuition exemption for qualified positions; training and development opportunities; employee discounts; and more!
Positions approved to work outside the State of Louisiana shall be employed through Louisiana State University’s partner, nextSource Workforce Solutions, for Employer of Record Services including but not limited to employment, benefits, payroll, and tax compliance. Positions employed through Employer of Record Services will be offered benefits and retirement as applicable through their provider and will not be eligible for State of Louisiana benefits and retirement.
Essential Position (Y/N):
Pennington Biomedical Research Center/LSU is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Contact Information:
Questions or concerns can be directed to PBRC Human Resources at 225-763-2776 or hrm@pbrc.edu.
About us:
At the forefront of medical discovery as it relates to understanding the causes of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and dementia, Pennington Biomedical Research Center is a campus of Louisiana State University and conducts basic, clinical and population research. The Center includes Basic Science, Clinical Research, and Population and Public Health, enabling both focused research and translational science. Research at Pennington Biomedical is supported broadly by multiple NIH Research Centers, and includes approximately 65 faculty and 20 postdoctoral fellows who comprise a network of 44 laboratories and 13 highly specialized core service facilities. Pennington Biomedical is located within state-of-the-art research facilities on a 222-acre campus in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
All Job Postings will close at 12: 01a.m. CST (1:01a.m. EST) on the specified Closing Date (if designated).
If you close the browser or exit your application prior to submitting, the application progress will be saved as a draft. You will be able to access and complete the application through “My Draft Applications” located on your Candidate Home page.
Job Posting Title:
Postdoctoral Researcher - Mitochondrial Energetics and Nutrient Utilization (MENU) Lab
Position Type:
Other Academic
Department:
LSUPBRC Clinic - MENU Lab (Jacob Mey (00053188))
Work Location:
LSU - Pennington Biomedical
Pay Grade:
Other Academic
Job Description:
Pennington Biomedical Research Center, a world-renowned academic research institute of Louisiana State University, is seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Mitochondrial Energetics and Nutrient Utilization (MENU) Laboratory.
The Postdoctoral Researcher will conduct advanced, independent, and collaborative research focused on clinical dietetics, precision nutrition and underlying biological mechanisms underlying the relationships between diet and health. This position is responsible for designing and executing innovative research studies, analyzing and interpreting complex experimental data, with particular focus on multi-omics platforms and bioinformatics, and disseminating findings through peer-reviewed publications and scientific presentations. The Postdoctoral Researcher mentors students and research staff, collaborates with multidisciplinary investigators, and supports the laboratory's overall research mission while ensuring compliance with institutional, regulatory, and laboratory safety standards.
Major Responsibilities
- Design, develop, and conduct independent and collaborative research studies investigating the physiological mechanisms underlying diet-health and diet-disease relationships using advanced experimental approaches.
- Analyze high dimensional datasets utilizing modern bioinformatics techniques, especially pertaining to metabolic and nutrient utilization pathways.
- Plan, execute, troubleshoot, and optimize complex metabolic assessment techniques, including hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps, oral glucose tolerance tests and mixed meal tolerance tests.
- Design and implement research studies involving analyzing large-scale datasets on diet and health e.g. NHANES and other specialized databases necessary to achieve research objectives.
- Plan, execute, troubleshoot, and optimize complex laboratory techniques, including mass spectrometry, molecular biology, protein analysis, histological and immunohistochemical methods, metabolic assays, and other specialized techniques necessary to achieve research objectives.
- Collect, process, and analyze biological specimens, including blood, breath, tissue, and cultured cells, ensuring sample integrity and adherence to established laboratory, biosafety, and quality assurance procedures.
- Analyze, interpret, and integrate complex experimental data using appropriate statistical methods and scientific software to generate meaningful conclusions and identify future research directions.
- Prepare manuscripts, abstracts, scientific reports, and presentations for publication in peer-reviewed journals and presentation at local, national, and international scientific conferences.
- Contribute to the development of grant proposals, fellowship applications, progress reports, and other sponsored research activities by generating preliminary data, drafting scientific content, and assisting with research planning.
- Collaborate with principal investigators, faculty, clinicians, and multidisciplinary research teams to develop innovative research strategies, establish new methodologies, and advance the overall scientific goals of the laboratory and institution.
- Mentor graduate students, research associates, technicians, and other trainees by providing scientific guidance, technical instruction, and oversight of laboratory activities while fostering a collaborative research environment.
- Maintain accurate, comprehensive, and well-organized research records, ensuring compliance with institutional policies, funding agency requirements, laboratory safety regulations, and Good Laboratory Practices (GLP), where applicable.
- Assist with laboratory management activities, including maintenance and calibration of research equipment, inventory management, protocol development, regulatory documentation, and implementation of quality control procedures to support efficient laboratory operations.
- Remain current with emerging scientific literature, technological advances, and best practices nutrition, metabolism, and related disciplines by participating in laboratory meetings, seminars, journal clubs, professional development activities, and scientific conferences.
- Other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications
- PhD in nutrition, physiology, or closely related biomedical discipline.
- Two (2) years of experience conducting independent laboratory research in nutrition, metabolism, or related biomedical discipline, which can include internships, academic research, or work in a clinical or research lab setting.
- Proficiency in a variety of molecular, cellular, biochemical, and physiological laboratory techniques, with the ability to develop, optimize, and troubleshoot experimental protocols.
- Experience analyzing and interpreting complex scientific data using appropriate statistical methods and scientific software, with a focus on bioinformatics.
- Record of scholarly achievement, including peer-reviewed publications and scientific presentations commensurate with career stage.
- Knowledge of experimental design, research methodology, and scientific principles applicable to translational or basic biomedical research.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently while contributing effectively within a multidisciplinary research team.
- Strong scientific writing, verbal communication, and presentation skills, with the ability to prepare manuscripts, reports, and grant-related materials.
- Experience in mentoring or training students, research staff, or laboratory personnel is preferred.
- Commitment to maintaining compliance with laboratory safety procedures, institutional policies, and applicable regulatory and funding agency requirements.
Preferred Experience
- Clinical dietetics, human nutrition and metabolism, and bioinformatics related to plasma metabolomics and multi-omics platforms.
Pennington Biomedical Research Center seeks to recruit a highly productive workforce with a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives and will provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and prospective employees. Employment decisions shall be based strictly on merit and without regard to religious or political beliefs, sex, race, or any other non-merit factor.
Additional Job Description:
Competencies:
None
Special Instructions:
Interested candidates should include a curriculum vitae and a statement of research interests (one or two pages). Official transcripts are required prior to hire and are not required at the time of application.
Posting Date:
September 17, 2026
Closing Date (Open Until Filled if No Date Specified):
October 1, 2026
Additional Position Information:
Pennington Biomedical is located within state-of-the-art research facilities on a 222-acre campus in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. For more information, visit PBRC.
Questions regarding career opportunities at Pennington Biomedical should be sent to hrm@pbrc.edu.
Background Check - An offer of employment is contingent on a satisfactory pre-employment background check.
Benefits - Pennington Biomedical Research Center offers outstanding benefits to eligible employees and their dependents including health, life, dental, and vision insurance; flexible spending accounts; retirement options; various leave options; paid holidays; wellness benefits; tuition exemption for qualified positions; training and development opportunities; employee discounts; and more!
Positions approved to work outside the State of Louisiana shall be employed through Louisiana State University’s partner, nextSource Workforce Solutions, for Employer of Record Services including but not limited to employment, benefits, payroll, and tax compliance. Positions employed through Employer of Record Services will be offered benefits and retirement as applicable through their provider and will not be eligible for State of Louisiana benefits and retirement.
Essential Position (Y/N):
Pennington Biomedical Research Center/LSU is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Contact Information:
Questions or concerns can be directed to PBRC Human Resources at 225-763-2776 or hrm@pbrc.edu.
See all 89+ J-1 Visa Clinical Research Associate Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new J-1 Visa Clinical Research Associate Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship as a Clinical Research Associate
Verify your SOC code matches CRA work
Clinical Research Associate roles typically fall under SOC 19-1099 or 15-2051 depending on the host's classification. Pull the O*NET profile for your target title before applying so your training plan aligns with the designated sponsor's accepted occupation categories.
Document protocol experience by therapeutic area
Designated sponsors reviewing Trainee or Research Scholar applications want evidence of structured prior training. Organize your credentials by therapeutic area and ICH-GCP certification date so the DS-2019 training plan reflects a clear, defensible progression from your home-country experience.
Target host sites with IRB infrastructure
Academic medical centers and contract research organizations with active Institutional Review Boards are most likely to absorb J-1 visa Research Scholar or Trainee costs. Search for sites already running Phase II or Phase III trials, since they have established sponsor relationships and dedicated regulatory staff.
Use Migrate Mate to filter J-1-aligned CRA openings
CRA postings rarely advertise J-1 eligibility directly. Use Migrate Mate to surface host employers with a pattern of sponsoring exchange visitors in research and clinical operations roles, so you're targeting positions where the infrastructure already exists.
Clarify the 2-year home residency rule early
If your country of nationality or last residence appears on the DOL skills list, your J-1 may carry a two-year home residency requirement. Confirm this with the designated sponsor before accepting a host offer, since it directly affects any future H-1B visa or green card timeline.
Align your training plan duration with the study timeline
Research Scholar and Trainee programs cap at different maximum durations. Confirm the projected trial close-out date with your host site, then structure the DS-2019 training plan so your program end date doesn't fall mid-protocol, avoiding a disruptive extension request later.
Clinical Research Associate J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category applies to Clinical Research Associate roles?
It depends on your career stage. If you're currently enrolled in a degree program and completing structured training, the Intern category applies. Early-career professionals with a degree and at least one year of relevant experience outside a degree program typically qualify under the Trainee category. Experienced researchers affiliated with a recognized institution may qualify as Research Scholars. The designated sponsor determines which category fits your background based on the DS-2019 training plan.
Who actually sponsors the J-1 visa for a CRA position?
The visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated organization, not the hiring employer. Organizations like CIEE, Cultural Vistas, or a university's international office issue the DS-2019 form and monitor program compliance. The hospital, CRO, or research institute where you perform CRA duties is the host organization. Both must agree to the arrangement, but only the designated sponsor carries legal responsibility for the exchange visitor program.
How do I find U.S. employers open to hosting a J-1 CRA?
Most CRA job postings don't advertise J-1 hosting directly, so you need to identify employers who already have the infrastructure. Migrate Mate lets you filter for employers with demonstrated exchange visitor sponsorship history in research and clinical operations, narrowing your search to organizations where J-1 hosting is an established practice rather than an unfamiliar request.
Does a J-1 Trainee visa for CRA work carry a home residency requirement?
It may. The two-year home residency requirement under INA Section 212(e) applies if your home country appears on the DOL Exchange Visitor Skills List, if your program was government-financed, or if you received graduate medical training in the United States. For CRA candidates from countries with high biomedical research demand, this requirement is common and affects eligibility for H-1B or adjustment of status after the J-1 ends. Confirm your status with the designated sponsor before signing any host offer.
Can my J-1 program be extended if my clinical trial runs longer than planned?
Research Scholar programs can be extended up to a maximum of five years total, and Trainee programs up to 18 months, but extensions require the designated sponsor's approval and a revised training plan. Your host site must document why additional time is needed, and the extension request should be filed before the current DS-2019 end date. Sponsors will not approve extensions that appear to convert the exchange program into indefinite employment.