J-1 Visa Post Doctoral Fellow Jobs
Post Doctoral Fellow positions in the U.S. are typically supported through the J-1 visa Research Scholar or Short-Term Scholar program category, with sponsorship issued by a State Department-designated organization such as a university or research institute. Host institutions initiate the process, but the DS-2019 comes from the designated sponsor.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine is a premier academic medical center located in the heart of Richmond. Accounting for almost half of VCU’s sponsored research, the School of Medicine is internationally recognized for patient care and education. Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity employer.
Unit: School Of Medicine MBU
Department: Pediatrics
Position Summary:
A Post-Doctoral Fellow position is available in the VCU School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pulmonology. This is a one-year fellowship, although there may be an opportunity to extend for a second and third year (depending on progress in prior year and achievement of training goals). This fellowship would be ideal for a first-year fellow or anyone who may be seeking a 2nd year of fellowship in Pediatric Pulmonology.
To learn more about our program and team, please visit our Pediatric Pulmonology Program website at https://pediatrics.vcu.edu/divisions/pulmonary-sleep-medicine/
https://www.chrichmond.org/education-programs/fellowship-programs/pulmonary-medicine-fellowship/
Core Responsibilities:
- (75% Effort) Plan, perform and analyze basic cell and molecular experiments using human cells for culture, for protein and RNA isolation, and for analyses. Plan, perform and analyze mouse experiments to expose mice to treatment conditions, and to isolate mouse BAL, blood, cells, tissues for experiments [when no mouse work is required; this effort will be applied to human cells and biospecimen experiments.] This time should also be dedicated to developing their own research niche with the goal of applying to an internal and external research funding.
- (20% Effort) Record all aspects of experiments: protocol, reagents, methods, results, analysis including statistical analysis with assistance as needed from statistician. Draft presentations including talks, abstracts, posters, papers and produce their own manuscripts for peer reviewed scientific journal publication as a first author.
- (5% Effort) Teach lab students basic lab techniques to assist you with your projects.
Minimum Hiring Standards:
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Independence, scientific rigor and critical thinking.
- Ability to effectively collaborate with individuals across a range of disciplines, including clinicians and scientists.
- Demonstrated experience working in and fostering an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from various backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in basic cellular and molecular research, preferably in pulmonary medicine or related areas.
- Experience working with rodent models of disease according to IACUC-approved methods- e.g. administration of drugs, harvesting of blood, bronchoalveolar lavage or tissues.
- Proficiency in developing, navigating and maintaining database files (e.g., Excel, Adobe Photoshop, GraphPad Prism, etc.).
- Familiarity with biosafety protocols and IACUC processes and compliance.
- Highly organized with attention to detail and the ability to work both independently and in a collaborative environment.
- Maintenance of laboratory records with sufficient detail for reproducing results- experimental methods, reagents, results, data presentation, preparing manuscripts.
- A strong desire to pursue a career in academic medicine, pulmonary research.
- Creativity and substantial evidence of productive publication history.
Additional Information:
This is a restricted position with no set end date and continued employment is dependent upon project need, availability of funding, and performance.
This will be a minimum one-year appointment, contingent upon satisfactory annual reviews. Salary is commensurate with current NIH NRSA stipend guidelines and applicant experience.
Please note that if you are employed as a university employee working in any of the health system's facilities, you will need to follow VCU Health System policies, which will include but will not be limited to, vaccination requirements.
Salary Range: Salary is commensurate with current NIH NRSA stipend guidelines and applicant experience.
Benefits: All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.
FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt
Hours per Week: 40
ORP Eligible: Yes
Flexible Work Arrangement: Hybrid
University Job Title: Post-Doctoral Fellow
Contact Name: Jewel Jefferson
Contact Email: jewel.jefferson@vcuhealth.org
INTRODUCTION
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine is a premier academic medical center located in the heart of Richmond. Accounting for almost half of VCU’s sponsored research, the School of Medicine is internationally recognized for patient care and education. Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity employer.
Unit: School Of Medicine MBU
Department: Pediatrics
Position Summary:
A Post-Doctoral Fellow position is available in the VCU School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pulmonology. This is a one-year fellowship, although there may be an opportunity to extend for a second and third year (depending on progress in prior year and achievement of training goals). This fellowship would be ideal for a first-year fellow or anyone who may be seeking a 2nd year of fellowship in Pediatric Pulmonology.
To learn more about our program and team, please visit our Pediatric Pulmonology Program website at https://pediatrics.vcu.edu/divisions/pulmonary-sleep-medicine/
https://www.chrichmond.org/education-programs/fellowship-programs/pulmonary-medicine-fellowship/
Core Responsibilities:
- (75% Effort) Plan, perform and analyze basic cell and molecular experiments using human cells for culture, for protein and RNA isolation, and for analyses. Plan, perform and analyze mouse experiments to expose mice to treatment conditions, and to isolate mouse BAL, blood, cells, tissues for experiments [when no mouse work is required; this effort will be applied to human cells and biospecimen experiments.] This time should also be dedicated to developing their own research niche with the goal of applying to an internal and external research funding.
- (20% Effort) Record all aspects of experiments: protocol, reagents, methods, results, analysis including statistical analysis with assistance as needed from statistician. Draft presentations including talks, abstracts, posters, papers and produce their own manuscripts for peer reviewed scientific journal publication as a first author.
- (5% Effort) Teach lab students basic lab techniques to assist you with your projects.
Minimum Hiring Standards:
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Independence, scientific rigor and critical thinking.
- Ability to effectively collaborate with individuals across a range of disciplines, including clinicians and scientists.
- Demonstrated experience working in and fostering an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from various backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in basic cellular and molecular research, preferably in pulmonary medicine or related areas.
- Experience working with rodent models of disease according to IACUC-approved methods- e.g. administration of drugs, harvesting of blood, bronchoalveolar lavage or tissues.
- Proficiency in developing, navigating and maintaining database files (e.g., Excel, Adobe Photoshop, GraphPad Prism, etc.).
- Familiarity with biosafety protocols and IACUC processes and compliance.
- Highly organized with attention to detail and the ability to work both independently and in a collaborative environment.
- Maintenance of laboratory records with sufficient detail for reproducing results- experimental methods, reagents, results, data presentation, preparing manuscripts.
- A strong desire to pursue a career in academic medicine, pulmonary research.
- Creativity and substantial evidence of productive publication history.
Additional Information:
This is a restricted position with no set end date and continued employment is dependent upon project need, availability of funding, and performance.
This will be a minimum one-year appointment, contingent upon satisfactory annual reviews. Salary is commensurate with current NIH NRSA stipend guidelines and applicant experience.
Please note that if you are employed as a university employee working in any of the health system's facilities, you will need to follow VCU Health System policies, which will include but will not be limited to, vaccination requirements.
Salary Range: Salary is commensurate with current NIH NRSA stipend guidelines and applicant experience.
Benefits: All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.
FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt
Hours per Week: 40
ORP Eligible: Yes
Flexible Work Arrangement: Hybrid
University Job Title: Post-Doctoral Fellow
Contact Name: Jewel Jefferson
Contact Email: jewel.jefferson@vcuhealth.org
See all 30+ J-1 Visa Post Doctoral Fellow Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new J-1 Visa Post Doctoral Fellow Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship in Post Doctoral Fellow
Verify your DS-2019 eligibility before applying
Research Scholar sponsorship requires a relevant degree and a formal research agenda. Confirm your host institution has an active relationship with a State Department-designated sponsor before accepting any offer, or the DS-2019 cannot be issued.
Target universities with established sponsored research programs
Departments running federally funded grants through NIH, NSF, or DOE routinely host J-1 Research Scholars. Search for principal investigators advertising postdoctoral openings in disciplines matching your terminal degree to find host environments already fluent in J-1 compliance.
Find J-1-aligned postdoctoral roles on Migrate Mate
Use Migrate Mate to filter U.S. employer listings by roles that align with J-1 Research Scholar eligibility. It surfaces host institutions actively seeking postdoctoral researchers, saving you from cold-applying to departments with no existing sponsorship infrastructure.
Clarify the two-year home residency requirement early
If your funding source is your home government or a U.S. government agency, the two-year home residency requirement under INA 212(e) likely applies. Raise this with the designated sponsor before signing your offer letter, since it affects any future H-1B visa or green card path.
Align your research plan with the DS-2019 training objectives
The designated sponsor issues your DS-2019 based on an approved program description. Your research plan submitted to the sponsor must map directly to your proposed activities at the host institution, or the sponsor may request revisions before issuing documents.
Track your SEVIS record throughout the postdoc term
Your J-1 status is tied to active SEVIS registration maintained by the designated sponsor. If your postdoc extends beyond the original DS-2019 end date, initiate the extension request with your responsible officer at least 30 days before expiration to avoid a status gap.
Post Doctoral Fellow J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category applies to Post Doctoral Fellows?
Most Post Doctoral Fellows enter on the J-1 Research Scholar category, which is designed for experienced researchers conducting study or research at U.S. host institutions. If your postdoc is shorter than six months and involves observation rather than independent research, the Short-Term Scholar category may apply instead. Your designated sponsor determines which category fits based on your proposed activities.
Who actually issues J-1 sponsorship for a postdoctoral position?
The hiring university or research institute is your host, not your visa sponsor. J-1 sponsorship comes from a State Department-designated organization, which may be the university itself acting as its own designated sponsor, or a third-party organization the host institution works with. That designated sponsor issues the DS-2019 form, which is required to apply for your J-1 visa stamp.
How do I find Post Doctoral Fellow roles where the host institution already has J-1 infrastructure in place?
Use Migrate Mate to search for postdoctoral openings at U.S. institutions that actively support J-1 Research Scholar placements. Many departments list positions without explicitly advertising J-1 compatibility, so focusing on research universities with strong federal grant portfolios and contacting the international office before accepting an offer helps confirm sponsor readiness.
Does the two-year home residency requirement affect all J-1 Post Doctoral Fellows?
Not all, but many. The two-year home residency requirement under INA 212(e) applies when your postdoc is funded by your home government, a U.S. government agency, or if your home country designated your field as one requiring your skills. If it applies, you must return home for two years before switching to H-1B or adjusting status to permanent residence, unless you obtain a waiver.
Can a Post Doctoral Fellow on J-1 status switch to H-1B status while still in the U.S.?
Yes, if the two-year home residency requirement does not apply or has been waived. If exempt, your host institution can file an H-1B petition on your behalf. USCIS counts postdoctoral roles at nonprofit research organizations and universities as cap-exempt, meaning the H-1B cap and lottery do not apply, and the petition can be filed at any time of year.