J-1 Visa Research Technician Jobs
Research Technician positions in the United States are available to international exchange visitors under the J-1 visa Research Scholar or Trainee program category, depending on your career stage. Universities, national laboratories, and private research institutes serve as host employers while a State Department-designated sponsor organization provides DS-2019 sponsorship and program oversight.
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Summer 2026 Environmental Technician Intern – Miami/South Florida
Intertek, a leading provider of quality and safety solutions to many of the world’s top-recognized brands and companies, is actively seeking Environmental Technician Interns to join our Professional Service Industries (PSI) team in Miami/South Florida. This is a fantastic opportunity to grow a versatile career in environmental and industrial hygiene consulting industry.
Intertek's Building and Construction division is a suite of Intertek brands that are industry leaders across multiple architecture, engineering and construction disciplines, developing the most innovative product and project solutions. Intertek's project-related assurance, testing, inspection and consulting services are the risk management and quality assurance partner you need to ensure the reliability, safety and performance of your new developments, existing assets and facilities.
Professional Service Industries, Inc. (Intertek-PSI) is a leading US based provider of construction assurance, testing and inspection in civil and commercial construction. Our broad service offering includes construction materials testing, geotechnical services, environmental engineering, industrial hygiene, and specialty testing. Intertek is continually innovating and evolving to reduce risk for consumers, brands and organizations in every sector and industry around the world. We go beyond Testing, Inspection and Certification of products: we are a Total Quality Assurance Provider to industries worldwide. Our Purpose: Bringing quality, safety, and sustainability to life.
What are we looking for?
The Environmental Technician Intern will assist with asbestos, lead-based paint, and mold surveys, abatement monitoring, and clearance sampling. They will also support Phase I Environmental Site Assessments, Phase II subsurface investigations, and remedial site activities. Additional responsibilities may include supporting field data collection, ecological sampling and assessments, installation of environmental monitoring equipment, and GIS-based field mapping. This position will travel at least 50% of the time and may require off-shift or overtime work as well.
Shift/Schedule: Monday-Friday / 40 hours per week, can vary depending on workload
What you’ll do:
- Assist with Asbestos/Lead-Based Paint/Mold Surveys
- Assist with Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs)
- Assist with Phase II/Subsurface Investigations
- Assist with Remedial Action Site Activities
- Assist with installation and maintenance of environmental monitoring equipment
- Assist with the collection of GPS and GIS field data using Trimble units
- Assist with documenting field activities and site conditions
- Assist with equipment setup and calibration
This position outline is a general guideline and does not represent all encompassing details. The position assumes that the incumbent has both the mental and physical requirements to carry out the above defined duties.
Minimum Requirements & Qualifications:
- High School Diploma or GED equivalent
- Currently pursuing a degree in Environmental Science / Biology / Other Science-Related Degrees
- Good oral and written communication skills
- Valid driver’s license and reliable driving record is required
- Travel: Up to 50% of the time
- Physical requirements
- Ability to lift, move, push, and pull 30 to 50 pounds frequently. Occasionally, over 50 pounds with assistance.
- Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, (hearing) and to make the discriminations in sound
- Ability to kneel and squat occasionally
- Ability to walk and stand for long periods of time
- Ability to work outdoors in adverse weather conditions (hot and cold)
- Ability to climb occasionally
Preferred Requirements & Qualifications:
- HAZPWOPER 40-hour OSHA certification
- AHERA Inspector certification
Intertek: Total Quality. Assured.
Intertek is a world leader in the Quality Assurance market, with a proven, high-quality business model and a global network of customer-focused operations and highly engaged subject matter experts. With passion, pace, and precision we work to exceed our customers’ expectations, while engaging with our employees to be 10X in their performance and professional growth.
Intertek is a drug-free workplace. As a condition of employment, certain positions may be required to pass a pre-employment drug test based on the type of work that will be performed.
We Value Diversity
Intertek’s network of phenomenal people are our greatest assets, and the diversity they bring fuels our success. Intertek is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer that values inclusion and diversity. We take affirmative action to ensure all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics.
For individuals with disabilities who would like to request accommodation, or who need assistance applying, please email intertekhrusa@intertek.com or call 1-877-694-8543 (option #5) to speak with a member of the HR Department.
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The Building & Construction team provides assurance, testing, inspection, and certification services and building science solutions to deliver Total Quality Assurance to the built environment. The team offers the architectural, engineering and construction (A/E/C) industry with a full suite of capabilities both in the lab and on site. Intertek is a leading Total Quality Assurance provider to industries worldwide. Our network of more than 1,000 laboratories and offices in more than 100 countries delivers innovative and bespoke Assurance, Testing, Inspection and Certification (ATIC) solutions for our customers' operations and supply chains. Working at Intertek means joining a global network of state-of-the-art facilities and passionate people who deliver superior customer service with a purpose of bringing quality, safety, and sustainability to life.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship as a Research Technician
Match your credentials to the right category
Postdoctoral researchers and faculty-level scientists typically qualify under Research Scholar, while technicians without an advanced degree or with under five years of experience usually fall under Trainee. Applying to the wrong category will stall your DS-2019 issuance before you even reach a host employer.
Verify the two-year home residency rule upfront
Research Technician roles at federally funded labs or government agencies frequently trigger the J-1 home-country residency requirement under INA Section 212(e). Confirm whether your funding source or nationality activates this requirement before accepting any offer, since it restricts status changes afterward.
Target host employers with institutional sponsor relationships
Universities, NIH-affiliated research centers, and established private institutes already hold agreements with State Department-designated sponsors like IIE or CIEE. Focusing your search on these institutions shortens the sponsorship timeline because the DS-2019 paperwork infrastructure is already in place.
Use Migrate Mate to find J-1-aligned Research Technician roles
Search Migrate Mate to identify U.S. employers actively hosting J-1 exchange visitors in laboratory and research support functions. Filtering by host institution type helps you prioritize organizations where sponsorship through a designated sponsor is already part of the hiring workflow.
Prepare a detailed training plan before the offer stage
Your designated sponsor requires a DS-7002 Training or Internship Placement Plan that maps specific laboratory techniques, equipment, and learning objectives to defined timeframes. Arriving at the offer stage without this document delays DS-2019 issuance by weeks. Draft it collaboratively with your prospective host supervisor.
Clarify insurance coverage requirements with your host employer
J-1 regulations mandate medical insurance meeting USCIS minimum standards throughout your program. Some host research institutions provide coverage through a group plan, but others require you to purchase a compliant individual policy. Confirm the arrangement in writing before your program start date.
Research Technician J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category applies to Research Technician positions?
It depends on your qualifications and career stage. Current graduate students or recent graduates seeking hands-on laboratory experience typically qualify under the Intern category. Early-career professionals with a degree and relevant work experience who want structured skill development in a U.S. research setting usually fall under Trainee. Senior researchers with advanced degrees may qualify under Research Scholar, which suits positions at universities and national laboratories.
Who actually sponsors the J-1 visa for a Research Technician, the employer or someone else?
The hiring laboratory or university is your host employer, not your visa sponsor. Your J-1 visa sponsor is a separate U.S. Department of State-designated organization, such as IIE, CIEE, or Cultural Vistas, that issues the DS-2019 form, monitors your program compliance, and serves as your official point of contact with the State Department. The host employer cannot sponsor a J-1 independently without being affiliated with one of these designated sponsors.
How do I find Research Technician host employers that work with J-1 sponsors?
Search Migrate Mate to identify U.S. research institutions and employers that have hosted J-1 exchange visitors in laboratory roles. Universities, NIH-affiliated centers, and large research institutes are the most common host employers because they already maintain sponsorship relationships with designated organizations. Prioritizing these institution types significantly reduces administrative delays in the DS-2019 issuance process.
Does a Research Technician J-1 position trigger the two-year home residency requirement?
It can. The two-year home-country physical presence requirement under INA Section 212(e) applies if your exchange program is funded by your home government or the U.S. government, or if your home country has identified your field as one with a critical shortage of professionals. Federal research funding, even indirect funding through a grant to your host institution, is the most common trigger for Research Technician roles at government-affiliated labs. Check your DS-2019 for a Section 212(e) notation.
What documents does a Research Technician need to secure before the DS-2019 is issued?
Your designated sponsor will require a completed DS-7002 Training or Internship Placement Plan detailing your specific laboratory objectives, techniques, and weekly schedule, a formal offer letter from the host employer, proof of English proficiency, and documentation of relevant academic credentials or work experience. Financial support documentation showing you can cover living expenses is also required. Incomplete training plans are the most common cause of DS-2019 delays for research and technical program applicants.