J-1 Visa RN Staff Nurse Jobs
RN Staff Nurse positions in the United States are available to internationally trained nurses through J-1 visa Exchange Visitor sponsorship, typically under the Exchange Visitor Physician or Trainee program category depending on your credentials and host facility. A U.S. Department of State-designated sponsor organization issues your DS-2019, making sponsorship distinct from direct employer-based visa programs.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
At the University of California, Berkeley, we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom, and belonging makes it a special place for students, faculty, and staff, who are among the most talented and accomplished anywhere, including Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, and MacArthur Fellows. Since our founding in 1868, we have been an engine for innovation - driving intellectual, economic, and social progress that benefits California, the U.S., and beyond. Together, we change the world.
At Berkeley, the best careers are built on a foundation of continuous learning and growth. We actively support professional development by providing all full-time staff employees with at least 80 hours of paid time per year and provide space for supportive colleague communities via numerous employee resource groups.
We invite applicants who are inspired by our Principles of Community and who are eager to be part of our exciting Strategic Plan, which charts Berkeley's next era of excellence.
DEPARTMENTAL OVERVIEW
The Arkin Lab, as part of the PROTECT program, seeks a SRA to help develop innovative approaches to build on our recent successes developing new synbiotic technology combining probiotics and prebiotics to prevent respiratory infections. It aims to restore healthy lung bacteria and block harmful pathogens like Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
We are looking for innovative ways to further improve the efficiency of this system and ways to expand the scope to other airway-associated indications. Applicants with a background in microbial genetics or metabolic engineering or synthetic biology and an interest in joining an interactive, collaborative program, are invited to apply.
Position Summary
The Arkin Lab at UC-Berkeley is seeking a highly motivated, curious, and skilled Staff Research Associate 2 interested in engineering the cyanobacterium spirulina for space biomanufacturing applications as part of the Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space. The Arkin Lab uses systems and synthetic biology approaches to understand and engineer bacteria and their consortia in a range of environments and applications. This position offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to engineering Spirulina to produce pharmaceuticals, materials, and food products for space applications.
APPLICATION REVIEW DATE
The First Review Date for this job is August 10, 2026. For full consideration, please apply on or before the first review date.
Responsibilities
- Maintain culture collection maintenance and request fulfillment.
- Optimize media growth.
- Genetically engineer target bacterial species.
- Assist with translational good manufacturing practices.
- Work closely with a multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers.
- Participate in lab meetings, project discussions, and collaborative research projects.
- Assist in the preparation of manuscripts for publication in high-impact scientific journals.
- Present research findings to the lab.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Demonstrated experience in genetic engineering and molecular biology techniques.
- Experience with tissue culture.
- Effective communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
- Excellent organizational and record-keeping abilities.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Familiarity with cyanobacterial systems is a plus.
- Proficiency in biochemical and quantitative chemical techniques.
EDUCATION / TRAINING
Bachelor's degree in Bioengineering, Molecular Biology, Microbiology, or a related field and/or equivalent experience/training.
SALARY & BENEFITS
For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.
Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.
The budgeted hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $32.77 (Step 1) - $52.71 (Step 25).
This is an exempt, monthly-paid position.
This is a full-time (40 hours/week) Career position eligible for UC benefits.
INTRODUCTION
At the University of California, Berkeley, we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom, and belonging makes it a special place for students, faculty, and staff, who are among the most talented and accomplished anywhere, including Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, and MacArthur Fellows. Since our founding in 1868, we have been an engine for innovation - driving intellectual, economic, and social progress that benefits California, the U.S., and beyond. Together, we change the world.
At Berkeley, the best careers are built on a foundation of continuous learning and growth. We actively support professional development by providing all full-time staff employees with at least 80 hours of paid time per year and provide space for supportive colleague communities via numerous employee resource groups.
We invite applicants who are inspired by our Principles of Community and who are eager to be part of our exciting Strategic Plan, which charts Berkeley's next era of excellence.
DEPARTMENTAL OVERVIEW
The Arkin Lab, as part of the PROTECT program, seeks a SRA to help develop innovative approaches to build on our recent successes developing new synbiotic technology combining probiotics and prebiotics to prevent respiratory infections. It aims to restore healthy lung bacteria and block harmful pathogens like Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
We are looking for innovative ways to further improve the efficiency of this system and ways to expand the scope to other airway-associated indications. Applicants with a background in microbial genetics or metabolic engineering or synthetic biology and an interest in joining an interactive, collaborative program, are invited to apply.
Position Summary
The Arkin Lab at UC-Berkeley is seeking a highly motivated, curious, and skilled Staff Research Associate 2 interested in engineering the cyanobacterium spirulina for space biomanufacturing applications as part of the Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space. The Arkin Lab uses systems and synthetic biology approaches to understand and engineer bacteria and their consortia in a range of environments and applications. This position offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to engineering Spirulina to produce pharmaceuticals, materials, and food products for space applications.
APPLICATION REVIEW DATE
The First Review Date for this job is August 10, 2026. For full consideration, please apply on or before the first review date.
Responsibilities
- Maintain culture collection maintenance and request fulfillment.
- Optimize media growth.
- Genetically engineer target bacterial species.
- Assist with translational good manufacturing practices.
- Work closely with a multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers.
- Participate in lab meetings, project discussions, and collaborative research projects.
- Assist in the preparation of manuscripts for publication in high-impact scientific journals.
- Present research findings to the lab.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Demonstrated experience in genetic engineering and molecular biology techniques.
- Experience with tissue culture.
- Effective communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
- Excellent organizational and record-keeping abilities.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Familiarity with cyanobacterial systems is a plus.
- Proficiency in biochemical and quantitative chemical techniques.
EDUCATION / TRAINING
Bachelor's degree in Bioengineering, Molecular Biology, Microbiology, or a related field and/or equivalent experience/training.
SALARY & BENEFITS
For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.
Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.
The budgeted hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $32.77 (Step 1) - $52.71 (Step 25).
This is an exempt, monthly-paid position.
This is a full-time (40 hours/week) Career position eligible for UC benefits.
See all 34+ J-1 Visa RN Staff Nurse Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new J-1 Visa RN Staff Nurse Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship as a RN Staff Nurse
Verify your NCLEX eligibility before applying
Most U.S. host hospitals require NCLEX-RN passage before a nurse can work bedside, even on a J-1. Confirm your state nursing board accepts your foreign nursing credentials for examination eligibility before targeting host employers or contacting a designated sponsor.
Distinguish Trainee from Exchange Visitor Physician categories
Registered nurses without a U.S. medical degree typically enter under the Trainee category, not the Physician category. Confirm with your prospective designated sponsor which category your credentials support, since the DS-2019 program category affects authorized activities and your 2-year home residency obligation.
Search Migrate Mate to find J-1-aligned nursing roles
Use Migrate Mate to identify U.S. hospitals and health systems actively hosting internationally trained nurses. Filtering by role and employer type saves significant time compared to cold-applying to facilities with no J-1 hosting history.
Confirm host facility has an active CGFNS credential review
Many designated sponsors require a CGFNS VisaScreen certificate before issuing a DS-2019 to a foreign-trained nurse. Start the CGFNS credential evaluation process early, as review timelines often exceed three months and can delay your program start date.
Request the training plan before accepting any offer
J-1 Trainee placements require a formal training plan signed by both the host employer and the designated sponsor. Review it before accepting an offer to confirm the documented clinical objectives match your role, since deviations from the plan can create compliance issues during the program.
Clarify the 2-year home residency requirement early
Nurses who enter on J-1 visas under certain skill shortage or government-funded designations are subject to the 2-year home residency requirement under INA Section 212(e). Determine your obligation before accepting an offer, as it affects future H-1B visa or immigrant visa eligibility.
RN Staff Nurse J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category applies to RN Staff Nurse roles?
Internationally trained registered nurses seeking clinical staff positions in U.S. hospitals typically enter under the J-1 Trainee category, which is designed for professionals gaining practical skills in their field. The Exchange Visitor Physician category applies only to medical graduates completing residency or fellowship programs. Your designated sponsor determines the correct category based on your degree, licensure, and the host facility's training objectives.
Who actually sponsors the J-1 visa for a nursing position?
The J-1 visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated organization, not the hospital or health system where you work. The designated sponsor issues your DS-2019 form and monitors your compliance throughout the program. The hospital or clinic is your host employer, responsible for supervising your training and signing the training plan, but it does not hold sponsor authority under Department of State regulations.
How do I find U.S. hospitals that host J-1 nurses?
Migrate Mate lets you search for RN Staff Nurse roles with employers that have a demonstrated history of hosting international exchange visitors. Because J-1 hosting is arranged at the employer level rather than through a job board, targeting facilities already familiar with the host-employer process significantly reduces the risk of an offer falling through during the DS-2019 coordination stage.
Does the 2-year home residency requirement apply to J-1 nurses?
It depends on your specific situation. Nurses sponsored under a program funded by the U.S. or their home government, or those whose skills are on the State Department's Exchange Visitor Skills List for their home country, are subject to the 2-year home residency requirement under INA Section 212(e). This means you must return home for two years before applying for an H-1B, immigrant visa, or change of status to most other visa categories. Confirm your obligation with your designated sponsor before signing any offer.
What credentials does a designated sponsor require from a foreign-trained nurse?
Most designated sponsors processing J-1 Trainee placements for foreign-trained nurses require a CGFNS VisaScreen certificate, which validates your nursing education, licensure, and English proficiency. You also need an active state RN license or a confirmed pathway to licensure, since NCLEX passage is typically required before you begin bedside clinical duties at the host facility. Processing timelines for CGFNS review frequently exceed three months, so starting early is essential.