J-1 Visa Staff Pharmacist Jobs
Staff Pharmacist positions in the United States are accessible to international pharmacy professionals through J-1 visa sponsorship under the Exchange Visitor Program, typically via the Trainee or Specialist category. Designated sponsor organizations issue the DS-2019 form, while the hiring pharmacy or health system serves as your host employer.
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Get Access To All JobsJOB SUMMARY
Under direct supervision with training provided, the position is assigned to assist in studying the pathogenesis of Cerebrovascular disease, including cell culture, maintaining genetically modified mouse lines, tissue section (frozen and paraffin), stains, and molecular assays (PCR, qPCR, protein assay).
Responsibilities:
- Small animal handling and dissection, organ harvesting
- Perform surgeries on mice
- Preparation and sectioning of frozen and paraffin-embedded tissues
- Chromogen and fluorescent immunohistochemistry and special histological stains
- Maintenance of mammalian cell culture and tissue culture
- DNA and RNA extraction and purification
- Western blotting, ELISA
- PCR and qPCR
Department Description:
The Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care at UCSF provides outstanding patient care, promotes cutting-edge basic and clinical science research, and educates the next generation of healthcare providers while focusing on the UCSF Principles of Community.
The Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care ranks as one of the largest departments in the School of Medicine, with an annual budget of $207 million. The three largest components of the annual revenue budget are Funds Flow Revenue, the affiliation agreement with the city and county of San Francisco, and Extramural Funds, which together represent 85.2% or $171 million. As of 2026, the department has over 200 Faculty members, 61 Staff Physicians, 200 Staff Employees, 20 Fellows, 90 Residents, 17 Non-Faculty Academics, 13 Postdocs, and 8 Nurse Practitioners. The department also works closely with 87 Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs).
In addition to the Moffitt-Long Hospital, very active units of the department exist at the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital (ZSFG) (inpatient and outpatient, including an active trauma service); San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center (inpatient and outpatient); Mount Zion Medical Center (outpatient, including 23 hour stays); Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland; the UCSF Orthopedic Institute; the Benioff Children's, Betty Irene Moore Women's and Bakar Cancer (NIH-designated Cancer Center) Hospitals; and the Bayfront Medical Building (outpatient, Center for Pain Medicine) in the Mission Bay neighborhood.
The Department now has essential roles in patient care outside of the operating rooms, with active participation in Ambulatory Care, Acute and Chronic Pain, and in the Preoperative Clinic. Since 1958, the department has been at the heart of modern anesthesia’s explosive growth, and to this day continues to have an enormous impact on surgical practice and the management of pain. The department’s research, education, and clinical care earned and have maintained reputations equal to or better than that of any institution in the world. Individual members of our faculty have had a major influence on our specialty both nationally and internationally, including NIH study sections, NIH funding, and FDA and Editorial Boards. Research activities within the department are integrated with and inform clinical practice. For many years, ours has been among the top departments in the United States for NIH research funding in anesthesia.
The Department of Anesthesia provides considerable support and structure for research and research training programs, highlighted by the innovative Pathway to Scientific Independence (PSI). This program begins at the residency level, incorporating the Research Scholars Track of the Anesthesia Residency, moving through the post-residency NIH-funded T32 training grant, and culminating in faculty positions with mentored research support, ultimately achieving extramurally funded, independent researcher status.
Required Qualifications:
- BA/BS in a biological or related science and knowledge of, or experience with, the basic techniques or methods required by the position; and/or an equivalent combination of education and experience
- Basic knowledge of medical research methods and related technology as obtained in school or related activities
- College coursework in mammalian cell culture and tissue culture, Western blotting, ELISA, PCR, qPCR
- Excellent communication skills
Preferred Qualifications:
- Tissue harvesting for human samples and animals as obtained in school
- Preparation and sectioning of frozen and paraffin-embedded tissues
- Chromogen and fluorescent immunohistochemistry and special histological stains
- Isolation of primary cells from human tissues
- DNA and RNA extraction and purification
- Experience in small animal handling
- Working knowledge of safety standards in laboratories
JOB SUMMARY
Under direct supervision with training provided, the position is assigned to assist in studying the pathogenesis of Cerebrovascular disease, including cell culture, maintaining genetically modified mouse lines, tissue section (frozen and paraffin), stains, and molecular assays (PCR, qPCR, protein assay).
Responsibilities:
- Small animal handling and dissection, organ harvesting
- Perform surgeries on mice
- Preparation and sectioning of frozen and paraffin-embedded tissues
- Chromogen and fluorescent immunohistochemistry and special histological stains
- Maintenance of mammalian cell culture and tissue culture
- DNA and RNA extraction and purification
- Western blotting, ELISA
- PCR and qPCR
Department Description:
The Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care at UCSF provides outstanding patient care, promotes cutting-edge basic and clinical science research, and educates the next generation of healthcare providers while focusing on the UCSF Principles of Community.
The Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care ranks as one of the largest departments in the School of Medicine, with an annual budget of $207 million. The three largest components of the annual revenue budget are Funds Flow Revenue, the affiliation agreement with the city and county of San Francisco, and Extramural Funds, which together represent 85.2% or $171 million. As of 2026, the department has over 200 Faculty members, 61 Staff Physicians, 200 Staff Employees, 20 Fellows, 90 Residents, 17 Non-Faculty Academics, 13 Postdocs, and 8 Nurse Practitioners. The department also works closely with 87 Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs).
In addition to the Moffitt-Long Hospital, very active units of the department exist at the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital (ZSFG) (inpatient and outpatient, including an active trauma service); San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center (inpatient and outpatient); Mount Zion Medical Center (outpatient, including 23 hour stays); Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland; the UCSF Orthopedic Institute; the Benioff Children's, Betty Irene Moore Women's and Bakar Cancer (NIH-designated Cancer Center) Hospitals; and the Bayfront Medical Building (outpatient, Center for Pain Medicine) in the Mission Bay neighborhood.
The Department now has essential roles in patient care outside of the operating rooms, with active participation in Ambulatory Care, Acute and Chronic Pain, and in the Preoperative Clinic. Since 1958, the department has been at the heart of modern anesthesia’s explosive growth, and to this day continues to have an enormous impact on surgical practice and the management of pain. The department’s research, education, and clinical care earned and have maintained reputations equal to or better than that of any institution in the world. Individual members of our faculty have had a major influence on our specialty both nationally and internationally, including NIH study sections, NIH funding, and FDA and Editorial Boards. Research activities within the department are integrated with and inform clinical practice. For many years, ours has been among the top departments in the United States for NIH research funding in anesthesia.
The Department of Anesthesia provides considerable support and structure for research and research training programs, highlighted by the innovative Pathway to Scientific Independence (PSI). This program begins at the residency level, incorporating the Research Scholars Track of the Anesthesia Residency, moving through the post-residency NIH-funded T32 training grant, and culminating in faculty positions with mentored research support, ultimately achieving extramurally funded, independent researcher status.
Required Qualifications:
- BA/BS in a biological or related science and knowledge of, or experience with, the basic techniques or methods required by the position; and/or an equivalent combination of education and experience
- Basic knowledge of medical research methods and related technology as obtained in school or related activities
- College coursework in mammalian cell culture and tissue culture, Western blotting, ELISA, PCR, qPCR
- Excellent communication skills
Preferred Qualifications:
- Tissue harvesting for human samples and animals as obtained in school
- Preparation and sectioning of frozen and paraffin-embedded tissues
- Chromogen and fluorescent immunohistochemistry and special histological stains
- Isolation of primary cells from human tissues
- DNA and RNA extraction and purification
- Experience in small animal handling
- Working knowledge of safety standards in laboratories
See all J-1 Visa Staff Pharmacist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new J-1 Visa Staff Pharmacist Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship as a Staff Pharmacist
Verify your pharmacy credentials transfer cleanly
Confirm your pharmacy degree meets NABP equivalency standards before applying. Many J-1 visa host employers require proof of licensure eligibility in the hiring state, so obtain a foreign pharmacist credential evaluation early to avoid delays at the offer stage.
Target health systems with established J-1 training infrastructure
Hospital networks and integrated health systems are far more likely to have existing DS-2019 sponsorship relationships than independent pharmacies. Focus your search on employers whose pharmacy departments already have structured residency or professional development programs.
Use Migrate Mate to find J-1-aligned pharmacist roles
Search Migrate Mate to identify U.S. employers actively hosting international pharmacy professionals. Filtering by J-1 compatibility surfaces positions where the host employer has experience coordinating with a designated sponsor organization on training plans.
Build a training plan that satisfies sponsor requirements
Designated sponsor organizations require a detailed training plan before issuing your DS-2019. Work with your host employer to document specific clinical competencies, rotation schedules, and supervision arrangements that align with Trainee or Specialist category requirements.
Clarify the two-year home residency requirement upfront
Staff Pharmacist roles in government-funded or shortage-area health settings can trigger the two-year home country residency requirement. Ask your host employer and designated sponsor whether your specific position and funding source activate this requirement before accepting an offer.
Confirm prevailing wage compliance before signing
Your host employer must pay J-1 exchange visitors at a rate consistent with similarly situated U.S. employees. Cross-reference the offered salary against the OFLC Wage Search for your role and location to confirm the employer meets this standard.
Staff Pharmacist J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category applies to Staff Pharmacist roles?
Most international pharmacists working in U.S. clinical settings qualify under the Trainee category if they graduated within the past 12 months, or the Specialist category for experienced professionals with specialized expertise. The Trainee category requires a structured training plan tied to your pharmacy background, while Specialist status requires demonstrating advanced, internationally recognized expertise in a narrow pharmacy discipline.
Who actually sponsors my J-1 visa as a Staff Pharmacist?
Your J-1 visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated sponsor organization, not your hiring employer. The pharmacy or health system where you work is the host employer. The designated sponsor, such as Cultural Vistas or CIEE, issues your DS-2019, reviews your training plan, and monitors program compliance throughout your exchange visit.
How do I find U.S. pharmacy employers open to J-1 exchange visitors?
Most pharmacy job postings don't explicitly advertise J-1 compatibility, so you need to target employers with demonstrated experience hosting international professionals. Migrate Mate lets you search for Staff Pharmacist roles at U.S. employers that align with J-1 sponsorship, helping you avoid wasting time on positions where the host has no prior exchange visitor infrastructure.
Does working in an underserved area trigger the two-year home residency requirement?
It can. If your Staff Pharmacist position is funded by a U.S. government agency or is located in an area designated for foreign medical graduate programs, the two-year home residency requirement may apply. This obligation requires you to return to your home country for two years before changing to most other U.S. visa statuses, including H-1B visa or a green card, so confirm your position's funding source with your designated sponsor before accepting.
Can I take on per diem or float pharmacist shifts under J-1 status?
Your J-1 authorization is tied to the host employer and training plan approved by your designated sponsor. Taking per diem shifts at a separate pharmacy without amending your DS-2019 and training plan could violate your program terms. Any change in work site, duties, or supervisor must be reported to and approved by your designated sponsor before the change occurs.