TN Visa Senior Clinical Research Scientist Jobs
Senior Clinical Research Scientist roles qualify for TN visa sponsorship under the USMCA's Scientific Technician/Technologist category when your work involves applied research in biological or clinical sciences. Canadian citizens can apply at the port of entry with no cap; Mexican citizens follow consular processing with a limited annual allocation.
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Job Description
The Senior Director (Sr. Principal Scientist) has primary responsibility for the strategic planning and directing clinical research activities involving investigational compounds in Immunology. With a focus on late-stage development, the Senior Clinical Director will manage the entire cycle of clinical development, including determination of appropriate disease indications to pursue and subsequent study design, initiation, execution, monitoring, analysis, regulatory filing, and publication.
Specifically, The Senior Director May Be Responsible For:
- Evaluating pre-clinical and translational work for the purpose of generating the early clinical development plan and Investigational New Drug applications.
- Providing clinical development support of business development assessments of external opportunities to grow the Immunology Pipeline.
- Developing clinical development strategies for investigational drugs and planning clinical trials (design, operational plans, settings) based on these clinical development strategies.
- Monitoring and managing the conduct of ongoing or new clinical trials for investigational drugs.
- Analyzing and summarizing the clinical findings from studies to support decisions regarding safety and efficacy as well as new drug applications, clinical study reports, or publication.
- Participation in internal and joint internal/external research project teams relevant to the development of new compounds.
The Senior Director may supervise the activities of Clinical Scientists in the execution of clinical studies. Work closely with a cross-functional group of experts in commercialization, regulatory affairs, statistics, and manufacturing to manage clinical development projects; and assist the Executive Director in ensuring that appropriate corporate personnel are informed of the progress of studies of our company and competitors' drugs and internal and external expert opinion on scientific questions relevant to his/her areas of responsibility.
The Senior Director is responsible for maintaining a strong scientific fund of knowledge by:
- Maintaining awareness of scientific developments within his/her area of expertise, in terms of new scientific findings, research methodologies.
- Identification of scientifically and operationally strong investigators who can assist in the development of our company's investigational drugs in Immunology.
- Establishing collaborative relationships with external experts in Rheumatology, Gastroenterology, Dermatology, and pulmonary disease, particularly those whose research focus and expertise can inform and assist the evaluation of the company's investigational drugs.
- Attending appropriate scientific meetings to maintain his or her competency and to maintain awareness of research activities in his/her area of responsibility.
To accomplish these goals, the Senior Director may:
- Author detailed development documents, presentations, budgets, and position papers for internal and external audiences.
- Facilitate collaborations with external researchers around the world.
- Travel on company business about twenty (20) percent of the time to manage future or ongoing clinical research projects.
Qualifications
Education minimum required:
M.D., D.O., M.D./PhD, or D.O./PhD.
Required experience and skills:
- Experience in the design and/or execution of phase 2 or 3 clinical trials specifically in Immunology (Rheumatology, Gastroenterology or Dermatology).
- Minimum of 3 years of clinical medicine experience.
- Minimum of 5 years of industry experience in drug development.
- Demonstrated record of scientific scholarship and achievement.
- Strong interpersonal skills, as well as the ability to work collaboratively in a cross-functional team environment.
Required Skills:
Clinical Development, Clinical Medicine, Clinical Research Management, Clinical Studies, Clinical Trial Development, Clinical Trials, Dermatology, Drug Development, Gastroenterology, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Pharmaceutical Industry, Regulatory Compliance, Rheumatology.
Preferred Skills:
US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:
Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.
As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:
We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing together, talented, and committed people with diverse experiences, perspectives, skills and backgrounds. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when people with diverse ideas, broad experiences, backgrounds, and skills come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively.
U.S. Hybrid Work Model
Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, Monday - Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence. This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as “remote”.
The salary range for this role is
$276,600.00 - $435,400.00
This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, government requirements, and business or organizational needs.
The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.
We offer a comprehensive package of benefits. Available benefits include medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, including 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days. More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.
You can apply for this role through https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (or via the Workday Jobs Hub if you are a current employee). The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.
San Francisco Residents Only:
We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.
Los Angeles Residents Only:
We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.
Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully
Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.
Employee Status:
Regular
Relocation:
VISA Sponsorship:
Travel Requirements:
Flexible Work Arrangements:
Hybrid
Shift:
Valid Driving License:
Hazardous Material(s):
Job Posting End Date:
04/30/2026
A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding TN Visa Sponsorship as a Senior Clinical Research Scientist
Align your credentials to USMCA categories
TN visa eligibility for this role hinges on holding a degree in a biological, clinical, or pharmaceutical science. A general biology or chemistry degree qualifies; a degree in business or unrelated fields does not, regardless of your work history.
Target Phase II and III trial sponsors
Biotech and pharmaceutical companies running active clinical trials file the most TN petitions for research scientists. Prioritize employers with ongoing IND applications or FDA-registered trial sites, as they already understand sponsored visa documentation requirements.
Secure a qualifying offer letter before crossing
Canadian citizens can present their TN package at a U.S. port of entry without pre-filing, but the offer letter must explicitly state your title, duties, and degree requirement. Vague job descriptions are the leading cause of CBP denials for this category.
Search TN-eligible openings through Migrate Mate
Use Migrate Mate to filter Senior Clinical Research Scientist roles posted by employers with active TN and H-1B visa sponsorship history, so you're not cold-applying to companies unfamiliar with treaty-based work authorization.
Prepare protocol documentation for Mexican nationals
Mexican citizens applying through consular processing should bring GCP certification, clinical trial protocol summaries, and their degree credential alongside the standard TN package. Consular officers evaluate scientific scope, not just job titles.
Clarify reporting structure in your offer letter
If you'll work across multiple trial sites or under a contract research organization, your offer letter must name the petitioning employer as the primary work supervisor. Ambiguous third-party arrangements can trigger USCIS requests for evidence under I-129 filings.
Senior Clinical Research Scientist TN Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Senior Clinical Research Scientist role qualify for TN visa status?
Yes, provided your position involves applied scientific research in a qualifying field such as clinical pharmacology, biostatistics, or clinical trial management, and you hold a relevant bachelor's degree or higher. The TN category does not cover purely administrative or project management roles that lack a direct scientific function, so your offer letter must clearly describe research duties.
How does TN compare to H-1B for this role?
TN has no lottery, no annual cap for Canadians, and can be issued at the port of entry the same day. H-1B requires winning a random lottery, a six-month wait, and employer-paid USCIS fees. For Canadian research scientists with a qualifying degree and a confirmed offer, TN is faster and more predictable. Mexican nationals face a TN allocation limit but still avoid the H-1B lottery entirely.
Where can I find Senior Clinical Research Scientist jobs with TN visa sponsorship?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for Canadian and Mexican professionals seeking U.S. roles with treaty-based visa sponsorship. You can filter by job title and visa type to find employers actively sponsoring TN workers, which saves time compared to applying broadly and discovering sponsorship limitations late in the hiring process.
Can I switch employers after starting work on a TN visa as a Clinical Research Scientist?
Yes, but your TN status is tied to your current employer. Before your last day, your new employer must either file an I-129 petition or, if you're Canadian, you can present a new TN package at a port of entry with the incoming employer's offer letter. Working even one day for the new employer before authorization is confirmed puts you out of status.
Do Canadian and Mexican professionals face different sponsorship processes for this role?
Canadian citizens apply directly at a U.S. land border or pre-clearance airport with their documentation and receive a decision on the spot. Mexican citizens must schedule a consular interview, typically in Mexico City or Monterrey, and wait for visa issuance. Both nationalities need the same core documents: a valid job offer, degree credentials, and evidence that the role meets TN scientific occupation criteria.