Research Visa Sponsorship Jobs in California
Research visa sponsorship jobs in California span some of the most active hiring institutions in the country, from UC Berkeley, Stanford, and UCSF to private employers like Genentech, Broadcom, and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, and Los Angeles are the primary hubs, with biotech, semiconductors, and academic research driving consistent sponsorship demand.
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The Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior is seeking to hire a part-time Research Associate II to join the O'Neil Lab, a multidisciplinary research program focused on understanding and improving outcomes for children with neurodevelopmental disorders. You will support clinical research studies involving participant recruitment, data collection, neuroimaging, and study coordination.
Responsibilities:
- Recruit, screen, enroll, and schedule research participants
- Administer research assessments and maintain study databases
- Enter, validate, and organize research data
- Assist with IRB submissions, regulatory documentation, and participant compensation
- Support MRI study visits, including participant preparation, scheduling, and data transfer
- Train and support families participating in Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation (TNS) studies
- Attend lab meetings and collaborate with investigators and research staff
Salary range: $32.79/hr - $52.75/hr
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Neuroscience, or related field (preferred)
Minimum 1 year of experience in human clinical research or a setting involving direct patient/participant interaction
Prior experience working with children and families (preferred)
Experience in pediatric clinical research (preferred)
Familiarity with neuroimaging research and/or behavioral health studies (preferred)
Strong organizational, communication, and time-management skills
Ability to manage multiple projects and work independently as well as collaboratively
Experience with data entry, databases management, and Microsoft Office applications
Ability to interact professionally with research participants, families, and clinical staff
Experience using research databases, spreadsheets, and data analysis software
Description
The Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior is seeking to hire a part-time Research Associate II to join the O'Neil Lab, a multidisciplinary research program focused on understanding and improving outcomes for children with neurodevelopmental disorders. You will support clinical research studies involving participant recruitment, data collection, neuroimaging, and study coordination.
Responsibilities:
- Recruit, screen, enroll, and schedule research participants
- Administer research assessments and maintain study databases
- Enter, validate, and organize research data
- Assist with IRB submissions, regulatory documentation, and participant compensation
- Support MRI study visits, including participant preparation, scheduling, and data transfer
- Train and support families participating in Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation (TNS) studies
- Attend lab meetings and collaborate with investigators and research staff
Salary range: $32.79/hr - $52.75/hr
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Neuroscience, or related field (preferred)
Minimum 1 year of experience in human clinical research or a setting involving direct patient/participant interaction
Prior experience working with children and families (preferred)
Experience in pediatric clinical research (preferred)
Familiarity with neuroimaging research and/or behavioral health studies (preferred)
Strong organizational, communication, and time-management skills
Ability to manage multiple projects and work independently as well as collaboratively
Experience with data entry, databases management, and Microsoft Office applications
Ability to interact professionally with research participants, families, and clinical staff
Experience using research databases, spreadsheets, and data analysis software
Research Job Roles in California
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Search Research Jobs in CaliforniaResearch Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies sponsor visas for research roles in California?
California's largest research visa sponsors include academic medical centers and universities such as UCSF, UCLA, and Stanford, as well as private sector employers including Genentech, Apple, Qualcomm, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Biotech firms concentrated in South San Francisco and San Diego, such as Illumina and Gilead Sciences, also sponsor research positions regularly through H-1B visa and O-1 visa petitions.
Which visa types are most common for research roles in California?
The H-1B is the most widely used visa for research scientists and analysts in California, as most roles require at least a bachelor's degree in a specific technical field. The O-1A is an alternative for researchers with demonstrated recognition, such as publications, awards, or peer review contributions. J-1 visa exchange visitor status is also common for postdoctoral researchers at California universities, though it comes with distinct conditions including potential home-residency requirements.
Which cities in California have the most research sponsorship jobs?
The San Francisco Bay Area, particularly San Francisco, San Jose, and the surrounding peninsula, concentrates the highest volume of research sponsorship activity due to the density of biotech companies, tech firms, and research universities. San Diego is a major hub for life sciences research, home to institutions like Scripps Research and UC San Diego. Los Angeles also has significant research hiring through UCLA, USC, and aerospace employers.
How to find research visa sponsorship jobs in California?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for international job seekers and filters research roles in California by employers with a documented history of visa sponsorship. Rather than sorting through thousands of listings manually, you can browse research positions from universities, biotech firms, and tech companies in one place. Migrate Mate focuses on employers who have filed for H-1B or other work visas, making it easier to identify realistic targets for your job search.
Are there state-specific factors that affect research visa sponsorship in California?
California's concentration of research universities and NIH-funded institutions creates a strong pipeline for international researchers, particularly at the postdoctoral level. Employers in California must comply with Department of Labor prevailing wage requirements when filing Labor Condition Applications, which are tied to the specific location of employment. San Francisco and San Jose are classified in higher wage tiers than many other U.S. cities, which can affect how employers structure research job offers for visa purposes.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored research jobs in California?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.