Research Associate Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Colorado
Research associate visa sponsorship jobs in Colorado are concentrated around Denver, Boulder, and the Front Range corridor, where institutions like the University of Colorado, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and pharmaceutical companies such as Envision Genomics and Charles River Laboratories actively hire internationally. Biotechnology, energy research, and academic medicine drive the strongest demand for sponsored research roles in the state.
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Position Summary
The Research Associate will support interdisciplinary geo-environmental research programs focused on contaminant hydrology and environmental geotechnics, with emphasis on the interactions between soil mechanics, groundwater processes, and environmental systems. The position will assist with laboratory- and field-scale investigations of legacy and emerging contaminants affecting groundwater systems and other subsurface environments, including studies of contaminant fate and transport and remediation approaches such as natural source zone depletion, bioventing, enhanced natural degradation, and oleophilic bio-barriers. The role will also contribute to research related to mining waste and tailings management, including characterization of geomaterials and monitoring of environmental and geotechnical performance of mine waste systems.
Full Consideration Date
April 27, 2026, 11:59pm (MT)
Description of Work Unit
https://www.engr.colostate.edu/ce/
Essential Job Duties:
- Conduct and support laboratory and field-scale geo-environmental research investigating contaminant fate and transport and remediation processes affecting groundwater systems and other subsurface environments, including legacy and emerging contaminants.
- Implement environmental monitoring and field investigations by coordinating sampling logistics, preparing field equipment, and deploying and maintaining environmental monitoring instrumentation, including soil moisture instrumentation and IoT-enabled environmental sensors.
- Perform laboratory preparation and characterization of environmental samples including processing cryogenic soil cores and conducting soil characterization analyses such as soil texture classification and particle size analysis to support groundwater and subsurface remediation studies.
- Assist with environmental data management, analysis, and visualization by organizing datasets and supporting computational and geospatial analysis of environmental monitoring data to inform research findings and project reporting.
- Manage laboratory operations supporting geo-environmental research programs by maintaining laboratory instrumentation, coordinating sample tracking and documentation systems, managing laboratory supplies and safety procedures, and supporting quality assurance and contamination prevention protocols.
- Coordinate research program activities and project logistics by maintaining project schedules, supporting collaboration among faculty, students, and research partners, assisting with research documentation and dissemination activities, and performing other related duties as assigned.
Supervision:
The Research Associate will not directly supervise anyone, rather they will mentor and provide guidance to graduate and undergraduate students.
Conditions of Employment:
- Fully in-person
- Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires)
Minimum Qualifications:
- Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Hydrologic Sciences, or a closely related field.
- Minimum of 8 years of professional experience in the environmental field, including experience supporting groundwater/subsurface and geo-environmental research.
- Previous experience serving in a laboratory management role, including coordinating laboratory operations, maintaining equipment and supplies, and ensuring compliance with quality assurance and quality control procedures.
- Demonstrated experience supporting laboratory and field investigations related to groundwater systems, contaminant hydrology, or subsurface environmental processes.
- Demonstrated experience processing cryogenic soil cores and preparing subsurface environmental samples for laboratory analysis.
- Experience coordinating field logistics for environmental monitoring or research campaigns, including planning sampling activities, managing field equipment, and maintaining proper documentation of samples and measurements.
- Experience deploying and maintaining environmental monitoring instrumentation, including IoT-enabled environmental sensors used for subsurface or environmental monitoring applications.
- Demonstrated experience conducting soil moisture sampling using field instrumentation.
- Experience applying soil characterization methods, including soil texture classification and particle size analysis using sieve or hydrometer techniques.
- Demonstrated proficiency with computational and analytical tools commonly used in environmental and hydrologic research, including MATLAB and Python for data analysis and modeling, AutoCAD for technical visualization or design tasks, and ArcGIS for geospatial analysis and environmental mapping.
- Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills, including evidence of scholarly communication through authorship or co-authorship of peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, or conference presentations.
- Previous teaching or instructional experience in an academic or educational setting.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience supporting laboratory- and field-scale remediation research, including studies of contaminant fate and transport in groundwater and subsurface environments.
- Experience working with legacy and emerging contaminants, such as petroleum hydrocarbons or PFAS, including laboratory or field investigations related to contaminant transport and remediation processes.
- Experience supporting research on subsurface remediation approaches, such as natural source zone depletion (NSZD), bioventing, enhanced natural degradation, or oleophilic bio-barriers.
- Experience conducting field-based environmental monitoring campaigns, including deployment and management of environmental monitoring systems and environmental sensor networks.
- Experience with IoT-based environmental monitoring systems, including configuration, maintenance, or data management associated with sensor networks used in environmental research.
- Experience supporting geo-environmental or geotechnical research related to mining waste or tailings management, including characterization of geomaterials or monitoring of tailings facilities.
- Experience supporting interdisciplinary research teams, including coordination of field campaigns, laboratory activities, or research logistics across multiple collaborators.
- Experience assisting with research dissemination, including preparation of figures, reports, technical documents, or presentations for scientific conferences.
Salary Range
$70,000-$75,000
Required Application Documents
To apply, please upload the following applicant documents. Ensure your materials fully address the required and preferred job qualifications of the position. Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.
Cover Letter, Resume/CV
Employee Benefits
Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it’s a thriving community that’s transforming lives and improving the human condition through world-class teaching, research, and service. With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact.
Background Check Policy Statement
Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.
EEO
Colorado State University (CSU) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
Job Description
Position Summary
The Research Associate will support interdisciplinary geo-environmental research programs focused on contaminant hydrology and environmental geotechnics, with emphasis on the interactions between soil mechanics, groundwater processes, and environmental systems. The position will assist with laboratory- and field-scale investigations of legacy and emerging contaminants affecting groundwater systems and other subsurface environments, including studies of contaminant fate and transport and remediation approaches such as natural source zone depletion, bioventing, enhanced natural degradation, and oleophilic bio-barriers. The role will also contribute to research related to mining waste and tailings management, including characterization of geomaterials and monitoring of environmental and geotechnical performance of mine waste systems.
Full Consideration Date
April 27, 2026, 11:59pm (MT)
Description of Work Unit
https://www.engr.colostate.edu/ce/
Essential Job Duties:
- Conduct and support laboratory and field-scale geo-environmental research investigating contaminant fate and transport and remediation processes affecting groundwater systems and other subsurface environments, including legacy and emerging contaminants.
- Implement environmental monitoring and field investigations by coordinating sampling logistics, preparing field equipment, and deploying and maintaining environmental monitoring instrumentation, including soil moisture instrumentation and IoT-enabled environmental sensors.
- Perform laboratory preparation and characterization of environmental samples including processing cryogenic soil cores and conducting soil characterization analyses such as soil texture classification and particle size analysis to support groundwater and subsurface remediation studies.
- Assist with environmental data management, analysis, and visualization by organizing datasets and supporting computational and geospatial analysis of environmental monitoring data to inform research findings and project reporting.
- Manage laboratory operations supporting geo-environmental research programs by maintaining laboratory instrumentation, coordinating sample tracking and documentation systems, managing laboratory supplies and safety procedures, and supporting quality assurance and contamination prevention protocols.
- Coordinate research program activities and project logistics by maintaining project schedules, supporting collaboration among faculty, students, and research partners, assisting with research documentation and dissemination activities, and performing other related duties as assigned.
Supervision:
The Research Associate will not directly supervise anyone, rather they will mentor and provide guidance to graduate and undergraduate students.
Conditions of Employment:
- Fully in-person
- Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires)
Minimum Qualifications:
- Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Hydrologic Sciences, or a closely related field.
- Minimum of 8 years of professional experience in the environmental field, including experience supporting groundwater/subsurface and geo-environmental research.
- Previous experience serving in a laboratory management role, including coordinating laboratory operations, maintaining equipment and supplies, and ensuring compliance with quality assurance and quality control procedures.
- Demonstrated experience supporting laboratory and field investigations related to groundwater systems, contaminant hydrology, or subsurface environmental processes.
- Demonstrated experience processing cryogenic soil cores and preparing subsurface environmental samples for laboratory analysis.
- Experience coordinating field logistics for environmental monitoring or research campaigns, including planning sampling activities, managing field equipment, and maintaining proper documentation of samples and measurements.
- Experience deploying and maintaining environmental monitoring instrumentation, including IoT-enabled environmental sensors used for subsurface or environmental monitoring applications.
- Demonstrated experience conducting soil moisture sampling using field instrumentation.
- Experience applying soil characterization methods, including soil texture classification and particle size analysis using sieve or hydrometer techniques.
- Demonstrated proficiency with computational and analytical tools commonly used in environmental and hydrologic research, including MATLAB and Python for data analysis and modeling, AutoCAD for technical visualization or design tasks, and ArcGIS for geospatial analysis and environmental mapping.
- Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills, including evidence of scholarly communication through authorship or co-authorship of peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, or conference presentations.
- Previous teaching or instructional experience in an academic or educational setting.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience supporting laboratory- and field-scale remediation research, including studies of contaminant fate and transport in groundwater and subsurface environments.
- Experience working with legacy and emerging contaminants, such as petroleum hydrocarbons or PFAS, including laboratory or field investigations related to contaminant transport and remediation processes.
- Experience supporting research on subsurface remediation approaches, such as natural source zone depletion (NSZD), bioventing, enhanced natural degradation, or oleophilic bio-barriers.
- Experience conducting field-based environmental monitoring campaigns, including deployment and management of environmental monitoring systems and environmental sensor networks.
- Experience with IoT-based environmental monitoring systems, including configuration, maintenance, or data management associated with sensor networks used in environmental research.
- Experience supporting geo-environmental or geotechnical research related to mining waste or tailings management, including characterization of geomaterials or monitoring of tailings facilities.
- Experience supporting interdisciplinary research teams, including coordination of field campaigns, laboratory activities, or research logistics across multiple collaborators.
- Experience assisting with research dissemination, including preparation of figures, reports, technical documents, or presentations for scientific conferences.
Salary Range
$70,000-$75,000
Required Application Documents
To apply, please upload the following applicant documents. Ensure your materials fully address the required and preferred job qualifications of the position. Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.
Cover Letter, Resume/CV
Employee Benefits
Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it’s a thriving community that’s transforming lives and improving the human condition through world-class teaching, research, and service. With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact.
Background Check Policy Statement
Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.
EEO
Colorado State University (CSU) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
Research Associate Job Roles in Colorado
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Search Research Associate Jobs in ColoradoResearch Associate Jobs in Colorado: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies sponsor visas for research associates in Colorado?
Several Colorado employers have a documented history of sponsoring work visas for research associates. These include the University of Colorado system across its Boulder, Denver, and Anschutz campuses, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Colorado State University, Lockheed Martin Space, and bioscience firms operating in the Denver metro and Boulder areas. Academic medical centers affiliated with UCHealth and Children's Hospital Colorado also sponsor research staff regularly.
Which visa types are most common for research associate roles in Colorado?
The H-1B is the most common visa for research associates in Colorado, as the role typically qualifies as a specialty occupation requiring at least a bachelor's degree in a specific scientific or technical field. Universities and nonprofit research institutions, including NREL, may also use the J-1 research scholar or H-1B1 categories in some cases. Academic employers with cap-exempt status can file H-1B petitions outside the annual lottery, which broadens access for international candidates.
Which cities in Colorado have the most research associate sponsorship jobs?
Boulder and Denver account for the largest share of research associate sponsorship activity in Colorado. Boulder hosts the University of Colorado Boulder, NREL, and a dense cluster of environmental and life sciences organizations. Denver and Aurora are home to the Anschutz Medical Campus, a major hub for clinical and biomedical research. Fort Collins also generates consistent demand through Colorado State University and its affiliated research programs.
How to find research associate visa sponsorship jobs in Colorado?
Migrate Mate is a job board built specifically for international candidates seeking visa sponsorship, making it a practical starting point for research associate roles in Colorado. You can filter by state and role to surface positions at Colorado universities, national laboratories, and private research organizations that have sponsored visas before. Focusing on employers with established international hiring programs, such as those within the CU system or NREL, improves your chances of finding roles with active sponsorship capacity.
Are there any Colorado-specific considerations for research associate visa sponsorship?
Colorado's concentration of federally funded research institutions, including NREL and several Department of Energy affiliates, means some research associate positions may require security clearances or citizenship, which can limit sponsorship eligibility. However, university-based and private sector research roles generally remain accessible to international candidates. Colorado's growing bioscience corridor along the Front Range has increased employer familiarity with H-1B sponsorship, particularly in life sciences and clean energy research.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored research associate jobs in Colorado?
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.
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