Research Assistant Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Florida
Research assistant visa sponsorship jobs in Florida are concentrated at major research universities and medical institutions, including the University of Florida in Gainesville, University of Miami, and the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa. The state's strong presence in life sciences, clinical research, and engineering drives consistent demand for international candidates in these roles.
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Get Access To All JobsJOB NO:
540016
WORK TYPE:
Non-Tenure-Track Faculty
LOCATION:
Main Campus (Gainesville, FL)
CATEGORIES:
Biology/Life Science, Agricultural Sciences
DEPARTMENT:
60230000 - AG-HORTICULTURAL SCIENCES
CLASSIFICATION TITLE:
Res Ast Sctst
CLASSIFICATION MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
Highest degree possible in field; Evidence of pertinent experience for the position and qualities for the academic unit.
JOB DESCRIPTION:
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is creating an environment that affirms community across all dimensions. If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call 352-392-2477 or the Florida Relay System at 800-955-8771 (TDD) or visit Accessibility at UF.
This is a 12-month non-tenure-accruing position that will be 100% research (Blueberry Breeding Program), available in the Horticultural Sciences Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, at the University of Florida. This assignment may change in accordance with the needs of the Blueberry Breeding Program.
The faculty member will serve as the Phenomics and Digital Breeding Team Leader. Duties will include working closely with the Blueberry Breeding Program’s Director to integrate advanced technologies and data-driven approaches to accelerate the development of superior cultivars at the University of Florida. Additionally, the faculty member will work on elaborating research lines, managing projects, securing collaboration and funds, and actively supporting the implementation of robotics and computer vision-based systems for high-throughput phenotyping, multi-domain data integration, target environment prediction, and other key areas to support Florida’s agriculture sector. The research outcome is both for research and operation, and the faculty member will be responsible for reporting progress, outputs, and impacts to interested stakeholders.
Background Information:
The Horticultural Sciences Department is a unit within IFAS at the University of Florida and has a variety of teaching, research, and extension education programs with 34 faculty in Gainesville and 26 faculty at various Research and Education Centers throughout the state. The Horticultural Sciences Department is currently ranked top 9 in the center for world university rankings.
The Blueberry Breeding Program is part of the Horticultural Science Department and is directed and led by Dr. Patricio Munoz, an associate professor with over 18 years of expertise in plant breeding. The program aims to develop new blueberry cultivars and advance research methodologies to expedite the cultivar development process.
The University of Florida is a Land-Grant, Sea-Grant, and Space-Grant institution, encompassing virtually all academic and professional disciplines, with an enrollment of more than 56,000 students. UF is a member of The Association of American Universities. The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences includes the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, the Florida Cooperative Extension Service, the College of Veterinary Medicine, the Florida Sea Grant program, and encompasses 16 on-campus academic departments and schools, 12 Research and Educational Centers (REC) located throughout the state, 6 Research sites/demonstration units administered by RECs or academic departments, and Florida Cooperative Extension Service offices in all 67 counties (counties operate and maintain). The School of Natural Resources and Environment is an interdisciplinary unit housed in IFAS and managed by several colleges on campus. UF/IFAS employs nearly 4,500 people, which includes approximately 990 salaried faculty and 1,400 permanent support personnel located in Gainesville and throughout the state. IFAS, one of the nation’s largest agricultural and natural resources research and education organizations, is administered by a Vice President and four deans: the Dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the Dean for Extension and Director of the Florida Cooperative Extension Service, the Dean for Research and Director of the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, and the Dean for the College of Veterinary Medicine. UF/IFAS also engages in cooperative work with Florida A&M University in Tallahassee.
EXPECTED SALARY:
Commensurate with Education and Experience
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
A doctorate (foreign equivalent acceptable) in plant breeding, agricultural engineering, computer science or a closely related discipline is required. Candidates must also have hands-on experience in areas involving plant breeding technologies, field trials, high-throughput phenotyping, computer vision, and data-driven machine learning/AI approaches. Also, faculty must have demonstrated skills in verbal and written communication, interpersonal relationships, and procurement of extramural funding. Candidates must be supportive of the mission of the Land-Grant system. Candidates must also have a commitment to UF core values.
PREFERRED:
- Postdoctoral experience or equivalent industry experience in plant breeding, phenomics, or digital agriculture, working with blueberry or any specialty crops.
- Experience integrating multi-domain datasets (phenomics, genomics, environomics) for decision-making or prediction.
- Experience with computer vision, UAVs, robotics, or automation in agricultural systems.
- Experience collaborating with industry partners and translating research into applied outcomes.
- Demonstrated project management and leadership experience, including building collaborations among a variety of interdisciplinary scientific teams.
- Grant writing and budgeting for scientific discovery.
- Multi-lingual to operate in an international context.
- Supervision skills for communications and administrative staff.
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS:
Application must be submitted by 11:55 p.m. (ET) of the posting end date.
Nominations
Nominations are welcome. Nominations need to include the complete name and address of the nominee. This information should be sent to:
Please refer to Requisition # 540016
Dr. Felipe Ferrao
Chair, Search and Screen Committee
University of Florida
Horticultural Sciences Department
2560 Hull Road, bldg. 0906
Gainesville, FL 32611
Electronic Mail: lferrao@ufl.edu
Application Information
Individuals wishing to apply should go online to Careers at UF and submit:
- Cover letter that states applicant’s interest in the position and qualifications relative to the credentials listed above
- Curriculum vitae
- Contact information (including email addresses) for three individuals willing to write letters of recommendation
- Unofficial transcripts
Selected candidate will be required to provide an official transcript to the hiring department upon hire. A transcript will not be considered “official” if a designation of “Issued to Student” is visible. Degrees earned from an education institution outside of the United States are required to be evaluated by a professional credentialing service provider approved by National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).
Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the US. The University of Florida is a public institution and subject to all requirements under Florida Sunshine and Public Record laws. The University and greater Gainesville community enjoy a variety of cultural events, restaurants, year-round outdoor recreational activities, and social opportunities.
HEALTH ASSESSMENT REQUIRED: No
ADVERTISED:
27 May 2026 Eastern Daylight Time
APPLICATIONS CLOSE:
10 Jun 2026 Eastern Daylight Time
JOB NO:
540016
WORK TYPE:
Non-Tenure-Track Faculty
LOCATION:
Main Campus (Gainesville, FL)
CATEGORIES:
Biology/Life Science, Agricultural Sciences
DEPARTMENT:
60230000 - AG-HORTICULTURAL SCIENCES
CLASSIFICATION TITLE:
Res Ast Sctst
CLASSIFICATION MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
Highest degree possible in field; Evidence of pertinent experience for the position and qualities for the academic unit.
JOB DESCRIPTION:
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is creating an environment that affirms community across all dimensions. If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call 352-392-2477 or the Florida Relay System at 800-955-8771 (TDD) or visit Accessibility at UF.
This is a 12-month non-tenure-accruing position that will be 100% research (Blueberry Breeding Program), available in the Horticultural Sciences Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, at the University of Florida. This assignment may change in accordance with the needs of the Blueberry Breeding Program.
The faculty member will serve as the Phenomics and Digital Breeding Team Leader. Duties will include working closely with the Blueberry Breeding Program’s Director to integrate advanced technologies and data-driven approaches to accelerate the development of superior cultivars at the University of Florida. Additionally, the faculty member will work on elaborating research lines, managing projects, securing collaboration and funds, and actively supporting the implementation of robotics and computer vision-based systems for high-throughput phenotyping, multi-domain data integration, target environment prediction, and other key areas to support Florida’s agriculture sector. The research outcome is both for research and operation, and the faculty member will be responsible for reporting progress, outputs, and impacts to interested stakeholders.
Background Information:
The Horticultural Sciences Department is a unit within IFAS at the University of Florida and has a variety of teaching, research, and extension education programs with 34 faculty in Gainesville and 26 faculty at various Research and Education Centers throughout the state. The Horticultural Sciences Department is currently ranked top 9 in the center for world university rankings.
The Blueberry Breeding Program is part of the Horticultural Science Department and is directed and led by Dr. Patricio Munoz, an associate professor with over 18 years of expertise in plant breeding. The program aims to develop new blueberry cultivars and advance research methodologies to expedite the cultivar development process.
The University of Florida is a Land-Grant, Sea-Grant, and Space-Grant institution, encompassing virtually all academic and professional disciplines, with an enrollment of more than 56,000 students. UF is a member of The Association of American Universities. The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences includes the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, the Florida Cooperative Extension Service, the College of Veterinary Medicine, the Florida Sea Grant program, and encompasses 16 on-campus academic departments and schools, 12 Research and Educational Centers (REC) located throughout the state, 6 Research sites/demonstration units administered by RECs or academic departments, and Florida Cooperative Extension Service offices in all 67 counties (counties operate and maintain). The School of Natural Resources and Environment is an interdisciplinary unit housed in IFAS and managed by several colleges on campus. UF/IFAS employs nearly 4,500 people, which includes approximately 990 salaried faculty and 1,400 permanent support personnel located in Gainesville and throughout the state. IFAS, one of the nation’s largest agricultural and natural resources research and education organizations, is administered by a Vice President and four deans: the Dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the Dean for Extension and Director of the Florida Cooperative Extension Service, the Dean for Research and Director of the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, and the Dean for the College of Veterinary Medicine. UF/IFAS also engages in cooperative work with Florida A&M University in Tallahassee.
EXPECTED SALARY:
Commensurate with Education and Experience
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
A doctorate (foreign equivalent acceptable) in plant breeding, agricultural engineering, computer science or a closely related discipline is required. Candidates must also have hands-on experience in areas involving plant breeding technologies, field trials, high-throughput phenotyping, computer vision, and data-driven machine learning/AI approaches. Also, faculty must have demonstrated skills in verbal and written communication, interpersonal relationships, and procurement of extramural funding. Candidates must be supportive of the mission of the Land-Grant system. Candidates must also have a commitment to UF core values.
PREFERRED:
- Postdoctoral experience or equivalent industry experience in plant breeding, phenomics, or digital agriculture, working with blueberry or any specialty crops.
- Experience integrating multi-domain datasets (phenomics, genomics, environomics) for decision-making or prediction.
- Experience with computer vision, UAVs, robotics, or automation in agricultural systems.
- Experience collaborating with industry partners and translating research into applied outcomes.
- Demonstrated project management and leadership experience, including building collaborations among a variety of interdisciplinary scientific teams.
- Grant writing and budgeting for scientific discovery.
- Multi-lingual to operate in an international context.
- Supervision skills for communications and administrative staff.
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS:
Application must be submitted by 11:55 p.m. (ET) of the posting end date.
Nominations
Nominations are welcome. Nominations need to include the complete name and address of the nominee. This information should be sent to:
Please refer to Requisition # 540016
Dr. Felipe Ferrao
Chair, Search and Screen Committee
University of Florida
Horticultural Sciences Department
2560 Hull Road, bldg. 0906
Gainesville, FL 32611
Electronic Mail: lferrao@ufl.edu
Application Information
Individuals wishing to apply should go online to Careers at UF and submit:
- Cover letter that states applicant’s interest in the position and qualifications relative to the credentials listed above
- Curriculum vitae
- Contact information (including email addresses) for three individuals willing to write letters of recommendation
- Unofficial transcripts
Selected candidate will be required to provide an official transcript to the hiring department upon hire. A transcript will not be considered “official” if a designation of “Issued to Student” is visible. Degrees earned from an education institution outside of the United States are required to be evaluated by a professional credentialing service provider approved by National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).
Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the US. The University of Florida is a public institution and subject to all requirements under Florida Sunshine and Public Record laws. The University and greater Gainesville community enjoy a variety of cultural events, restaurants, year-round outdoor recreational activities, and social opportunities.
HEALTH ASSESSMENT REQUIRED: No
ADVERTISED:
27 May 2026 Eastern Daylight Time
APPLICATIONS CLOSE:
10 Jun 2026 Eastern Daylight Time
Research Assistant Job Roles in Florida
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Search Research Assistant Jobs in FloridaResearch Assistant Jobs in Florida: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies and institutions sponsor visas for research assistants in Florida?
The largest sponsors of research assistant roles in Florida are universities and academic medical centers. The University of Florida, University of Miami, Florida International University, University of South Florida, and Florida State University regularly file H-1B visa petitions for research positions. Moffitt Cancer Center and several pharmaceutical and biotech companies operating in the Tampa Bay and Miami corridors also have documented sponsorship histories.
What visa types are most common for research assistant roles in Florida?
H-1B is the most common visa for research assistant positions that require a bachelor's degree or higher in a specific field such as biology, chemistry, or engineering. J-1 visas are widely used at Florida universities for research scholars and short-term research programs. Some postdoctoral research assistants transition from F-1 OPT or STEM OPT while their employer pursues an H-1B petition on their behalf.
Which Florida cities have the most research assistant visa sponsorship jobs?
Gainesville has a high concentration of research assistant roles tied to the University of Florida and its affiliated research institutes. Miami and Coral Gables are active due to the University of Miami and its medical research programs. Tampa is another strong market anchored by the University of South Florida and Moffitt Cancer Center. Tallahassee and Orlando also have consistent openings through Florida State University and UCF respectively.
How to find research assistant visa sponsorship jobs in Florida?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically by visa sponsorship availability, making it easier to identify research assistant openings in Florida without sorting through positions that don't support international candidates. You can search by role and state to surface active postings at Florida universities, medical centers, and research institutions. This saves time compared to manually checking each employer's hiring status for sponsorship.
Are there any Florida-specific considerations for research assistants seeking visa sponsorship?
Florida's concentration of research activity in life sciences, marine science, and clinical trials means many sponsoring employers are universities or nonprofit research centers rather than private companies. These institutions tend to follow structured hiring cycles aligned with academic calendars, so application timelines can differ from the private sector. Research assistants on F-1 STEM OPT should account for H-1B cap deadlines when planning their transition at Florida employers who are cap-subject.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored research assistant jobs in Florida?
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.