Research Assistant Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Illinois
Illinois is one of the strongest states for research assistant visa sponsorship, anchored by world-class institutions like the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Argonne National Laboratory. Chicago leads in sponsored positions, with additional opportunities in Evanston and Champaign-Urbana across life sciences, social sciences, and engineering research.
Find Research Assistant JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 59+ Research Assistant Jobs in Illinois with Visa Sponsorship
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
See all 59+ Research Assistant Jobs in Illinois with Visa Sponsorship
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Research Assistant Jobs in Illinois with Visa Sponsorship.
Get Access To All JobsPosition Details
Job Title RESEARCH ASST I
Position Number 8151030
Work Modality Fully In-Person
Is this request for the creation of a new Position (or the modification of an existing Position) to temporarily support the WorkDay ERP? No
Job Category University Staff
Job Type Full-Time
FLSA Status Non-Exempt
Campus Maywood-Health Sciences Campus
Department Name SURGERY
Location Code SURGERY (06740A)
Is this split and/or fully grant funded? Yes
Duties and Responsibilities
- Carry out experiments as instructed by Principle Investigator (PI). Assist with experimental procedures involving tissue or cell cultures, preparing reagents and solutions, and making direct experimental measurements.
- Perform techniques and assist with experiments specific to lab and in accordance with direction from individual PI.
- Gather, organize, and record data. Perform simple analysis of results. May assist with library and/or electronic research. Incorporate new protocols and methodology into work as directed by PI and/or senior lab staff.
Minimum Education and/or Work Experience
Education Required: Bachelors Degree OR equivalent training acquired via work experience or education
Education Preferred: Bachelors Degree in Chemistry or Biology
Experience Required: None
Experience Preferred: 1-2 years of previous job-related experience
Qualifications
Education Required: Bachelors Degree OR equivalent training acquired via work experience or education
Education Preferred: Bachelors Degree in Chemistry or Biology
Experience Required: None
Experience Preferred: 1-2 years of previous job-related experience
Certificates/Credentials/Licenses N/A
Computer Skills Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
Supervisory Responsibilities No
Required operation of university owned vehicles No
Does this position require direct animal or patient contact? Yes
Physical Demands Lifting, Carrying, Standing, Repetitive Motions
Working Conditions Animals
Open Date 06/02/2026
Close Date
Position Maximum Salary or Hourly Rate $20/hr
Position Minimum Salary or Hourly Rate $16.60/hr
Special Instructions to Applicants As a Jesuit, Catholic institution of higher education, we seek candidates who will contribute to our strategic plan to deliver a Transformative Education in the Jesuit tradition. To learn more about Loyola University Chicago’s mission, candidates should consult our website at www.luc.edu/mission/. For information about the university’s focus on transformative education, they should consult our website at www.luc.edu/transformativeed.
About Loyola University Chicago Founded in 1870, Loyola University Chicago is one of the nation’s largest Jesuit, Catholic universities, recognized for its academic excellence, commitment to community engagement, and leadership in sustainability. A Carnegie R1 research institution, Loyola leverages its status as one of an elite group of universities with the highest level of research activity to advance knowledge that serves communities and creates global impact. With 15 schools, colleges, and institutes—including Business, Law, Medicine, Nursing, and Health Sciences—Loyola operates three primary campuses in the greater Chicago area and one in Rome, Italy, that provide students a transformative, globally connected learning experience. Consistently ranked among the nation’s top universities by U.S. News & World Report, Loyola is a STARS Gold-rated institution that is ranked as one of the country’s most sustainable campuses by The Princeton Review and has earned distinctions from AmeriCorps and the Carnegie Foundation for its longstanding record of service and community engagement. Guided by its Jesuit mission and commitment to caring for the whole person, Loyola educates ethical leaders who think critically, act with purpose, and strive to create a more just and sustainable world.
Loyola University Chicago strives to be an employer of choice by offering its staff and faculty a wide array of affordable, comprehensive, and competitive benefits. To view our benefits in detail, click here.
Loyola adheres to all applicable federal, state, and/or local civil rights laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination in private institutions of higher education. Please see the University’s Nondiscrimination Policy.
Position Details
Job Title RESEARCH ASST I
Position Number 8151030
Work Modality Fully In-Person
Is this request for the creation of a new Position (or the modification of an existing Position) to temporarily support the WorkDay ERP? No
Job Category University Staff
Job Type Full-Time
FLSA Status Non-Exempt
Campus Maywood-Health Sciences Campus
Department Name SURGERY
Location Code SURGERY (06740A)
Is this split and/or fully grant funded? Yes
Duties and Responsibilities
- Carry out experiments as instructed by Principle Investigator (PI). Assist with experimental procedures involving tissue or cell cultures, preparing reagents and solutions, and making direct experimental measurements.
- Perform techniques and assist with experiments specific to lab and in accordance with direction from individual PI.
- Gather, organize, and record data. Perform simple analysis of results. May assist with library and/or electronic research. Incorporate new protocols and methodology into work as directed by PI and/or senior lab staff.
Minimum Education and/or Work Experience
Education Required: Bachelors Degree OR equivalent training acquired via work experience or education
Education Preferred: Bachelors Degree in Chemistry or Biology
Experience Required: None
Experience Preferred: 1-2 years of previous job-related experience
Qualifications
Education Required: Bachelors Degree OR equivalent training acquired via work experience or education
Education Preferred: Bachelors Degree in Chemistry or Biology
Experience Required: None
Experience Preferred: 1-2 years of previous job-related experience
Certificates/Credentials/Licenses N/A
Computer Skills Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
Supervisory Responsibilities No
Required operation of university owned vehicles No
Does this position require direct animal or patient contact? Yes
Physical Demands Lifting, Carrying, Standing, Repetitive Motions
Working Conditions Animals
Open Date 06/02/2026
Close Date
Position Maximum Salary or Hourly Rate $20/hr
Position Minimum Salary or Hourly Rate $16.60/hr
Special Instructions to Applicants As a Jesuit, Catholic institution of higher education, we seek candidates who will contribute to our strategic plan to deliver a Transformative Education in the Jesuit tradition. To learn more about Loyola University Chicago’s mission, candidates should consult our website at www.luc.edu/mission/. For information about the university’s focus on transformative education, they should consult our website at www.luc.edu/transformativeed.
About Loyola University Chicago Founded in 1870, Loyola University Chicago is one of the nation’s largest Jesuit, Catholic universities, recognized for its academic excellence, commitment to community engagement, and leadership in sustainability. A Carnegie R1 research institution, Loyola leverages its status as one of an elite group of universities with the highest level of research activity to advance knowledge that serves communities and creates global impact. With 15 schools, colleges, and institutes—including Business, Law, Medicine, Nursing, and Health Sciences—Loyola operates three primary campuses in the greater Chicago area and one in Rome, Italy, that provide students a transformative, globally connected learning experience. Consistently ranked among the nation’s top universities by U.S. News & World Report, Loyola is a STARS Gold-rated institution that is ranked as one of the country’s most sustainable campuses by The Princeton Review and has earned distinctions from AmeriCorps and the Carnegie Foundation for its longstanding record of service and community engagement. Guided by its Jesuit mission and commitment to caring for the whole person, Loyola educates ethical leaders who think critically, act with purpose, and strive to create a more just and sustainable world.
Loyola University Chicago strives to be an employer of choice by offering its staff and faculty a wide array of affordable, comprehensive, and competitive benefits. To view our benefits in detail, click here.
Loyola adheres to all applicable federal, state, and/or local civil rights laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination in private institutions of higher education. Please see the University’s Nondiscrimination Policy.
Research Assistant Job Roles in Illinois
See all 59+ Research Assistant Jobs in Illinois
Sign up for free to filter by visa type, set job alerts, and find employers with verified sponsorship history.
Search Research Assistant Jobs in IllinoisResearch Assistant Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies and institutions sponsor visas for research assistants in Illinois?
Universities are the dominant sponsors for research assistant roles in Illinois. The University of Chicago, Northwestern University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and University of Illinois Chicago have consistent track records of sponsoring international researchers. Beyond academia, Argonne National Laboratory and Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory regularly sponsor research staff. Some pharmaceutical and biotech firms in the Chicago metro area also sponsor for research-focused roles.
Which visa types are most common for research assistant roles in Illinois?
H-1B visa is the most common visa for research assistant positions that require a relevant bachelor's or advanced degree and qualify as specialty occupations. J-1 visa exchange visitor visas are widely used at Illinois universities for short-term or postdoctoral research arrangements. OPT and STEM OPT allow international students already in Illinois to work as research assistants without employer sponsorship during their authorized period.
How to find research assistant visa sponsorship jobs in Illinois?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for international job seekers and filters research assistant roles in Illinois by visa sponsorship status, saving you from manually screening hundreds of postings. University career portals at institutions like UChicago and Northwestern list lab and research positions directly, but Migrate Mate aggregates sponsored openings across employers in one place, which is especially useful when you're targeting Illinois specifically.
Which cities in Illinois have the most research assistant sponsorship jobs?
Chicago has the highest concentration of sponsored research assistant positions, driven by UChicago, UIC, Rush University Medical Center, and private research organizations. Evanston is significant due to Northwestern University's research output. Champaign-Urbana is a major hub through the University of Illinois system, particularly for engineering, computer science, and agricultural research. Smaller clusters exist near Argonne and Fermilab in the western suburbs.
Are there any Illinois-specific considerations for research assistant visa sponsorship?
Illinois research assistants sponsored on H-1B visas must be paid at or above the prevailing wage for their role and location as determined by Department of Labor standards. University-employed research assistants often fall under cap-exempt H-1B rules, meaning positions at qualifying institutions are not subject to the annual lottery. This cap-exempt status is a meaningful distinction for international candidates weighing Illinois academic employers against private-sector options.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored research assistant jobs in Illinois?
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.