Research Scientist Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Iowa
Iowa's research scientist roles are concentrated at major employers like the University of Iowa, Iowa State University, and companies in the agribusiness and biosciences sectors around Ames, Iowa City, and Des Moines. Many of these organizations have established track records of sponsoring work visas for qualified international research talent.
Find Research Scientist JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 12+ Research Scientist Jobs in Iowa 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 Research Scientist Jobs in Iowa with Visa Sponsorship
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Research Scientist Jobs in Iowa with Visa Sponsorship.
Get Access To All JobsRequisition # 4600
Position Basics
Advertising Ends on: Wednesday, July 1st, 2026
Advertising Started on: Tuesday, May 5th, 2026
College: College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
Department: Physics & Astronomy
Salary
Salary: $63,480.00 to Commensurate
Position Details
Full/Part Time Status: Full Time
Percent Time: 100%
Position Description:
Postdoctoral Researcher Position in Solar Wind Data Analysis
The Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Iowa is searching for a postdoctoral research scientist to analyze solar wind plasma data from Parker Solar Probe and other spacecraft. The successful candidate will work in collaboration with Prof. Jasper Halekas and other scientists and engineers at the University of Iowa, as well as team members from other institutions. Duties will include conducting original scientific research focused on existing solar wind data sets, communicating results to the community through publications and talks, and preparing for future missions. The postdoctoral research scientist will join an active space physics group at the University of Iowa, with current involvement in HelioSwarm, TRACERS, Parker Solar Probe, MAVEN, THEMIS-ARTEMIS, Lunar Vertex, Juno, MMS, Voyager, and CASSIOPE e-POP, as well as sounding rockets, CubeSats, and technology development efforts. The University of Iowa is located in Iowa City, an accessible and affordable Midwest college town consistently rated one of the top ten places to live in the country.
Application Instructions
Applicants should submit a curriculum vita, list of publications, a brief statement of research experience and interests, and a list of three professional references through the Jobs@UIOWA website. Review of applications will begin June 1, 2026 and continue until the position is filled. The position is intended to start as soon as July 2026.
Work authorization sponsorship in J-1 status is available for this position.
Education Requirement:
PhD in physics or related field by position start date.
Desirable Qualifications:
- Strong background in space plasma physics.
- Previous experience working with spacecraft data.
- Familiarity with IDL, Python, or comparable programming and computational tools.
Online Application Required Documents
- Curriculum Vita
- Name and Contact Information of References
- Statement of research experience/interests
- List of publications
Number of References: 3
To start the Online Application process for this position, click the "Apply for This Position" button located below the Contact Information.
Contact Information
Contact: Jasper S Halekas - jasper-halekas@uiowa.edu
Clas-Physics & Astronomy
Van Allen Hall
30 North Dubuque Street
414 VAN
Iowa City, IA 52242-1479
Department URL: https://physics.uiowa.edu/
The University of Iowa is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment free from discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), disability, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, service in the U.S. military, sexual orientation, or associational preferences.
Persons with disabilities may contact University Human Resources/Faculty and Staff Disability Services, (319) 335-2660 or fsds@uiowa.edu, to inquire or discuss accommodation needs.
Prospective employees may review the University Campus Security Policy and the latest annual crime statistics by contacting the Department of Public Safety at 319/335-5022.
Requisition # 4600
Position Basics
Advertising Ends on: Wednesday, July 1st, 2026
Advertising Started on: Tuesday, May 5th, 2026
College: College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
Department: Physics & Astronomy
Salary
Salary: $63,480.00 to Commensurate
Position Details
Full/Part Time Status: Full Time
Percent Time: 100%
Position Description:
Postdoctoral Researcher Position in Solar Wind Data Analysis
The Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Iowa is searching for a postdoctoral research scientist to analyze solar wind plasma data from Parker Solar Probe and other spacecraft. The successful candidate will work in collaboration with Prof. Jasper Halekas and other scientists and engineers at the University of Iowa, as well as team members from other institutions. Duties will include conducting original scientific research focused on existing solar wind data sets, communicating results to the community through publications and talks, and preparing for future missions. The postdoctoral research scientist will join an active space physics group at the University of Iowa, with current involvement in HelioSwarm, TRACERS, Parker Solar Probe, MAVEN, THEMIS-ARTEMIS, Lunar Vertex, Juno, MMS, Voyager, and CASSIOPE e-POP, as well as sounding rockets, CubeSats, and technology development efforts. The University of Iowa is located in Iowa City, an accessible and affordable Midwest college town consistently rated one of the top ten places to live in the country.
Application Instructions
Applicants should submit a curriculum vita, list of publications, a brief statement of research experience and interests, and a list of three professional references through the Jobs@UIOWA website. Review of applications will begin June 1, 2026 and continue until the position is filled. The position is intended to start as soon as July 2026.
Work authorization sponsorship in J-1 status is available for this position.
Education Requirement:
PhD in physics or related field by position start date.
Desirable Qualifications:
- Strong background in space plasma physics.
- Previous experience working with spacecraft data.
- Familiarity with IDL, Python, or comparable programming and computational tools.
Online Application Required Documents
- Curriculum Vita
- Name and Contact Information of References
- Statement of research experience/interests
- List of publications
Number of References: 3
To start the Online Application process for this position, click the "Apply for This Position" button located below the Contact Information.
Contact Information
Contact: Jasper S Halekas - jasper-halekas@uiowa.edu
Clas-Physics & Astronomy
Van Allen Hall
30 North Dubuque Street
414 VAN
Iowa City, IA 52242-1479
Department URL: https://physics.uiowa.edu/
The University of Iowa is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment free from discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), disability, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, service in the U.S. military, sexual orientation, or associational preferences.
Persons with disabilities may contact University Human Resources/Faculty and Staff Disability Services, (319) 335-2660 or fsds@uiowa.edu, to inquire or discuss accommodation needs.
Prospective employees may review the University Campus Security Policy and the latest annual crime statistics by contacting the Department of Public Safety at 319/335-5022.
Research Scientist Job Roles in Iowa
See all Research Scientist Jobs in Iowa
Sign up for free to filter by visa type, set job alerts, and find employers with verified sponsorship history.
Search Research Scientist Jobs in IowaResearch Scientist Jobs in Iowa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies sponsor visas for research scientists in Iowa?
Universities are among the most consistent visa sponsors for research scientists in Iowa. The University of Iowa and Iowa State University regularly sponsor H-1B visas for research faculty and postdoctoral researchers. In the private sector, agricultural biotechnology companies operating in the Ames and Des Moines corridors, along with life sciences firms, have documented histories of sponsoring international researchers through H-1B and O-1 visa petitions.
Which visa types are most common for research scientist roles in Iowa?
The H-1B is the most common visa for research scientists in Iowa, as the role typically qualifies as a specialty occupation requiring at least a bachelor's degree in a relevant scientific field. University-employed researchers may also encounter J-1 visa exchange visitor status for postdoctoral positions. Candidates with exceptional records in their field sometimes pursue the O-1A, which is not subject to the annual H-1B lottery.
Which cities in Iowa have the most research scientist sponsorship jobs?
Ames and Iowa City account for the largest share of research scientist sponsorship activity in Iowa, driven by Iowa State University and the University of Iowa respectively. Des Moines has a growing presence in life sciences and agricultural technology that supports additional research hiring. Smaller but notable research activity exists near Cedar Rapids, where food science and agribusiness companies maintain research operations.
How to find research scientist visa sponsorship jobs in Iowa?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically by visa sponsorship availability, making it easier to identify research scientist openings in Iowa without sorting through roles that do not offer sponsorship. You can search by role and state to surface positions at Iowa universities, agricultural biotech firms, and life sciences employers that have actively sponsored international researchers. This saves significant time compared to reviewing employer career pages individually.
Are there state-specific considerations for research scientists pursuing sponsorship in Iowa?
Iowa's research hiring is heavily tied to agriculture, veterinary science, and food technology, so candidates with expertise in those disciplines tend to find more relevant openings than those in fields like finance or urban tech. University positions often come with more structured sponsorship processes than private employers. Prevailing wage requirements apply statewide and are determined by the Department of Labor based on the specific role, level, and work location.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored research scientist jobs in Iowa?
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.