Principal Research Scientist Visa Sponsorship Jobs in New Jersey
Principal research scientist visa sponsorship jobs in New Jersey are concentrated in the state's dense pharmaceutical and biotech corridor, with major employers including Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Pfizer operating large R&D campuses in cities such as New Brunswick, Rahway, Kenilworth, and Princeton. Academic medical centers and research institutions add further opportunities across the state.
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INTRODUCTION
The Director (Principal Scientist) has primary responsibility for the planning and directing clinical research activities involving new or marketed medicines in the Atherosclerosis section of the Atherosclerosis & Metabolism therapeutic area. Our company's Atherosclerosis & Metabolism medicines span all phases of clinical development (pre-clinical to post-licensure). The Director will manage the entire cycle of clinical development for late-stage studies, including study design, initiation, execution, monitoring, analysis, regulatory reporting, and publication.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Specifically, The Director May Be Responsible For:
- Planning clinical trials (design, operational plans, settings) based on these clinical development strategies
- Monitoring and managing the conduct of ongoing or new clinical trials for investigational or marketed Atherosclerosis & Metabolism drugs
- Analyzing and summarizing the clinical findings from studies to support decisions regarding safety and efficacy as well as new drug applications, clinical study reports, or publication
- Participation in internal and joint internal/external research project teams relevant to the development of new compounds, and the further study of marketed compounds
- Support of business development assessments of external opportunities
The Director may:
Collaborate with the Clinical Scientists in the execution of clinical studies. Work closely with a cross-functional group of experts in commercialization, regulatory affairs, statistics, and manufacturing to manage clinical development projects; and assist the team in ensuring that appropriate Corporate personnel are informed of the progress of studies of our company and competitors' drugs, and of internal and external expert opinion on scientific questions relevant to his/her areas of responsibility.
The Director is responsible for maintaining a strong scientific fund of knowledge by:
- Maintaining awareness of scientific developments within his/her area of expertise, in terms of new scientific findings, research methodologies
- Identifying scientifically and operationally strong investigators who can assist in the development of our company's investigational and marketed drugs
- Establishing communications with prominent clinical investigators in his/her particular field of interest, particularly those who will be willing and able to assist in the evaluation of our company's drugs
- Attending appropriate scientific meetings to maintain his or her competency and to maintain awareness of research activities in his/her area of responsibility.
To accomplish these goals, the Director may:
- Author detailed development documents, presentations, budgets, and position papers for internal and external audiences
- Facilitate collaborations with external researchers around the world
- Travel on company business about twenty (20) percent of the time to manage future or ongoing clinical research projects.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Education:
- M.D or M.D./Ph.D.
Required:
- Must have experience in industry or senior faculty in academia
- Minimum of 3 years of clinical medicine experience
- Minimum of 1 year of industry experience in drug development or biomedical research experience in academia
- Demonstrated record of scientific scholarship and achievement
- Proven track record in clinical medicine and background in biomedical research
- Strong interpersonal skills, as well as the ability to function in a team environment
- Strong verbal and written communication and presentation skills
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Board Certified or Eligible in Cardiology (adult or pediatric), Endocrinology, or Nephrology or related discipline
- Prior specific experience in clinical research and prior publication
REQUIRED SKILLS
Academic Presentations, Academic Research, Adaptability, Allergy and Immunology, Biomedical Research, Biotechnology, Clinical Development, Clinical Investigations, Clinical Judgment, Clinical Protocols, Clinical Reporting, Clinical Research, Clinical Sciences, Clinical Trial Development, Clinical Trial Planning, Clinical Trial Support, Contract Research Organizations (CROs), Cross-Functional Teamwork, Drug Research, Ethical Standards, Intellectual Curiosity, New Technology Integration, Pharmaceutical Industry, Pharmaceutical Research
PREFERRED SKILLS
Current Employees apply HERE
Current Contingent Workers apply HERE
US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:
Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.
As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:
EEOC Know Your Rights
EEOC GINA Supplement
We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing together, talented, and committed people with diverse experiences, perspectives, skills and backgrounds. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when people with diverse ideas, broad experiences, backgrounds, and skills come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively.
Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts
LOCATION
The primary location for this posting is:
USA - New Jersey - Rahway
COMPENSATION
The salary range for the primary location of this role is:
$255,800.00 - $402,700.00
This range reflects the Company's reasonable expectation of the base salary applicable to this role at the time of posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, government requirements, and business or organizational needs. The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.
We offer a comprehensive package of benefits. Available benefits include medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, including 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days. More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.
ADDITIONAL LOCATION(S)
Please note the salary range above applies to the Primary Location of the position. Where a role has other listed locations, different compensation guidelines may apply. You may find the salary ranges for additional locations below. If the salary range is not listed for the location you are applying to, our Talent Acquisition team will provide further information to you relevant to your location.
ADDITIONAL LOCATION(S) COMPENSATION INFORMATION:
San Francisco Residents Only: We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance
Los Angeles Residents Only: We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance
SEARCH FIRM REPRESENTATIVES PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.
EMPLOYEE STATUS:
Regular
RELOCATION:
VISA SPONSORSHIP:
TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:
FLEXIBLE WORK ARRANGEMENTS:
Hybrid
JOB POSTING END DATE:
11/23/2026*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.
REQUISITION ID: R418929
Principal Research Scientist Job Roles in New Jersey
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Search Principal Research Scientist Jobs in New JerseyPrincipal Research Scientist Jobs in New Jersey: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies in New Jersey sponsor visas for principal research scientists?
New Jersey's pharmaceutical and life sciences sector drives most principal research scientist sponsorship. Johnson & Johnson in New Brunswick, Merck in Rahway, Bristol Myers Squibb in Princeton, and Pfizer in Parsippany have established track records of sponsoring H-1B visa and employment-based green card petitions for research roles. Chemical companies such as BASF and specialty biotech firms operating in the state also sponsor regularly for senior research positions.
Which visa types realistically apply to principal research scientist roles in New Jersey?
Principal research scientist roles typically qualify as specialty occupations requiring a directly related advanced degree, making H-1B the most common path. H-1B1 visa is available to Chilean and Singaporean nationals. F-1 students may use OPT or, if their degree is STEM-designated, the 24-month STEM OPT extension. For career-track positions, employers often sponsor EB-2 or EB-3 green cards, with EB-2 National Interest Waivers available to researchers demonstrating significant scientific contributions.
Which cities in New Jersey have the most principal research scientist sponsorship jobs?
Princeton and its surrounding Mercer County area, New Brunswick in Middlesex County, and Rahway in Union County represent the highest concentration of principal research scientist sponsorship opportunities, anchored by major pharmaceutical campuses. Parsippany, Titusville, and Kenilworth also host significant R&D operations. The Route 1 corridor from Princeton to Edison is particularly active, functioning as the state's primary pharmaceutical research belt.
How to find principal research scientist visa sponsorship jobs in New Jersey?
Migrate Mate is the recommended starting point for principal research scientist visa sponsorship jobs in New Jersey, as it lists employers with verified sponsorship history filtered to this role and state. Because New Jersey's pharmaceutical corridor is competitive at the principal scientist level, focusing on employers with active H-1B and PERM filing histories for research roles helps identify realistic sponsorship opportunities rather than companies that rarely sponsor at this seniority.
What state-specific factors should principal research scientists know about New Jersey sponsorship?
New Jersey's dense concentration of global pharmaceutical headquarters means many principal research scientist roles involve multinational employers experienced with complex immigration cases, including PERM labor certification and EB-2 NIW petitions. University affiliations with Rutgers, Princeton, and Rowan University also generate research positions that may qualify for cap-exempt H-1B status. Competition at the principal level is high, so candidates with published research records and specialized expertise in areas like oncology, genomics, or computational biology are most actively recruited.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored principal research scientist jobs in New Jersey?
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.