Principal Researcher Visa Sponsorship Jobs in New Jersey
Principal researcher visa sponsorship jobs in New Jersey are concentrated in pharma and biotech hubs along the Route 1 corridor, with major employers including Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Pfizer operating large R&D campuses in cities like New Brunswick, Rahway, and Princeton. Federal contractors and university-affiliated research centers add further depth to the sponsorship market.
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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 Researcher Job Roles in New Jersey
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Search Principal Researcher Jobs in New JerseyPrincipal Researcher Jobs in New Jersey: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies sponsor visas for principal researchers in New Jersey?
New Jersey's pharmaceutical and life sciences sector drives most principal researcher sponsorship. Johnson & Johnson (New Brunswick), Merck (Rahway), Bristol Myers Squibb (Princeton), and Pfizer (Parsippany) have all filed Labor Condition Applications for senior research roles. Medical device companies such as Becton Dickinson and chemical firms like BASF also sponsor principal researchers, particularly those with advanced degrees in chemistry, biology, or materials science.
Which visa types realistically fit principal researcher roles in New Jersey?
The H-1B visa is the most common path for principal researchers, as the role qualifies as a specialty occupation requiring at least a bachelor's degree in a directly related scientific field. Australians may qualify for the E-3 visa, and Chilean and Singaporean nationals may use the H-1B1 visa. For candidates with an advanced degree and exceptional research credentials, EB-1B or EB-2 green card sponsorship is a realistic long-term pathway. J-1 visa exchange visitor status suits postdoctoral researchers at university-affiliated labs.
Which cities in New Jersey have the most principal researcher sponsorship jobs?
Princeton and the surrounding Mercer County area host the densest concentration of principal researcher openings, anchored by pharma headquarters and the proximity to Princeton University. New Brunswick (Middlesex County) is a close second, home to Johnson & Johnson's global R&D base. Rahway, Parsippany, and Kenilworth also appear frequently in LCA filings for senior research roles, reflecting Merck's and other large employers' long-standing presence in those corridors.
How to find principal researcher visa sponsorship jobs in New Jersey?
Migrate Mate lists principal researcher roles at New Jersey employers with verified visa sponsorship history, searchable by city and research discipline. Because principal researcher positions often require a specific degree match for H-1B specialty occupation purposes, filtering by employers with active LCA filing records helps you focus your search on companies already familiar with the sponsorship process rather than those encountering it for the first time.
Are there state-specific or industry factors that affect principal researcher sponsorship in New Jersey?
New Jersey's concentration of Fortune 500 pharma and biotech firms means many employers have established immigration programs and in-house counsel experienced with H-1B and green card filings for research staff. University pipelines from Rutgers, Princeton, and NJIT feed postdoctoral talent into corporate labs, and candidates who transition from a J-1 postdoc to a full-time principal researcher role at the same institution often benefit from employers already holding prevailing wage determinations on file for similar positions.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored principal researcher 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.