Research Assistant Visa Sponsorship Jobs in New York
New York is one of the most active states for research assistant visa sponsorship, driven by world-class institutions like Columbia University, NYU, Memorial Sloan Kettering, and Rockefeller University. Opportunities are concentrated in New York City, but Buffalo and Albany also have significant academic and government research presence. Most sponsored roles sit within universities, hospitals, and pharmaceutical research organizations.
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Job Type: Support Staff - Union
Bargaining Unit: SSA
Regular/Temporary: Regular
End Date if Temporary:
Hours Per Week: 35
Standard Work Schedule:
Building:
Salary Range: $61,692.40 - $61,692.40
The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.
Position Summary
The Phatnani Lab within the Neurology Department at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and the New York Genome Center is seeking to recruit hard-working, ambitious, and energetic Research Assistant to join the team. Research in the Phatnani Lab primarily focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative disease. The Lab examines the relationship between mutations, gene expression, and disease mechanisms using whole-genome sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, single-nucleus (sn)-resolved epigenomics, snRNA-seq, and multiplex protein imaging. The Research Assistant will assist the Associate Research Scientist and other research staff with next-generation sequencing techniques and imaging on postmortem human tissue, as well as general lab management tasks.
Responsibilities
- Sectioning, in situ hybridization, and antibody staining of tissues for gene expression analysis RNA extraction and purification
- Cortical and spinal cord dissections
- Assist in RNAseq library preparation, high and low input.
- Proficient in Visium workflows
- Maintain the established Visium and RNAseq workflow without supervision
- Assist with maintaining the imaging data and the inventory of samples
- Effective and proactive at analyzing and presenting Visium/RNAseq run results and independently determining the next steps.
- Implements complex protocols (e.g., the Visium IF).
- Executes experiments, makes progress, and troubleshoots across multiple experiments simultaneously.
- Implement and track specimens.
- Responsible for managing and training all incoming technical staff.
- Assist the scientific program manager with all regulatory paperwork as related to grants, including, but not limited to: Data Use Agreements, Material Transfer Agreements, and service contracts.
- Presents results during group meetings.
- Presents at NIH Project Scientist Meeting
- Attends conferences and assists with manuscript writing.
- Other duties as assigned.
Administrative
- Responsible for pCard and CU marketplace purchasing of consumables and reagents
- Reconciling pCard invoices
- Managing the ordering platform Quartzy, to ensure the shipments are received properly
- Maintaining and updating all necessary lab protocols and training for the lab
Minimum Qualifications
Requires a bachelor’s degree and at least 1.5 years of related experience or equivalent in education, training and experience.
Preferred Qualifications
- Comfort level with dissections preferred.
- Knowledge of various related laboratory procedures and techniques preferred.
- 3+ years of related experience preferred.
- B.Sc. or M.Sc. in Molecular Biology (or related field).
- Previous experience with spatial transcriptomics techniques is a plus
- Image analysis
- Extensive NGS experience and knowledge required: preparation of RNAseq libraries with high and low input, troubleshooting, and analyzing QC pre- and post-sequencing.
- Significant understanding of neurobiology and neurodegenerative disease a plus.
Other Qualifications
- Self-driven, accountable, and capable of performing experiments without direct supervision.
- The ability to clearly communicate data and findings in weekly meetings and presentations is necessary.
- Significant understanding of neurobiology and neurodegenerative disease.
- Exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to maintain detailed written records of research.
- Independence and a high degree of flexibility will be beneficial in a novel and rapidly changing research environment.
Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran
Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.
Research Assistant Job Roles in New York
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Search Research Assistant Jobs in New YorkResearch Assistant Jobs in New York: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies and institutions sponsor visas for research assistants in New York?
Universities and academic medical centers are the most active sponsors in New York. Columbia University, NYU, Cornell's medical campus, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Rockefeller University, and Mount Sinai Health System regularly file H-1B visa petitions for research assistant roles. Pharmaceutical and biotech firms operating in the New York metro area, including those with Manhattan and New Jersey-adjacent campuses, also sponsor research positions with meaningful frequency.
Which visa types are most common for research assistant roles in New York?
The H-1B is the most common visa for research assistant positions that require a bachelor's degree or higher in a relevant field such as biology, chemistry, or neuroscience. Many university-based roles qualify as cap-exempt H-1B positions, meaning they are not subject to the annual lottery. J-1 visa research scholar visas are also widely used at New York academic institutions, though they operate under a separate sponsorship framework managed by the host institution.
Which cities in New York have the most research assistant visa sponsorship jobs?
New York City accounts for the overwhelming majority of sponsored research assistant positions in the state, particularly in Manhattan neighborhoods like Washington Heights, the Upper East Side, and Midtown where major medical centers and universities are based. Buffalo has a secondary concentration around the University at Buffalo and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. Albany sees activity tied to state government research programs and the University at Albany.
How to find research assistant visa sponsorship jobs in New York?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically by visa sponsorship availability, making it straightforward to find research assistant roles in New York without sorting through positions that don't sponsor. You can narrow results by location and role type to surface openings at universities, hospitals, and research institutes across the state. This saves significant time compared to manually checking individual institution career pages.
Are there state-specific considerations for research assistant visa sponsorship in New York?
New York's concentration of cap-exempt employers, particularly universities and affiliated nonprofit research organizations, is a meaningful advantage for international research assistants. Cap-exempt H-1B petitions can be filed at any time of year and are not subject to the lottery. New York also has a well-developed postdoctoral and graduate research pipeline that institutions use to identify sponsored hires, so targeting roles at institutions with active research funding strengthens your chances of finding a sponsoring employer.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored research assistant jobs in New York?
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.