Research Assistant Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Tennessee
Research assistant visa sponsorship jobs in Tennessee are concentrated at major research universities and medical institutions, including Vanderbilt University, the University of Tennessee, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Nashville, Knoxville, and Oak Ridge are the primary hiring hubs, spanning biomedical research, energy sciences, and social science disciplines.
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Discover Vanderbilt University Medical Center: Located in Nashville, Tennessee, and operating at a global crossroads of teaching, discovery, and patient care, VUMC is a community of individuals who come to work each day with the simple aim of changing the world. It is a place where your expertise will be valued, your knowledge expanded, and your abilities challenged. Vanderbilt Health is committed to an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and where your uniqueness is sought and celebrated. It is a place where employees know they are part of something that is bigger than themselves, take exceptional pride in their work and never settle for what was good enough yesterday. Vanderbilt’s mission is to advance health and wellness through preeminent programs in patient care, education, and research.
Organization:
Psychiatry Central Admin
Job Summary:
The Reactivity and Regulation Lab at Vanderbilt University Medical Center is seeking a full-time Research Assistant (RA) who will contribute to multiple aspects of research projects studying early life adversity and emotion regulation in adolescents using behavioral, physiological, and neuroimaging (fMRI) methods. The RA will oversee the daily functions within the lab.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Key responsibilities include recruiting participants, gathering behavioral data through surveys and interviews, gathering saliva samples, gathering and preprocessing fMRI data, conducting data analysis, and managing administrative tasks. Additional responsibilities will be tailored to the RA’s background and preferences. This role necessitates strong communication and organizational abilities. For more information about the lab visit www.regulatelab.com.
REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
Bachelor’s degree in psychology, neuroscience, computer science, or a related field.
Previous experience working in a research lab.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES/COMPETENCIES
- Organizing and executing study protocols involving both children and adults (recruitment, scheduling, running participant visits).
- Gathering and analyzing behavioral, physiological, and neuroimaging data.
- Conducting interviews and administering surveys that involve sensitive information, including history of maltreatment and mental health symptoms.
- Mentoring and overseeing undergraduate research assistants to ensure smooth operation of projects.
- Managing administrative tasks (e.g., data organization, maintain inventory, oversee budget, upkeep of websites and participant recruitment platforms).
- Conducting comprehensive literature searches and reviews to support manuscript preparation.
- Willingness to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends as needed.
- Follow safety protocols.
- Prepare and operate equipment in experimental protocols.
- Prepare and maintain IRB protocols.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Proficiency in coding (e.g., E-Prine, psychopy, python, R).
- Demonstrated interest in neuroscience research.
- Familiarity with any of the following tools: FSL, Freesurfer, SPSS, R.
- Experience creating and administering online surveys via REDCap.
TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES
Our Academic Enterprise is one of the nation’s longest serving and most prestigious academic medical centers. Through its historic bond with Vanderbilt University and integral role in the School of Medicine, Vanderbilt Health cultivates distinguished research and educational programs to advance a clinical enterprise that provides compassionate and personalized care and support for millions of patients and family members each year.
World-leading academic departments and comprehensive centers of excellence pursue scientific discoveries and transformational educational and clinical advances across the entire spectrum of health and disease.
Aligning with Vanderbilt Health’s Strategic Directions, the Office of Research provides shared research resources, administrative expertise and professional guidance to enable the trans-disciplinary environment and highly collaborative culture that advances discovery and training for all the research faculty, trainees, students and staff.
Core Accountabilities:
- Organizational Impact: Delivers job responsibilities that impact own job area/team with some guidance.
- Problem Solving/ Complexity of work: Uses existing procedures, research and analysis to solve standard job related problems that may require some judgement.
- Breadth of Knowledge: Requires subject matter knowledge within a professional area to meet job requirements.
- Team Interaction: Individually contributes to project/work teams.
Core Capabilities:
Supporting Colleagues:
- Develops Self and Others: Continuously improves own skills by identifying development opportunities.
- Builds and Maintains Relationships: Seeks to understand colleagues priorities, working styles and develops relationships across areas.
- Communicates Effectively: Openly shares information with others and communicates in a clear and courteous manner.
Delivering Excellent Services:
- Serves Others with Compassion: Invests time to understand the problems, needs of others and how to provide excellent service.
- Solves Complex Problems: Seeks to understand issues, solves routine problems, and raises proper concerns to supervisors in a timely manner.
- Offers Meaningful Advice and Support: Listens carefully to understand the issues and provides accurate information and support.
Ensuring High Quality:
- Performs Excellent Work: Checks work quality before delivery and asks relevant questions to meet quality standards.
- Ensures Continuous Improvement: Shows eagerness to learn new knowledge, technologies, tools or systems and displays willingness to go above and beyond.
- Fulfills Safety and Regulatory Requirements: Demonstrates basic knowledge of conditions that affect safety and reports unsafe conditions to the appropriate person or department.
Managing Resources Effectively:
- Demonstrates Accountability: Takes responsibility for completing assigned activities and thinks beyond standard approaches to provide high-quality work/service.
- Stewards Organizational Resources: Displays understanding of how personal actions will impact departmental resources.
- Makes Data Driven Decisions: Uses accurate information and good decision making to consistently achieve results on time and without error.
Fostering Innovation:
- Generates New Ideas: Willingly proposes/accepts ideas or initiatives that will impact day-to-day operations by offering suggestions to enhance them.
- Applies Technology: Absorbs new technology quickly; understands when to utilize the appropriate tools and procedures to ensure proper course of action.
- Adapts to Change: Embraces changes by keeping an open mind to changing plans and incorporates change instructions into own area of work.
Position Qualifications:
Responsibilities:
Certifications:
Work Experience:
Relevant Work Experience
Experience Level:
Less than 1 year
Education:
Bachelor's
Vanderbilt Health is committed to fostering an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and is committed to the principles of equal opportunity. EOE/Vets/Disabled.

Discover Vanderbilt University Medical Center: Located in Nashville, Tennessee, and operating at a global crossroads of teaching, discovery, and patient care, VUMC is a community of individuals who come to work each day with the simple aim of changing the world. It is a place where your expertise will be valued, your knowledge expanded, and your abilities challenged. Vanderbilt Health is committed to an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and where your uniqueness is sought and celebrated. It is a place where employees know they are part of something that is bigger than themselves, take exceptional pride in their work and never settle for what was good enough yesterday. Vanderbilt’s mission is to advance health and wellness through preeminent programs in patient care, education, and research.
Organization:
Psychiatry Central Admin
Job Summary:
The Reactivity and Regulation Lab at Vanderbilt University Medical Center is seeking a full-time Research Assistant (RA) who will contribute to multiple aspects of research projects studying early life adversity and emotion regulation in adolescents using behavioral, physiological, and neuroimaging (fMRI) methods. The RA will oversee the daily functions within the lab.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Key responsibilities include recruiting participants, gathering behavioral data through surveys and interviews, gathering saliva samples, gathering and preprocessing fMRI data, conducting data analysis, and managing administrative tasks. Additional responsibilities will be tailored to the RA’s background and preferences. This role necessitates strong communication and organizational abilities. For more information about the lab visit www.regulatelab.com.
REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
Bachelor’s degree in psychology, neuroscience, computer science, or a related field.
Previous experience working in a research lab.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES/COMPETENCIES
- Organizing and executing study protocols involving both children and adults (recruitment, scheduling, running participant visits).
- Gathering and analyzing behavioral, physiological, and neuroimaging data.
- Conducting interviews and administering surveys that involve sensitive information, including history of maltreatment and mental health symptoms.
- Mentoring and overseeing undergraduate research assistants to ensure smooth operation of projects.
- Managing administrative tasks (e.g., data organization, maintain inventory, oversee budget, upkeep of websites and participant recruitment platforms).
- Conducting comprehensive literature searches and reviews to support manuscript preparation.
- Willingness to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends as needed.
- Follow safety protocols.
- Prepare and operate equipment in experimental protocols.
- Prepare and maintain IRB protocols.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Proficiency in coding (e.g., E-Prine, psychopy, python, R).
- Demonstrated interest in neuroscience research.
- Familiarity with any of the following tools: FSL, Freesurfer, SPSS, R.
- Experience creating and administering online surveys via REDCap.
TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES
Our Academic Enterprise is one of the nation’s longest serving and most prestigious academic medical centers. Through its historic bond with Vanderbilt University and integral role in the School of Medicine, Vanderbilt Health cultivates distinguished research and educational programs to advance a clinical enterprise that provides compassionate and personalized care and support for millions of patients and family members each year.
World-leading academic departments and comprehensive centers of excellence pursue scientific discoveries and transformational educational and clinical advances across the entire spectrum of health and disease.
Aligning with Vanderbilt Health’s Strategic Directions, the Office of Research provides shared research resources, administrative expertise and professional guidance to enable the trans-disciplinary environment and highly collaborative culture that advances discovery and training for all the research faculty, trainees, students and staff.
Core Accountabilities:
- Organizational Impact: Delivers job responsibilities that impact own job area/team with some guidance.
- Problem Solving/ Complexity of work: Uses existing procedures, research and analysis to solve standard job related problems that may require some judgement.
- Breadth of Knowledge: Requires subject matter knowledge within a professional area to meet job requirements.
- Team Interaction: Individually contributes to project/work teams.
Core Capabilities:
Supporting Colleagues:
- Develops Self and Others: Continuously improves own skills by identifying development opportunities.
- Builds and Maintains Relationships: Seeks to understand colleagues priorities, working styles and develops relationships across areas.
- Communicates Effectively: Openly shares information with others and communicates in a clear and courteous manner.
Delivering Excellent Services:
- Serves Others with Compassion: Invests time to understand the problems, needs of others and how to provide excellent service.
- Solves Complex Problems: Seeks to understand issues, solves routine problems, and raises proper concerns to supervisors in a timely manner.
- Offers Meaningful Advice and Support: Listens carefully to understand the issues and provides accurate information and support.
Ensuring High Quality:
- Performs Excellent Work: Checks work quality before delivery and asks relevant questions to meet quality standards.
- Ensures Continuous Improvement: Shows eagerness to learn new knowledge, technologies, tools or systems and displays willingness to go above and beyond.
- Fulfills Safety and Regulatory Requirements: Demonstrates basic knowledge of conditions that affect safety and reports unsafe conditions to the appropriate person or department.
Managing Resources Effectively:
- Demonstrates Accountability: Takes responsibility for completing assigned activities and thinks beyond standard approaches to provide high-quality work/service.
- Stewards Organizational Resources: Displays understanding of how personal actions will impact departmental resources.
- Makes Data Driven Decisions: Uses accurate information and good decision making to consistently achieve results on time and without error.
Fostering Innovation:
- Generates New Ideas: Willingly proposes/accepts ideas or initiatives that will impact day-to-day operations by offering suggestions to enhance them.
- Applies Technology: Absorbs new technology quickly; understands when to utilize the appropriate tools and procedures to ensure proper course of action.
- Adapts to Change: Embraces changes by keeping an open mind to changing plans and incorporates change instructions into own area of work.
Position Qualifications:
Responsibilities:
Certifications:
Work Experience:
Relevant Work Experience
Experience Level:
Less than 1 year
Education:
Bachelor's
Vanderbilt Health is committed to fostering an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and is committed to the principles of equal opportunity. EOE/Vets/Disabled.
Research Assistant Job Roles in Tennessee
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Search Research Assistant Jobs in TennesseeResearch Assistant Jobs in Tennessee: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies and institutions sponsor visas for research assistants in Tennessee?
The most active sponsors for research assistant roles in Tennessee are large research universities and federal research facilities. Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt University Medical Center regularly file H-1B petitions for research staff. The University of Tennessee system, including its Knoxville and Memphis campuses, does the same. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, managed by UT-Battelle, is another significant sponsor, particularly for STEM research positions in energy and materials science.
Which visa types are most common for research assistant jobs in Tennessee?
The H-1B is the most common visa for research assistant roles in Tennessee, particularly at universities and medical centers where positions meet the specialty occupation standard through a required degree in a specific field. J-1 Exchange Visitor visas are also widely used, especially at academic institutions sponsoring international researchers through designated programs. OPT and STEM OPT extensions allow F-1 graduates to work in research roles while remaining on student status.
Which cities in Tennessee have the most research assistant visa sponsorship jobs?
Nashville leads Tennessee for research assistant sponsorship activity, driven by Vanderbilt University, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and a growing life sciences sector. Knoxville is the second major hub, anchored by the University of Tennessee and proximity to Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Oak Ridge itself is a distinct concentration point for federally funded scientific research. Memphis also sees research assistant hiring through the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.
How to find research assistant visa sponsorship jobs in Tennessee?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically by visa sponsorship availability, making it straightforward to search for research assistant roles in Tennessee without sorting through positions that won't support international candidates. You can filter by state and role type to surface openings at Tennessee universities, medical centers, and research institutes. Migrate Mate is built for international job seekers, so every listing reflects employers who have demonstrated willingness to sponsor.
Are there any Tennessee-specific considerations for research assistant visa sponsorship?
Tennessee's research assistant market is heavily tied to university and federal funding cycles, so hiring activity often follows academic calendars and grant award timelines rather than standard corporate recruiting schedules. Positions at Oak Ridge National Laboratory may involve security clearance requirements, which can affect eligibility for some international candidates. University-sponsored roles are also more likely to use the cap-exempt H-1B pathway, which bypasses the annual lottery and allows year-round filing.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored research assistant jobs in Tennessee?
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.
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