Postdoctoral Research Scientist Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Washington DC
Postdoctoral research scientist visa sponsorship jobs in Washington DC are concentrated at institutions like NIH, Georgetown University, George Washington University, and federal research agencies in Bethesda and the broader DC metro area. The region's density of biomedical, policy, and basic science programs makes it one of the most active postdoc hiring markets in the country.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
American University is a student-centered research institution located in Washington, DC, with highly-ranked schools and colleges, internationally-renowned faculty, and a reputation for creating meaningful change in the world. Learn more about American University.
ABOUT THE JOB
The Department of Physics and the Integrated Space Science and Technology Institute (ISSTI) in the College of Arts and Sciences at American University, in partnership with NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), invite applications for a Research Scientist position in integrated photonics, funded by a cooperative agreement between the two institutions. The appointment is a 12-month term position, with the possibility of renewal based on performance and the continued availability of external funding. The successful applicant will join the AURORA (Atmospheric Ultra-High Resolution Optical and Radio-frequency) Pathfinder, a technology demonstration project funded by NASA's Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO). AURORA is developing a millimeter-wave hyperspectral radiometer and advancing it to Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6, with the goal of producing a flight-qualified instrument suitable for spacecraft integration in support of Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL) observations. The instrument is a highly sensitive, heterodyne-based spectrometer built on Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs), incorporating electro-optical modulators, waveguide gratings, optical amplifiers, and photodetectors. The Research Scientist will contribute to the end-to-end engineering lifecycle of the AURORA photonic system.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Principal responsibilities include:
- Architectural design, layout, and component-level development of Photonic Integrated Circuits, supported by circuit, subsystem, and microwave-photonic modeling
- Hardware validation spanning chip-level and module-level photonic testing, full photonic system characterization, and instrument-level integration of the photonic subsystem
- Systems engineering, including defining system requirements, generating interface documents, and specifying parts and Ground Support Equipment (GSE) for procurement
- Laboratory operations, including maintaining and developing lab infrastructure with an emphasis on equipment automation
- Documenting technical work, tracking project progress, and communicating outcomes through formal written reports and oral presentations
The successful applicant will work primarily on site at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD, which will provide the office and laboratory space needed for the project. The research is carried out with Dr. Mark Stephen (Project Development Lead, GSFC Climate and Radiation Laboratory) and Dr. Berhanu Bulcha (Instrument System Engineer, GSFC). The appointee will have opportunities to mentor or work with AU research students, to explore collaborations with other AU researchers, to present research seminars, and to participate in Department of Physics and ISSTI activities.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Applicants should preferably hold a Ph.D. or other terminal degree in Electrical Engineering, Photonics, Optical Engineering, Physics, or a related discipline. Applicants with a Master's degree will also be considered.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
The Following Experience Is Desirable:
- Design, layout, and fabrication of photonic integrated circuits
- Electro-optical systems and components, including modulators, waveguide gratings, optical amplifiers, and photodetectors
- Microwave photonics, and RF and analog circuit design
- Photonic and electromagnetic design and simulation tools
- Laboratory characterization of electro-optical systems, including experience with lasers, photodiodes, optical spectrum analyzers, RF signal analyzers, and oscilloscopes, and with test automation
- Systems engineering practice, including requirements definition and interface documentation
- Environmental and performance testing to qualify hardware for spaceflight, and experience advancing instrument technology readiness levels
SALARY
The position's salary range is $75,000-$125,000, commensurate with the successful applicant's experience and qualifications. The position is contingent on the continued availability of external funding.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Include a curriculum vitae and a cover letter that addresses your experience and why you are interested in the position. Workday will solicit contact information for three letters of reference after applications are submitted and the review process begins. Please contact Dr. Philip Johnson at issti@american.edu if you have any questions.
BENEFITS
AU offers a competitive benefits package. Click here to learn about American University's unique benefit options.
OTHER DETAILS
- Hiring offers for this position are contingent on successful completion of a background check.
- Employees in staff positions at American University must deliver their services to the university from either the District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia, or perform work on-site at the university.
- Please note this job announcement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
- American University is an E-Verify employer.
CURRENT AMERICAN UNIVERSITY EMPLOYEES
American University current employees must apply through their employee Workday account. If you are a current employee at American University, please log into Workday and select the Find Jobs report which will take you to our internal career listings.
CONTACT US
For more information or assistance with the American University careers site, email theworkline@american.edu.
American University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution that operates in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The university does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, personal appearance, gender identity and expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, source of income, veteran status, an individual’s genetic information or any other bases under federal or local laws (collectively "Protected Bases") in its programs and activities.
INTRODUCTION
American University is a student-centered research institution located in Washington, DC, with highly-ranked schools and colleges, internationally-renowned faculty, and a reputation for creating meaningful change in the world. Learn more about American University.
ABOUT THE JOB
The Department of Physics and the Integrated Space Science and Technology Institute (ISSTI) in the College of Arts and Sciences at American University, in partnership with NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), invite applications for a Research Scientist position in integrated photonics, funded by a cooperative agreement between the two institutions. The appointment is a 12-month term position, with the possibility of renewal based on performance and the continued availability of external funding. The successful applicant will join the AURORA (Atmospheric Ultra-High Resolution Optical and Radio-frequency) Pathfinder, a technology demonstration project funded by NASA's Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO). AURORA is developing a millimeter-wave hyperspectral radiometer and advancing it to Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6, with the goal of producing a flight-qualified instrument suitable for spacecraft integration in support of Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL) observations. The instrument is a highly sensitive, heterodyne-based spectrometer built on Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs), incorporating electro-optical modulators, waveguide gratings, optical amplifiers, and photodetectors. The Research Scientist will contribute to the end-to-end engineering lifecycle of the AURORA photonic system.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Principal responsibilities include:
- Architectural design, layout, and component-level development of Photonic Integrated Circuits, supported by circuit, subsystem, and microwave-photonic modeling
- Hardware validation spanning chip-level and module-level photonic testing, full photonic system characterization, and instrument-level integration of the photonic subsystem
- Systems engineering, including defining system requirements, generating interface documents, and specifying parts and Ground Support Equipment (GSE) for procurement
- Laboratory operations, including maintaining and developing lab infrastructure with an emphasis on equipment automation
- Documenting technical work, tracking project progress, and communicating outcomes through formal written reports and oral presentations
The successful applicant will work primarily on site at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD, which will provide the office and laboratory space needed for the project. The research is carried out with Dr. Mark Stephen (Project Development Lead, GSFC Climate and Radiation Laboratory) and Dr. Berhanu Bulcha (Instrument System Engineer, GSFC). The appointee will have opportunities to mentor or work with AU research students, to explore collaborations with other AU researchers, to present research seminars, and to participate in Department of Physics and ISSTI activities.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Applicants should preferably hold a Ph.D. or other terminal degree in Electrical Engineering, Photonics, Optical Engineering, Physics, or a related discipline. Applicants with a Master's degree will also be considered.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
The Following Experience Is Desirable:
- Design, layout, and fabrication of photonic integrated circuits
- Electro-optical systems and components, including modulators, waveguide gratings, optical amplifiers, and photodetectors
- Microwave photonics, and RF and analog circuit design
- Photonic and electromagnetic design and simulation tools
- Laboratory characterization of electro-optical systems, including experience with lasers, photodiodes, optical spectrum analyzers, RF signal analyzers, and oscilloscopes, and with test automation
- Systems engineering practice, including requirements definition and interface documentation
- Environmental and performance testing to qualify hardware for spaceflight, and experience advancing instrument technology readiness levels
SALARY
The position's salary range is $75,000-$125,000, commensurate with the successful applicant's experience and qualifications. The position is contingent on the continued availability of external funding.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Include a curriculum vitae and a cover letter that addresses your experience and why you are interested in the position. Workday will solicit contact information for three letters of reference after applications are submitted and the review process begins. Please contact Dr. Philip Johnson at issti@american.edu if you have any questions.
BENEFITS
AU offers a competitive benefits package. Click here to learn about American University's unique benefit options.
OTHER DETAILS
- Hiring offers for this position are contingent on successful completion of a background check.
- Employees in staff positions at American University must deliver their services to the university from either the District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia, or perform work on-site at the university.
- Please note this job announcement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
- American University is an E-Verify employer.
CURRENT AMERICAN UNIVERSITY EMPLOYEES
American University current employees must apply through their employee Workday account. If you are a current employee at American University, please log into Workday and select the Find Jobs report which will take you to our internal career listings.
CONTACT US
For more information or assistance with the American University careers site, email theworkline@american.edu.
American University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution that operates in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The university does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, personal appearance, gender identity and expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, source of income, veteran status, an individual’s genetic information or any other bases under federal or local laws (collectively "Protected Bases") in its programs and activities.
Postdoctoral Research Scientist Job Roles in Washington DC
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Search Postdoctoral Research Scientist Jobs in Washington DCPostdoctoral Research Scientist Jobs in Washington DC: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies and institutions sponsor visas for postdoctoral research scientists in Washington DC?
The National Institutes of Health in Bethesda is the single largest employer of sponsored postdoctoral researchers in the DC metro area, with active J-1 visa and H-1B visa sponsorship histories. Georgetown University, George Washington University, Howard University, and the American University also sponsor postdocs regularly. Federal research centers affiliated with USDA and FDA in the region add further opportunities outside traditional academic settings.
Which visa types realistically apply to postdoctoral research scientists in Washington DC?
The J-1 Research Scholar category is the most common path for postdocs, administered through the host institution's designated sponsor organization. The H-1B is available for postdoc roles that qualify as specialty occupations requiring a directly related bachelor's degree or higher, though it is subject to an annual cap and selection process. F-1 OPT and STEM OPT can bridge authorization for recent graduates before an employer-sponsored visa is secured, provided the degree is STEM-designated.
How to find postdoctoral research scientist visa sponsorship jobs in Washington DC?
Migrate Mate lists postdoctoral research scientist roles in Washington DC filtered to employers with verified visa sponsorship history, covering institutions from NIH-affiliated labs in Bethesda to university research centers in Georgetown and Foggy Bottom. Searching by role and location on Migrate Mate lets you identify which DC-area employers have actively sponsored J-1 or H-1B positions for research scientists, narrowing your applications to genuine sponsorship opportunities.
Which areas in Washington DC have the highest concentration of postdoctoral research scientist sponsorship jobs?
The NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland, just outside DC proper, is the dominant hub for sponsored postdoc positions in the metro area. Within DC itself, the medical and research corridors around Georgetown University Medical Center, GWU's Foggy Bottom campus, and Howard University Hospital anchor significant postdoc hiring. The Virginia suburbs around NOVA and Arlington also host defense and biomedical research contractors that sponsor research scientist roles.
Are there any Washington DC-specific considerations for postdoctoral research scientists seeking visa sponsorship?
Many DC-area postdoc positions are tied to federal funding cycles, which can affect the timing and continuity of sponsorship offers. Institutions like NIH run their own J-1 exchange visitor programs, so the sponsoring organization is often the institution itself rather than a third-party sponsor. Postdocs at federally funded labs should confirm whether their appointment falls under an institutional J-1 program or requires a separate H-1B petition, as the processes differ significantly.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored postdoctoral research scientist jobs in Washington DC?
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.