Assistant Scientist Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Assistant Scientist roles sit squarely in H-1B visa specialty occupation territory, and many employers in biotech, pharma, and research institutions have active LCA filing histories. A relevant bachelor's or master's degree in biology, chemistry, or a related field is the core credential that makes sponsorship viable.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Terracon is a 100 percent employee-owned multidiscipline consulting firm comprised of more than 8,000 curious minds focused on solving engineering and technical challenges from more than 200 locations nationwide. Since 1965, Terracon has evolved into a successful multi-discipline firm specializing in environmental, facilities, geotechnical, and materials services. Terracon’s growth is due to our talented employee-owners exceeding expectations in client service and growing their careers with new and exciting opportunities in the marketplace. Terracon was recognized as the #1 firm in Asbestos and Lead Abatement.
Terracon’s vision of “Together, we are best at people” is demonstrated through our excellent compensation and benefits package. Based on eligibility, role and job status, we offer many programs including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401(k) plan, paid time off and holidays, education reimbursement, and various bonus programs.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
General Responsibilities:
Conduct environmental site investigations, assessments and surveys to sample, measure and analyze air, water, material, and soil. Identify, evaluate and recommend risk and remediation strategies/designs to ensure compliance with federal, state and local regulations. Prepare applicable permit applications, risk assessments and technical documents including proposals, reports and regulatory agency correspondence. Design systems and environmental protection plans. Projects may include Phase I/II environmental site assessments, ecological and natural resource field surveys, tank closure assessments, asbestos abatement, storm water management, and site planning and permitting.
Essential Roles and Responsibilities:
- Follow safety rules, guidelines and standards for all projects. Participate in pre-task planning. Report any safety issues or concerns to management.
- Understand and practice quality acumen.
- Support consistent quality standards on proposal and project delivery.
- Entry level scientific professional responsible for gathering data and information to be evaluated by other team members.
- Performs testing and sampling of environmental materials including soil, air, groundwater, building materials, and noise.
- Tabulate and prepare data for written reports.
- May assist with report preparation by summarizing data and information within reports.
- Operates field monitoring equipment.
- Assists with operation and maintenance of remediation systems.
- May assist with asbestos surveys, abatement projects and Phase I site assessments.
- Transport material samples or documents to the lab for further testing and analysis.
- Maintains and calibrates field monitoring equipment.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science or related science field. Or, in lieu of a degree, a minimum of 4 years’ related experience.
- A valid driver’s license with acceptable violation history may be required.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATION
- Certification in field of expertise preferred.
ABOUT THE TEAM
Our national environmental team helps our clients do the right thing for their projects, and for our planet. Our professionals include environmental architects, archaeologists, biologists, engineers, geologists, historians, industrial hygienists, planners, and scientists. Working together in the field, office, or lab, we help guide clients through the steps and processes to address environmental challenges and move their projects forward as quickly, safely, and sustainably as possible. With services including site assessment, planning and permitting including cultural and natural resources, sustainability and resiliency, regulatory compliance, and industrial hygiene and safety, we’re at the forefront of helping clients succeed and communities thrive.
EEO Statement
Terracon is an EEO employer. We encourage qualified minority, female, veteran and disabled candidates to apply and be considered for open positions. We do not discriminate against any applicant for employment, or any employee because of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender, disability, age, or military status.
INTRODUCTION
Terracon is a 100 percent employee-owned multidiscipline consulting firm comprised of more than 8,000 curious minds focused on solving engineering and technical challenges from more than 200 locations nationwide. Since 1965, Terracon has evolved into a successful multi-discipline firm specializing in environmental, facilities, geotechnical, and materials services. Terracon’s growth is due to our talented employee-owners exceeding expectations in client service and growing their careers with new and exciting opportunities in the marketplace. Terracon was recognized as the #1 firm in Asbestos and Lead Abatement.
Terracon’s vision of “Together, we are best at people” is demonstrated through our excellent compensation and benefits package. Based on eligibility, role and job status, we offer many programs including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401(k) plan, paid time off and holidays, education reimbursement, and various bonus programs.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
General Responsibilities:
Conduct environmental site investigations, assessments and surveys to sample, measure and analyze air, water, material, and soil. Identify, evaluate and recommend risk and remediation strategies/designs to ensure compliance with federal, state and local regulations. Prepare applicable permit applications, risk assessments and technical documents including proposals, reports and regulatory agency correspondence. Design systems and environmental protection plans. Projects may include Phase I/II environmental site assessments, ecological and natural resource field surveys, tank closure assessments, asbestos abatement, storm water management, and site planning and permitting.
Essential Roles and Responsibilities:
- Follow safety rules, guidelines and standards for all projects. Participate in pre-task planning. Report any safety issues or concerns to management.
- Understand and practice quality acumen.
- Support consistent quality standards on proposal and project delivery.
- Entry level scientific professional responsible for gathering data and information to be evaluated by other team members.
- Performs testing and sampling of environmental materials including soil, air, groundwater, building materials, and noise.
- Tabulate and prepare data for written reports.
- May assist with report preparation by summarizing data and information within reports.
- Operates field monitoring equipment.
- Assists with operation and maintenance of remediation systems.
- May assist with asbestos surveys, abatement projects and Phase I site assessments.
- Transport material samples or documents to the lab for further testing and analysis.
- Maintains and calibrates field monitoring equipment.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science or related science field. Or, in lieu of a degree, a minimum of 4 years’ related experience.
- A valid driver’s license with acceptable violation history may be required.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATION
- Certification in field of expertise preferred.
ABOUT THE TEAM
Our national environmental team helps our clients do the right thing for their projects, and for our planet. Our professionals include environmental architects, archaeologists, biologists, engineers, geologists, historians, industrial hygienists, planners, and scientists. Working together in the field, office, or lab, we help guide clients through the steps and processes to address environmental challenges and move their projects forward as quickly, safely, and sustainably as possible. With services including site assessment, planning and permitting including cultural and natural resources, sustainability and resiliency, regulatory compliance, and industrial hygiene and safety, we’re at the forefront of helping clients succeed and communities thrive.
EEO Statement
Terracon is an EEO employer. We encourage qualified minority, female, veteran and disabled candidates to apply and be considered for open positions. We do not discriminate against any applicant for employment, or any employee because of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender, disability, age, or military status.
See all 136+ Assistant Scientist Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as an Assistant Scientist
Align your degree to the specific role
USCIS scrutinizes whether your degree field directly relates to the Assistant Scientist position. A chemistry degree supporting a biochemistry research role passes that test. A general biology degree for a computational genomics role often triggers a Request for Evidence.
Use O*NET to frame your specialty occupation case
O*NET lists the core tasks and required knowledge for life and physical science occupations. Cross-referencing your job duties against that profile helps you and your employer build a defensible specialty occupation argument before USCIS ever reviews the petition.
Target research institutions with cap-exempt status
Universities, nonprofit research organizations, and government labs affiliated with higher education are H-1B cap-exempt. That means no annual lottery, no waiting cycle. Many Assistant Scientist openings at academic medical centers and national labs fall into this category.
Verify prevailing wage tier before accepting an offer
Run the Assistant Scientist title and your work location through the OFLC Wage Search before you sign an offer letter. Your employer's LCA must certify wages at least at Level I prevailing wage, and accepting below that threshold can stall or void certification.
Find employers with verified LCA filing history on Migrate Mate
Search Migrate Mate for Assistant Scientist roles to see which biotech firms, research hospitals, and universities have certified LCAs for this title. That filing history is the clearest signal an employer already understands and supports the sponsorship process.
Get your PERM labor certification timeline right for a green card path
Many Assistant Scientist roles qualify under EB-2 or EB-3 categories, but PERM labor certification can take 12 to 18 months before DOL even adjudicates. Raise green card sponsorship during offer negotiations, not six months into employment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an Assistant Scientist role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes, in most cases. USCIS treats Assistant Scientist positions as specialty occupations when the role requires at least a bachelor's degree in a directly related field such as biology, chemistry, biochemistry, or a related discipline. Generic job descriptions that accept any degree field can complicate the case, so the job posting language matters as much as your credentials.
Which visa types are realistic for an international Assistant Scientist?
H-1B is the most common path for Assistant Scientists at private biotech and pharmaceutical companies. If you're joining a university, hospital, or affiliated nonprofit research lab, those employers are often H-1B cap-exempt, eliminating the lottery entirely. J-1 visa research scholar and postdoctoral categories also appear frequently in academic settings, though they come with a potential two-year home residency requirement.
What degree level do most Assistant Scientist sponsorship roles require?
Most employers sponsoring Assistant Scientists require at least a bachelor's degree in a natural science, though a master's degree increasingly appears as the preferred qualification, particularly in competitive biotech hubs. The key factor for visa eligibility isn't just the degree level but whether the specific field of study maps directly onto the job duties USCIS will evaluate.
How do I find Assistant Scientist jobs where employers are open to sponsorship?
Browse Assistant Scientist listings on Migrate Mate, which shows employers with verified sponsorship history for science roles. Filtering by role and location surfaces companies and research institutions that have already navigated the LCA certification process, so you're not starting the sponsorship conversation from scratch with every application.
Can an Assistant Scientist position support a green card application?
Yes. Assistant Scientist roles typically qualify under the EB-2 category for candidates with an advanced degree, or under EB-3 as a skilled worker. The employer must sponsor the green card and complete PERM labor certification through DOL, demonstrating no qualified U.S. workers were available. Starting the conversation with your employer early is critical because PERM timelines can stretch well beyond a year.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Assistant Scientist jobs?
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.