Biologist Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Biologist roles in the U.S. routinely qualify as specialty occupations under H-1B visa, and federal research employers can sponsor through cap-exempt pathways. Most positions require a bachelor's degree minimum, with graduate credentials strengthening petitions for research-focused roles. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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Position Objective: The Biologist will provide services for the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) within the National Institutes of Health.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Perform a wide variety of complex procedures and techniques which include cell tissue culture of malaria parasites including both blood stages and sexual stages, serological assays ELISA, column chromatography and flow cytometry
- Perform in vitro malaria parasite growth inhibition assays GIA, ELISAs, and mosquito membrane feeding assays various animal and human sera and purified IgGs
- Calibrate and operate a variety of laboratory instruments used to perform tests, and analyses such as ELISA readers and spectrophotometers
- Write reports of findings, state methods and procedures, including any modifications employed, specimens and materials involved, and results of experiments
- Analyze, evaluate, and discuss the results of each experiment with the project officers as part of the planning process for subsequent studies
- Prepare various media, stock supplies, and other reagents for use in the laboratory
- Provide training to students and other laboratory personnel in the use of sophisticated laboratory equipment and in the performance of specialized procedures, techniques
- Perform QC of the laboratory including upkeep and routine maintenance of equipment upon government approval; submit orders for processing and maintain government approved laboratory supplies and equipment including chemicals, biological materials, liquid nitrogen; handle biological materials, infectious agents, biological wastes
- Perform computer analysis of data and use computers and various software programs to prepare data for publication
- Develop and update SOPs for the lab
- Maintain accurate, daily records of experiments and results in pen in bound laboratory notebooks; make minor modifications or adaptations to established methods, procedures, and or techniques to solve problems in the work
- Work product and documents related to maintaining accurate, daily records of experiments in laboratory notebooks
- Work products and documents related to performing complex procedures and techniques in the laboratory and writing reports of findings
- Work products and documents related to performing quality control and maintenance of laboratory equipment
- Work products and documents related to developing and updating SOPs for the lab
Basic Qualifications:
- Master’s degree in Biological Sciences with a field of study in Biology or equivalent
- 4 years of experience in Biology or a related field
- Skilled in MS Office
- Experience demonstrating knowledge of maintaining accurate and detailed records
Preferred Qualifications:
- Strong communication skills, both oral and written
- Detail-oriented and possess strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize multiple tasks and projects
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required by this position.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
GAP Solutions provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need an accommodation to apply for a job us at recruiting@gapsi.com. You will need to reference the requisition number of the position in which you are interested. Your message will be routed to the appropriate recruiter who will assist you. Please note, this email address is only to be used for those individuals who need an accommodation to apply for a job. Emails for any other reason or those that do not include a requisition number will not be returned.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.
This position is contingent upon contract award.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Biologist Jobs
Verify your degree field matches the role
USCIS evaluates whether your degree directly relates to the specific biological discipline advertised. A general biology degree supporting a molecular biology role may trigger a Request for Evidence, so document the field overlap explicitly in your petition.
Target cap-exempt employers for H-1B sponsorship
Universities, nonprofit research institutions, and government-affiliated labs are cap-exempt, meaning they can file H-1B petitions year-round without lottery risk. Biologist roles at these institutions often move to approval faster than private-sector filings.
Pull wage data before negotiating your offer
Your employer's LCA must certify a wage at or above the DOL prevailing wage for your occupation and location. Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up Level I through Level IV wages for your specific biology SOC code before you negotiate.
Get your foreign credentials evaluated early
If your biology degree is from outside the U.S., obtain a credential evaluation before applying. USCIS accepts evaluations showing your foreign degree is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's in a relevant biological science, but delays here stall the entire petition timeline.
Check the O*NET profile to build your specialty occupation case
The O*NET occupation profile for Biologists documents the degree requirements and knowledge domains USCIS references when evaluating specialty occupation status. Pull the job zone and education data to support your petition's specialty occupation argument.
File your LCA and I-129 through Migrate Mate
Once you have a signed offer, Migrate Mate handles the LCA submission to DOL and I-129 preparation at a flat fee, with a dedicated expert reviewing your biologist-specific documentation before filing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a biologist role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B?
Yes, most biologist positions qualify because USCIS requires a bachelor's degree or higher in a specific biological science as the normal minimum for entry into the occupation. The O*NET profile for Biologists designates the role as Job Zone 5, which supports the specialty occupation argument. Roles requiring only a general science degree with no biological specialization can face greater scrutiny.
Can biologists get sponsored outside the H-1B lottery?
Yes. Universities, nonprofit research centers, and federally funded labs are cap-exempt H-1B employers and can sponsor biologists year-round without entering the annual lottery. Many government research agencies also hire through direct federal employment pathways that don't require a private-sector visa petition at all. Browse open biologist roles at sponsoring employers on Migrate Mate.
Does a master's or PhD in biology improve H-1B approval odds?
A graduate degree strengthens the specialty occupation case and may qualify you for the advanced degree cap, which historically has a higher selection rate in the H-1B lottery. For research biologist roles specifically, a master's or PhD also aligns more closely with the advertised duties, reducing the likelihood of a Request for Evidence from USCIS on the degree-to-role match.
What happens to H-1B sponsorship if a biologist switches employers mid-petition?
If you change employers after an H-1B has been filed but before it's approved, the new employer must file a fresh petition. If you're already in H-1B status, portability under AC21 allows you to change jobs in a same or similar occupational classification after 180 days of the petition being filed. Biologist roles generally qualify as same or similar to adjacent life sciences positions.
Do biologist roles qualify for PERM-based green card sponsorship?
Yes. Employers can sponsor biologists for employment-based green cards through the PERM labor certification process, which requires demonstrating no qualified U.S. workers are available for the role. Research biologist positions with specialized subdiscipline requirements, such as computational biology or marine biology, often satisfy the specificity needed to support a PERM filing under the EB-2 or EB-3 category.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Biologist 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.