Clinical Trial Associate Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Clinical Trial Associates work in a highly regulated field where employers routinely sponsor H-1B visa and O-1 visas for qualified candidates. Most roles require at minimum a bachelor's degree in life sciences, and large pharmaceutical and CRO employers have established sponsorship pipelines. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
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:
Pediatric Neurology
JOB SUMMARY:
Are you looking for research experience before applying to Graduate, Medical or Nursing School? If so, please consider working with us on NIH-funded studies on sickle cell disease and youth with type 1 diabetes.
The Jordan lab in the Department of Pediatrics at VUMC is looking to fill an opening for a full-time paid position. If you are interested in children’s health and looking for ways to better prepare for graduate, medical or nursing school, then consider becoming part of a collaborative clinical research team under the supervision of Dr. Lori Jordan at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in the Division of Pediatric Neurology.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience, Biology, Psychology or a Health-related field
- Experience working with children, teens, and families
- Must be someone who is approachable and personable
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS AND CRITERIA:
- Experience using statistical and survey software (e.g. Microsoft Excel, SPSS, REDCap)
- Experience with human subjects research and pediatric patient populations
- This role is designed as a two-year position, with the possibility of extension based on mutual interest and organizational needs
This position will work on site at the Vanderbilt Children's Hospital and will work Monday-Friday, traditional daytime business hours; however research activities hours may occur beyond traditional business hours, so flexibility is a must.
DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:
Dr. Jordan’s multidisciplinary clinical research program focuses on improving pediatric stroke outcomes, stroke prevention, sickle cell disease, and studies of brain injury and cognitive function in children with chronic conditions such as congenital heart defects and type I diabetes. Dr. Jordan’s team uses advanced neuroimaging studies to identify children and young adults at highest risk of stroke or subtle brain injury related to sickle cell disease. Dr. Jordan co-leads clinical trials for stroke prevention in children with sickle cell disease in Nigeria. In addition, Dr. Jordan and the Vanderbilt team enroll children in national and international pediatric stroke studies.
- Assesses patient eligibility and recruits participants for approved studies (20%)
- Knowledgeable of protocols in order to determine specific criteria for eligibility or exclusion.
- Ensures participant consent/assent forms are completed.
-
Reviews medical records to determine eligibility status.
-
Enters study participant data and follows study protocols (50%).
- Records all participant data essential to the study into REDCap databases.
- Follows study protocols for data collection and participant contact.
- Reports all adverse events according to VUMC and protocol guidelines.
- Creates REDCap reports as needed.
-
Assists with monitoring compliance with protocol and regulations.
-
Ensures deadlines are met for study (20%)
- Checks clinic schedules for upcoming data collection
- Coordinates with clinic staff to ensure that data collection does not disrupt clinic flow.
- Prepares study materials for mailing (e.g., study binders, retention items).
-
Attends weekly lab meetings and provides updates on participant’s status.
-
Escorts participants to study MRIs (20%)
- Calls or sends reminders for study MRIs.
- Sends MRI screening forms to participants.
- schedules or reschedules study MRIs.
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:
Associate's
This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact within Vanderbilt Health, supported by a comprehensive benefits package which may include health, disability, retirement and/or wellness offerings to enhance your well-being and professional growth.
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.
INTRODUCTION
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:
Pediatric Neurology
JOB SUMMARY:
Are you looking for research experience before applying to Graduate, Medical or Nursing School? If so, please consider working with us on NIH-funded studies on sickle cell disease and youth with type 1 diabetes.
The Jordan lab in the Department of Pediatrics at VUMC is looking to fill an opening for a full-time paid position. If you are interested in children’s health and looking for ways to better prepare for graduate, medical or nursing school, then consider becoming part of a collaborative clinical research team under the supervision of Dr. Lori Jordan at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in the Division of Pediatric Neurology.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience, Biology, Psychology or a Health-related field
- Experience working with children, teens, and families
- Must be someone who is approachable and personable
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS AND CRITERIA:
- Experience using statistical and survey software (e.g. Microsoft Excel, SPSS, REDCap)
- Experience with human subjects research and pediatric patient populations
- This role is designed as a two-year position, with the possibility of extension based on mutual interest and organizational needs
This position will work on site at the Vanderbilt Children's Hospital and will work Monday-Friday, traditional daytime business hours; however research activities hours may occur beyond traditional business hours, so flexibility is a must.
DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:
Dr. Jordan’s multidisciplinary clinical research program focuses on improving pediatric stroke outcomes, stroke prevention, sickle cell disease, and studies of brain injury and cognitive function in children with chronic conditions such as congenital heart defects and type I diabetes. Dr. Jordan’s team uses advanced neuroimaging studies to identify children and young adults at highest risk of stroke or subtle brain injury related to sickle cell disease. Dr. Jordan co-leads clinical trials for stroke prevention in children with sickle cell disease in Nigeria. In addition, Dr. Jordan and the Vanderbilt team enroll children in national and international pediatric stroke studies.
- Assesses patient eligibility and recruits participants for approved studies (20%)
- Knowledgeable of protocols in order to determine specific criteria for eligibility or exclusion.
- Ensures participant consent/assent forms are completed.
-
Reviews medical records to determine eligibility status.
-
Enters study participant data and follows study protocols (50%).
- Records all participant data essential to the study into REDCap databases.
- Follows study protocols for data collection and participant contact.
- Reports all adverse events according to VUMC and protocol guidelines.
- Creates REDCap reports as needed.
-
Assists with monitoring compliance with protocol and regulations.
-
Ensures deadlines are met for study (20%)
- Checks clinic schedules for upcoming data collection
- Coordinates with clinic staff to ensure that data collection does not disrupt clinic flow.
- Prepares study materials for mailing (e.g., study binders, retention items).
-
Attends weekly lab meetings and provides updates on participant’s status.
-
Escorts participants to study MRIs (20%)
- Calls or sends reminders for study MRIs.
- Sends MRI screening forms to participants.
- schedules or reschedules study MRIs.
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:
Associate's
This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact within Vanderbilt Health, supported by a comprehensive benefits package which may include health, disability, retirement and/or wellness offerings to enhance your well-being and professional growth.
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.
See all 1,244+ Clinical Trial Associate Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Clinical Trial Associate roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as a Clinical Trial Associate
Target large pharma and CROs first
Companies like Pfizer, Novartis, ICON, and Parexel have dedicated immigration teams and sponsor H-1B visas regularly. Smaller sponsors exist but lack the infrastructure, making large employers a safer starting point for CTA sponsorship.
Align your degree to the role
CTA positions are specialty occupations requiring a degree in life sciences, biology, nursing, or a related field. A degree in an unrelated discipline weakens your H-1B petition, even with years of clinical research experience on your resume.
Get your CCRP or CCRA certification
Certifications from ACRP or SOCRA signal professional credibility and strengthen your sponsorship case. Some employers treat certification as a requirement, and it demonstrates the specialized knowledge USCIS looks for in specialty occupation determinations.
Understand the H-1B lottery timing
H-1B registration opens in March for an October start date. Plan job searches and offers around this window. Missing the registration period means waiting another year unless you qualify for cap-exempt employment through universities or nonprofits.
Ask about OPT and STEM OPT bridging
F-1 graduates in life sciences qualify for 24-month STEM OPT extensions, giving employers three years of authorization before needing H-1B approval. This is a major selling point when approaching sponsors who are H-1B lottery-averse.
Highlight ICH GCP training and protocol experience
Employers sponsoring visa applications want to see that you can contribute immediately. Documented GCP training, site monitoring exposure, and protocol deviation management show USCIS-relevant specialized knowledge that supports the specialty occupation argument.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Clinical Trial Associate jobs commonly offer visa sponsorship?
Yes, particularly at large contract research organizations and pharmaceutical companies. CTA roles qualify as specialty occupations under H-1B visa rules because they require a degree in a specific scientific field. Sponsorship is less common at small biotechs or academic medical centers with limited immigration budgets. Migrate Mate filters job listings by sponsorship availability, so you can focus only on employers who have confirmed they sponsor.
What visa types are most relevant for Clinical Trial Associates?
H-1B is the primary route for most international CTA candidates. O-1A is an option for candidates with publications, awards, or significant clinical research leadership experience, though it's a high bar. Australians may qualify for the E-3 visa, which has no lottery and is far easier to obtain. TN visa status covers Canadian and Mexican nationals in qualifying life sciences roles, though CTA classification under TN can require careful documentation.
What degree do I need for a Clinical Trial Associate role to qualify for H-1B sponsorship?
USCIS requires a bachelor's degree or higher in a specific field directly related to the job. For CTA roles, that typically means life sciences, biology, chemistry, nursing, pharmacy, or public health. A general business or unrelated science degree may not satisfy the specialty occupation requirement. Some employers accept nursing backgrounds or clinical backgrounds without a traditional four-year degree if accompanied by equivalent experience under the three-for-one substitution rule.
How competitive is H-1B approval for Clinical Trial Associates?
Approval rates for CTA H-1B petitions are generally favorable when the degree-to-job match is clear. USCIS has historically scrutinized roles where the degree requirement isn't well-established, but life sciences CTA positions have a defensible specialty occupation argument. Using a large employer with experienced immigration counsel significantly improves outcomes. RFE rates increase when the petitioner is a staffing agency rather than the direct employer.
Can I work as a Clinical Trial Associate on OPT while waiting for H-1B sponsorship?
Yes, and life sciences graduates have a meaningful advantage here. F-1 students with degrees in biology, chemistry, or related STEM fields qualify for a 24-month STEM OPT extension on top of the standard 12 months, providing up to three years of authorized work. This gives employers time to sponsor an H-1B without urgency around the annual lottery. Make sure your employer has an active E-Verify account, which is required for STEM OPT authorization.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Clinical Trial Associate 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.