Research Assistant Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Research assistant roles are commonly sponsored at U.S. universities and research institutions, often through J-1 visa or cap-exempt H-1B visas. The catch is that many research assistant positions are tied to graduate programs, so your visa pathway may depend on whether you're enrolled as a student (F-1 with assistantship) or hired as staff. Pay can be modest, but the cap-exempt H-1B visa route through universities is a major advantage since there's no lottery. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
We offer a flexible working policy that supports a healthy balance between personal and professional well-being. This role requires in-office presence on Tuesdays & Thursdays to collaborate, connect, and learn from peers - while also maintaining the flexibility for meaningful work-life balance.
Being a UX Researcher at iManage Means…
At iManage, we build software that helps knowledge professionals work smarter. As a UX Researcher, you will uncover insights that inform product decisions, improve interaction design, and support trusted AI experiences across our enterprise platform.
You will work closely with product managers, designers, engineers, and other cross-functional partners to understand complex workflows, identify opportunities, and reduce product risk through research. This role is a strong fit for someone energized by enterprise software, AI-powered experiences, and turning ambiguity into clear direction.
iM Responsible For…
- Planning and conducting generative and evaluative research across the product lifecycle, from discovery through release
- Identifying user needs, pain points, behaviors, and workflow opportunities in complex enterprise environments
- Partnering with product, design, and engineering to inform roadmap and design decisions, improve usability, and reduce product risk
- Choosing the right research methods for each question, including interviews, usability studies, surveys, diary studies, and benchmarking
- Synthesizing qualitative and quantitative data into clear, actionable insights for product and design teams
- Creating artifacts such as personas, journey maps, and recommendations that help teams act with confidence
- Contributing to a high-quality research repository that supports insight reuse and stronger research operations
- Using AI-enabled tools to support synthesis and insight management while maintaining rigor, sound judgment, and appropriate data sensitivity
iM Qualified Because I Have…
- 3+ years of experience conducting UX research for digital products, ideally in B2B, SaaS, or enterprise software
- Strong qualitative research skills and experience using mixed methods to answer product and design questions
- Experience partnering with product managers, designers, engineers, and other stakeholders across multiple initiatives
- The ability to research complex workflows and translate findings into clear recommendations for product design decisions
- Experience with moderated and unmoderated research
- Strong communication, facilitation, and storytelling skills, with the ability to tailor insights to different audiences
- Experience contributing to research planning and prioritization
- Comfort with ambiguity, iteration, and balancing immediate product needs with longer-term opportunities
- A demonstrated ability to advocate for users while working within technical, organizational, or domain constraints
- A bachelor's degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Human Factors, Psychology, or a related field
Bonus Points If I Have…
- Experience researching AI-powered product experiences
- Experience using AI-assisted tools in research workflows
- An understanding of responsible AI considerations such as privacy, governance, bias, and enterprise data sensitivity
- Experience in legal tech, knowledge management, document management, or other complex or regulated domains
Don't meet every qualification listed above? Studies show that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet all qualifications. At iManage, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive environment, and encourage everyone to show up as their full authentic selves. We welcome those that come with a growth mindset and a hunger for learning; so, if you are excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification we encourage you to apply anyways!
iM Getting To…
- Join a supportive, experienced team with an inclusive, encouraging, and vibrant culture.
- Have flexible work hours that allow me to balance my ‘me time’ with my work commitments.
- Collaborate in a modern open plan workspace, with a gaming area, free snacks, drinks and regular social events.
- Focus on impactful work, solving complex, real challenges utilizing the latest technologies and protocols.
- Own my career path with our internal development framework. Ask us more about this!
- Learn new skills and earn certifications with access to unlimited courses in LinkedIn Learning.
- Join an innovative, industry leading SaaS company that is continuing to grow & scale!
iManage Is Supporting Me By...
- Creating an inclusive environment where I can help shape the culture not just by fitting in, but by adding to it.
- Providing a market competitive salary that is applied through a consistent process, equitable for all our employees, and regularly reviewed based on industry data.
- Rewarding me with an annual performance-based bonus.
- Offering comprehensive Health/Vision/Dental/Life Insurance, and a 401k Retirement Savings Plan with a company match up to 4%.
- Giving access to HealthJoy, a healthcare concierge service, to help me maximize my health benefits.
- Granting enhanced leave for expecting parents; 20 weeks 100% paid for primary leave, and 10 weeks 100% paid for secondary leave.
- Providing me with a flexible time off policy to take the time off that I need. Be it for vacation, volunteering, celebrating holidays, spending time with family, or simply taking time to recharge and reset.
- Caring for my mental health and well-being with multiple company wellness days and free access to the Healthy Minds app for mindfulness, meditation and more.
The overall US annual base salary range for this position is $85,000–$125,000. Individual compensation for each candidate depends on factors such as qualifications, experience, and candidate location. This range does not include additional forms of compensation, such as bonuses, or benefits. Your recruiter will provide further details about the offer range, incentives, and overall compensation during the hiring process.
ABOUT iManage…
iManage is dedicated to Making Knowledge WorkTM. Over one million professionals across 65+ countries rely on our intelligent, cloud-enabled, secure knowledge work platform to uncover and activate the knowledge that exists inside their business content and communications.
We are continuously innovating to solve the most complex professional challenges and enable better business outcomes; Our work is not always easy but it is ambitious and rewarding.
So we’re looking for people who love a challenge. People who are happiest when they’re solving problems and collaborating with the industry’s best and brightest. That’s the iManage way. It’s how we do things that might appear impossible. How we develop our employees’ strengths and unlock their potential. How we find meaning in everything we do.
Whoever you are, whatever you do, however you work. Make it mean something at iManage.
iManage provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
INTRODUCTION
We offer a flexible working policy that supports a healthy balance between personal and professional well-being. This role requires in-office presence on Tuesdays & Thursdays to collaborate, connect, and learn from peers - while also maintaining the flexibility for meaningful work-life balance.
Being a UX Researcher at iManage Means…
At iManage, we build software that helps knowledge professionals work smarter. As a UX Researcher, you will uncover insights that inform product decisions, improve interaction design, and support trusted AI experiences across our enterprise platform.
You will work closely with product managers, designers, engineers, and other cross-functional partners to understand complex workflows, identify opportunities, and reduce product risk through research. This role is a strong fit for someone energized by enterprise software, AI-powered experiences, and turning ambiguity into clear direction.
iM Responsible For…
- Planning and conducting generative and evaluative research across the product lifecycle, from discovery through release
- Identifying user needs, pain points, behaviors, and workflow opportunities in complex enterprise environments
- Partnering with product, design, and engineering to inform roadmap and design decisions, improve usability, and reduce product risk
- Choosing the right research methods for each question, including interviews, usability studies, surveys, diary studies, and benchmarking
- Synthesizing qualitative and quantitative data into clear, actionable insights for product and design teams
- Creating artifacts such as personas, journey maps, and recommendations that help teams act with confidence
- Contributing to a high-quality research repository that supports insight reuse and stronger research operations
- Using AI-enabled tools to support synthesis and insight management while maintaining rigor, sound judgment, and appropriate data sensitivity
iM Qualified Because I Have…
- 3+ years of experience conducting UX research for digital products, ideally in B2B, SaaS, or enterprise software
- Strong qualitative research skills and experience using mixed methods to answer product and design questions
- Experience partnering with product managers, designers, engineers, and other stakeholders across multiple initiatives
- The ability to research complex workflows and translate findings into clear recommendations for product design decisions
- Experience with moderated and unmoderated research
- Strong communication, facilitation, and storytelling skills, with the ability to tailor insights to different audiences
- Experience contributing to research planning and prioritization
- Comfort with ambiguity, iteration, and balancing immediate product needs with longer-term opportunities
- A demonstrated ability to advocate for users while working within technical, organizational, or domain constraints
- A bachelor's degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Human Factors, Psychology, or a related field
Bonus Points If I Have…
- Experience researching AI-powered product experiences
- Experience using AI-assisted tools in research workflows
- An understanding of responsible AI considerations such as privacy, governance, bias, and enterprise data sensitivity
- Experience in legal tech, knowledge management, document management, or other complex or regulated domains
Don't meet every qualification listed above? Studies show that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet all qualifications. At iManage, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive environment, and encourage everyone to show up as their full authentic selves. We welcome those that come with a growth mindset and a hunger for learning; so, if you are excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification we encourage you to apply anyways!
iM Getting To…
- Join a supportive, experienced team with an inclusive, encouraging, and vibrant culture.
- Have flexible work hours that allow me to balance my ‘me time’ with my work commitments.
- Collaborate in a modern open plan workspace, with a gaming area, free snacks, drinks and regular social events.
- Focus on impactful work, solving complex, real challenges utilizing the latest technologies and protocols.
- Own my career path with our internal development framework. Ask us more about this!
- Learn new skills and earn certifications with access to unlimited courses in LinkedIn Learning.
- Join an innovative, industry leading SaaS company that is continuing to grow & scale!
iManage Is Supporting Me By...
- Creating an inclusive environment where I can help shape the culture not just by fitting in, but by adding to it.
- Providing a market competitive salary that is applied through a consistent process, equitable for all our employees, and regularly reviewed based on industry data.
- Rewarding me with an annual performance-based bonus.
- Offering comprehensive Health/Vision/Dental/Life Insurance, and a 401k Retirement Savings Plan with a company match up to 4%.
- Giving access to HealthJoy, a healthcare concierge service, to help me maximize my health benefits.
- Granting enhanced leave for expecting parents; 20 weeks 100% paid for primary leave, and 10 weeks 100% paid for secondary leave.
- Providing me with a flexible time off policy to take the time off that I need. Be it for vacation, volunteering, celebrating holidays, spending time with family, or simply taking time to recharge and reset.
- Caring for my mental health and well-being with multiple company wellness days and free access to the Healthy Minds app for mindfulness, meditation and more.
The overall US annual base salary range for this position is $85,000–$125,000. Individual compensation for each candidate depends on factors such as qualifications, experience, and candidate location. This range does not include additional forms of compensation, such as bonuses, or benefits. Your recruiter will provide further details about the offer range, incentives, and overall compensation during the hiring process.
ABOUT iManage…
iManage is dedicated to Making Knowledge WorkTM. Over one million professionals across 65+ countries rely on our intelligent, cloud-enabled, secure knowledge work platform to uncover and activate the knowledge that exists inside their business content and communications.
We are continuously innovating to solve the most complex professional challenges and enable better business outcomes; Our work is not always easy but it is ambitious and rewarding.
So we’re looking for people who love a challenge. People who are happiest when they’re solving problems and collaborating with the industry’s best and brightest. That’s the iManage way. It’s how we do things that might appear impossible. How we develop our employees’ strengths and unlock their potential. How we find meaning in everything we do.
Whoever you are, whatever you do, however you work. Make it mean something at iManage.
iManage provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
See all 2,920+ Research Assistant Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Research Assistant roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as a Research Assistant
Start with university labs for cap-exempt H-1B access
University-affiliated research assistant positions qualify for cap-exempt H-1B filing, meaning no lottery and year-round processing. This is especially valuable for entry-level researchers who may not yet have the credentials for O-1A or EB pathways.
Negotiate authorship on publications early
Even as a research assistant, contributing to published papers builds your immigration case for the future. Co-authored publications in peer-reviewed journals count toward O-1A and EB-1 criteria, so clarify authorship expectations when joining a lab.
Target federally funded research and development centers
FFRDCs like MITRE, Aerospace Corporation, and Battelle are H-1B cap-exempt. Research assistant positions at these organizations avoid the lottery while offering competitive pay and research training opportunities.
Use STEM OPT to demonstrate value before sponsorship
If you graduated from a U.S. STEM program, your 36 months of OPT work authorization give you time to publish, build lab skills, and prove your contributions. Employers are more willing to invest in sponsorship for someone with a demonstrated track record in their lab.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can research assistants get H-1B visa sponsorship?
Research assistant positions can qualify for H-1B visa sponsorship if the role requires at least a bachelor's degree in a specific field. Positions at universities and nonprofit research organizations are also cap-exempt, eliminating the lottery requirement. However, some research assistant roles classified as general support staff may not meet the specialty occupation threshold, so the job description and degree requirement matter.
Is a research assistantship a good stepping stone to longer-term sponsorship?
Yes, research assistant roles at universities can serve as an effective bridge. Many labs hire international graduates on OPT and later sponsor cap-exempt H-1B petitions. The experience, co-authorships, and skills you gain also strengthen future O-1A or EB-2 NIW applications.
What visa do most international research assistants use initially?
Many start on OPT or STEM OPT after graduating from a U.S. university. J-1 visa research scholar visas are also common for those coming directly from abroad to work in academic labs. University-based positions may later transition to cap-exempt H-1B sponsorship.
How to find Research Assistant jobs with visa sponsorship?
To find Research Assistant jobs with visa sponsorship, use Migrate Mate, which specializes in connecting international candidates with sponsoring employers. Focus on universities, research institutions, pharmaceutical companies, and tech firms that commonly sponsor H-1B, J-1, or O-1 visas for research positions. These organizations frequently need skilled researchers and are experienced with the visa sponsorship process for academic and scientific roles.
Do think tanks sponsor visas for research assistants?
Some do, though it varies by organization. Larger think tanks like Brookings, RAND Corporation, and the Urban Institute have sponsored H-1B visas for research roles. Smaller policy institutes may prefer candidates already authorized to work in the U.S., so targeting organizations with established sponsorship practices can improve your odds.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Research Assistant jobs?
When a U.S. employer sponsors a foreign worker for a work visa, they are legally required to pay at least the "prevailing wage" — the average wage paid to workers in the same occupation, in the same geographic area, with similar experience. This is set by the Department of Labor to prevent employers from hiring foreign workers at below-market rates. The prevailing wage varies significantly by role, location, and experience level — for example, a research assistant in Texas will have a different prevailing wage than the same role in a smaller state. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search.