Staff Research Scientist Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Staff Research Scientist roles sit squarely in H-1B visa specialty occupation territory, and many national labs, universities, and biotech firms sponsor green cards through EB-2 or EB-3 PERM. Postdoctoral experience, peer-reviewed publications, and institutional affiliation all strengthen your sponsorship case before you apply.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
The Bronstein and Widge labs in the University of Minnesota Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences are jointly seeking a staff research scientist (Research Professional 6) for a project focused on personalized, non-invasive neuromodulation to improve thoughts of suicide and other mental health outcomes. A competitive applicant will have previous experience with neuromodulation or neuroimaging research, a strong track record of success as an individual and team contributor to scientific endeavors, and the ability to balance oversight and coordination between teams and other administrative duties with scientific output. Previous work on complex, fast-paced, interdisciplinary efforts is a plus.
A successful applicant will be responsible for activities such as integrating scientific content from multiple teams into high-quality program progress reports, tracking team progress against project milestones and proactively recommending and acting on solutions as problems arise, as well as guiding and indirectly overseeing less senior team members as they execute day-to-day aspects of the research project. The applicant will need to solve complex problems and design protocols, procedures, and policies to fulfill the research objectives.
This is a unique opportunity to be involved in the rapid movement of an intervention that could dramatically change standard of care from preliminary data to fully powered tests.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Job responsibilities:
-
(25%) Play a hands-on role in areas of the project relevant to your research expertise. Person will be expected to make scientific and programmatic decisions with limited oversight, consulting as needed with PI. They will be expected to select and monitor strategic directions for day-to-day level operations. Make evidence-based key decisions in those areas with limited oversight and high effectiveness. Coordinate actively with other team members to maximize scientific productivity.
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(25%) Integrate research findings from members of various scientific teams, describe how they advance planned tasks/milestones, and ultimately produce high-quality peer-reviewed publications, reports for the public, sponsor briefings, and presentations. Additional reporting may also include summary reports of critical deliverables, identifying key achievements, and translating these into sponsor-relevant language. The role will also initiate, monitor, and adjust as needed, scientific directions of relevant projects. Person will be in charge of overseeing, implementing, adjusting extant strategic directions and making as many strategic decisions as possible within the scope of their expertise as independently as possible.
-
(25%) Collaborate with investigators, project managers, and other study staff to manage project planning operations. Guide less senior team members through routine decisions as they execute day-to-day scientific activities on the project. This will include mentoring and serving as an example to research staff in the ethical conduct of research. Provide strategic direction and proactively identify when goals are not being met or roadblocks arise, recommend potential solutions include staff hiring/termination. The individual will also lead the manuscript preparation and writing, including serving as the author or co-author.
-
(10%) Develop and modify practices and procedures to improve efficiency and quality to effectively achieve end results.
-
(10%) Manage complexities of multi-institution contracts, agreements, and coordination, as well as bring relevant stakeholders together to overcome roadblocks. Individual will also contribute to maintaining current funding, including overseeing budget planning and management. Person will be expected to proactively create deliverables for current grants, and will be expected to be capable of creating and editing administrative documents for new grant submissions.
-
(5%) Serve as a scientific representative on various committees and teams making decisions and recommendations on behalf of the project.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Advanced degree with substantial research and publication record
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- PhD in neuroscience, psychology, biomedical engineering, or a similar field.
- Evidence of scientific productivity (e.g., in peer-reviewed publications) in areas such as neuroimaging, neuromodulation, suicidology, or the study of severe mental illness.
The Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences consists of an outstanding team of researchers, clinicians, and educators who provide world-class expertise in psychiatric illness, treatment, scholarship, and scientific discovery.
Our mission is to:
- Create and disseminate new knowledge in the science of mental health
- Provide effective and innovative clinical care programs to alleviate the suffering of mental illness and promote mental resilience
- Train the next generation of interprofessional experts who will be leaders in Minnesota and beyond
- Engage in compassionate and vigorous outreach and advocacy on issues relevant to psychiatric illness, treatment, and research
Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will have the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume or CV.
This position will remain open until filled.
To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail jobcentr@umn.edu.
The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.
The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.
Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.
LOCATION
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.
At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by Forbes as a Best Employer for Company Culture (2026), Best Employer for Women (2023, 2025, 2026), and Best Employer by State (2022-2026). In 2026, we also received Culture Excellence & Industry Awards recognition for employee appreciation and work-life flexibility.
INTRODUCTION
The Bronstein and Widge labs in the University of Minnesota Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences are jointly seeking a staff research scientist (Research Professional 6) for a project focused on personalized, non-invasive neuromodulation to improve thoughts of suicide and other mental health outcomes. A competitive applicant will have previous experience with neuromodulation or neuroimaging research, a strong track record of success as an individual and team contributor to scientific endeavors, and the ability to balance oversight and coordination between teams and other administrative duties with scientific output. Previous work on complex, fast-paced, interdisciplinary efforts is a plus.
A successful applicant will be responsible for activities such as integrating scientific content from multiple teams into high-quality program progress reports, tracking team progress against project milestones and proactively recommending and acting on solutions as problems arise, as well as guiding and indirectly overseeing less senior team members as they execute day-to-day aspects of the research project. The applicant will need to solve complex problems and design protocols, procedures, and policies to fulfill the research objectives.
This is a unique opportunity to be involved in the rapid movement of an intervention that could dramatically change standard of care from preliminary data to fully powered tests.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Job responsibilities:
-
(25%) Play a hands-on role in areas of the project relevant to your research expertise. Person will be expected to make scientific and programmatic decisions with limited oversight, consulting as needed with PI. They will be expected to select and monitor strategic directions for day-to-day level operations. Make evidence-based key decisions in those areas with limited oversight and high effectiveness. Coordinate actively with other team members to maximize scientific productivity.
-
(25%) Integrate research findings from members of various scientific teams, describe how they advance planned tasks/milestones, and ultimately produce high-quality peer-reviewed publications, reports for the public, sponsor briefings, and presentations. Additional reporting may also include summary reports of critical deliverables, identifying key achievements, and translating these into sponsor-relevant language. The role will also initiate, monitor, and adjust as needed, scientific directions of relevant projects. Person will be in charge of overseeing, implementing, adjusting extant strategic directions and making as many strategic decisions as possible within the scope of their expertise as independently as possible.
-
(25%) Collaborate with investigators, project managers, and other study staff to manage project planning operations. Guide less senior team members through routine decisions as they execute day-to-day scientific activities on the project. This will include mentoring and serving as an example to research staff in the ethical conduct of research. Provide strategic direction and proactively identify when goals are not being met or roadblocks arise, recommend potential solutions include staff hiring/termination. The individual will also lead the manuscript preparation and writing, including serving as the author or co-author.
-
(10%) Develop and modify practices and procedures to improve efficiency and quality to effectively achieve end results.
-
(10%) Manage complexities of multi-institution contracts, agreements, and coordination, as well as bring relevant stakeholders together to overcome roadblocks. Individual will also contribute to maintaining current funding, including overseeing budget planning and management. Person will be expected to proactively create deliverables for current grants, and will be expected to be capable of creating and editing administrative documents for new grant submissions.
-
(5%) Serve as a scientific representative on various committees and teams making decisions and recommendations on behalf of the project.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Advanced degree with substantial research and publication record
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- PhD in neuroscience, psychology, biomedical engineering, or a similar field.
- Evidence of scientific productivity (e.g., in peer-reviewed publications) in areas such as neuroimaging, neuromodulation, suicidology, or the study of severe mental illness.
The Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences consists of an outstanding team of researchers, clinicians, and educators who provide world-class expertise in psychiatric illness, treatment, scholarship, and scientific discovery.
Our mission is to:
- Create and disseminate new knowledge in the science of mental health
- Provide effective and innovative clinical care programs to alleviate the suffering of mental illness and promote mental resilience
- Train the next generation of interprofessional experts who will be leaders in Minnesota and beyond
- Engage in compassionate and vigorous outreach and advocacy on issues relevant to psychiatric illness, treatment, and research
Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will have the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume or CV.
This position will remain open until filled.
To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail jobcentr@umn.edu.
The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.
The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.
Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.
LOCATION
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.
At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by Forbes as a Best Employer for Company Culture (2026), Best Employer for Women (2023, 2025, 2026), and Best Employer by State (2022-2026). In 2026, we also received Culture Excellence & Industry Awards recognition for employee appreciation and work-life flexibility.
See all 430+ Staff Research Scientist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Staff Research Scientist roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as a Staff Research Scientist
Frame publications as specialty occupation evidence
Compile a publications list, grant history, and citation record before applying. USCIS evaluates specialty occupation partly through the complexity and specificity of the research role, and peer-reviewed output directly supports that determination.
Target PERM-active research institutions first
National laboratories, R1 universities, and large biotech firms file PERM labor certifications regularly for research scientists. Cross-reference DOL OFLC disclosure data to confirm an employer has an active history of sponsoring this exact role type.
Search verified sponsor employers on Migrate Mate
Use Migrate Mate to browse Staff Research Scientist openings at employers with confirmed LCA filing history. This filters out roles where sponsorship is implied but never actually filed, saving you weeks of back-and-forth with recruiters.
Clarify postdoc status before the offer stage
Many postdoctoral positions are classified differently than staff scientist roles under H-1B petitions. Confirm with the employer's HR whether the posted role files under a staff or postdoctoral petition category, since the LCA wage level and I-129 description will differ.
Check prevailing wage level before negotiating
Run the job title and location through the OFLC Wage Search to identify the DOL wage level the employer must certify. Research scientist roles frequently land at Level III or IV, and knowing this protects you if an offer comes in below the LCA-certified wage.
Align your degree field to the specific research domain
USCIS requires that your degree field directly relates to the research specialty, not just to science broadly. A biochemistry role supported by a physics degree will draw an RFE, so request the job description's specialty occupation rationale from your employer before the petition is filed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which visa types are realistic for Staff Research Scientist roles?
H-1B is the most common path since the role qualifies as a specialty occupation requiring at least a bachelor's degree in a directly related scientific field. J-1 visa is available for postdoctoral researchers through a designated sponsor organization. For permanent roles at universities or national labs, employers often initiate EB-2 or EB-3 PERM green card sponsorship, particularly for candidates with advanced degrees or exceptional ability.
Does a Staff Research Scientist role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes, in most cases. USCIS evaluates whether the role normally requires at least a bachelor's degree in a specific discipline. Staff Research Scientist positions tied to a defined research program, lab methodology, or technical domain consistently meet this standard. Roles described with vague or generalist language risk an RFE, so the job description should name the specific scientific field explicitly.
Do employers sponsor green cards for Staff Research Scientists?
Many do, especially in academia, government-funded laboratories, and large pharmaceutical or biotech firms. The typical route is EB-2 PERM, which requires the employer to conduct a DOL-supervised recruitment process before filing. Candidates with advanced degrees and significant publications sometimes qualify for the EB-2 National Interest Waiver, which allows self-petition without employer sponsorship and skips the PERM requirement entirely.
What degree level do employers expect for sponsored Staff Research Scientist positions?
A Ph.D. in a directly relevant scientific discipline is the practical standard for most sponsored Staff Research Scientist roles, particularly at R1 universities and national labs. Some industry positions accept a master's degree with substantial postdoctoral or industry research experience. O*NET classifies this occupation at the doctoral level, which also aligns with what USCIS expects when evaluating the specialty occupation requirement on the I-129 petition.
Where can I find Staff Research Scientist jobs with confirmed visa sponsorship?
Migrate Mate lists Staff Research Scientist openings at employers with verified LCA filing history, so you can confirm sponsorship before applying rather than discovering it late in the process. This is especially useful for distinguishing between employers who sponsor H-1B transfers versus those who only sponsor new hires or cap-subject petitions.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Staff Research 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.