Jobs / United States / Element Biosciences INC
Staff Scientist, Surface Chemistry
Element Biosciences INC · 🇺🇸 San Diego - Headquarters
Sponsorship verdict
Sponsorship possible
One solid signal, not two — worth applying, and worth asking about sponsorship early.
- Employer is on a government sponsor recordThe US Department of Labor certified 5 H-1B/E-3 labor condition applications for this employer between Oct 2025 and Jun 2026 (latest May 2026) — the step every H-1B hire needs first. USCIS also records 1 H-1B approvals in FY2023. Source: LCA disclosure data (US Department of Labor (OFLC)).
- The posting doesn’t mention sponsorshipSilence isn’t a refusal — ask the recruiter before investing much time.
- No salary bar for this routeH-1B has no fixed salary bar: the employer must pay at least the prevailing wage for the role and area. Cap-subject employers enter a lottery weighted by wage level. Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/12/29/2025-23853/weighted-selection-process-for-registrants-and-petitioners-seeking-to-file-cap-subject-h-1b, rules effective 2026-02-27.
- What Element Biosciences INC paid sponsored hires in similar roles1 certified filing for “Scientist II, Surface Chemistry” (Chemists) in CA: $122k–$122k, median $122k. Most were filed at wage level IV (100%) — 4 lottery entries, ≈61% projected selection odds for cap-subject employers. Source: US Department of Labor LCA disclosure data (Oct 2025 – Jun 2026).
- Confirmed live todayWhen a source last listed this job as open.
US H-1B: cap-subject employers enter a lottery weighted by wage level — Level I gets 1 entry, Level IV gets 4 (DHS projected selection odds ≈15% at Level I to ≈61% at Level IV). Universities and non-profit research employers are cap-exempt. The $100,000 fee for new petitions from abroad is currently blocked by a court order (appeal pending).
A verdict summarises public evidence; it is not legal advice and never a guarantee — the employer and the immigration authority decide. Sign in to factor in where you can already work.
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Sponsor Radar — Element Biosciences INC
The US Department of Labor certified 5 H-1B/E-3 labor condition applications for this employer between Oct 2025 and Jun 2026 (latest May 2026) — the step every H-1B hire needs first. USCIS also records 1 H-1B approvals in FY2023. Source: LCA disclosure data (US Department of Labor (OFLC)).
Past sponsorship or register membership never guarantees sponsorship for this vacancy or for you. Full Sponsor Radar for Element Biosciences INC →
About the role
At Element Biosciences, we are passionate about our mission to empower the scientific community with more freedom and flexibility to accelerate our collective impact on humanity. We have built a highly efficient product-driven organization where employees can learn, grow, and thrive in a challenging but encouraging environment. We are committed to scientific integrity, collegiality, honesty, objectivity, and openness. We are seeking a highly motivated Staff Scientist to join our surface chemistry team and provide scientific leadership in the development of innovative new products in the field of next-generation sequencing and multiomics applications. In this role, you will lead execution across multiple projects, drive innovation through original ideas and thought leadership, and serve as a key scientific collaborator across functions to translate research concepts into robust, manufacturable products. This role will report to the Director, Surface Chemistry and will be a San Diego based role. If you possess the following and want to make a meaningful impact, we invite you to explore this role. Essential Functions and Responsibilities: • Design, develop, and evaluate novel surface chemistry approaches to enable next-generation sequencing/multiomics applications • Design and evaluate novel surface chemistry solutions on microfluidic and lab-on-chip devices, with a strong understanding of how device geometry and flow conditions influence surface performance and assay outcomes • Define and lead product development efforts, including experimental design, prototyping, functional testing, and data analysis • Troubleshoot performance issues related to surface fouling, non-specific binding, or cell compatibility • Identify and resolve experimental challenges related to assay design, protocol execution, reagent selection, and surface performance • Support the transfer of surface chemistry solutions from research into product development and manufacturing, in collaboration with process development and operations teams • Maintain hands-on scientific leadership, setting the direction for laboratory experimentation and troubleshooting while mentoring junior scientists and guiding their technical development • Contribute innovative ideas and technical insight to early-stage concept development and feasibility assessments • Contribute technical expertise to invention disclosures and patent applications in collaboration with the IP legal team and senior technical leadership • Collaborate effectively with colleagues in product management, assay development, engineering, and manufacturing to ensure alignment and successful execution • Prepare and deliver high-quality technical reports and presentations that summarize findings, support decision-making, and document development progress Education and Experience: • PhD in chemistry, materials science, biochemistry, bioengineering, physics, or a related field • 6+ years of relevant industry experience in surface chemistry, materials science, or biomolecular interfaces in life sciences or diagnostics • Strong publication and presentation record, with contributions to patents or novel methods • Deep expertise in surface chemistry, polymer chemistry and biomolecule–surface interactions is required • Background in NGS, genomics, proteomics or multiomics platforms is required • Familiarity with microfluidic device design principles and an understanding of how channel geometry, surface-to-volume ratios, and flow dynamics influence surface chemistry performance and assay outcomes; experience with device fabrication (e.g., soft lithography, PDMS) or working with commercial lab-on-chip platforms is preferred • Familiarity with surface analytical techniques such as AFM, ellipsometry, FTIR,