About
Supporting Research & Innovation in the U.S.
What is the STEM Research Initiative and ResearcherUSA.com?
The STEM Research Initiative is part of the U.S. Department of State’s Exchange Visitor Program. Allowing global experts to stay in the U.S. for up to five years, this program helps facilitate meaningful collaboration between U.S.-based companies, institutions and foreign nationals involved in research and development to leverage exchange of ideas and fuel innovation worldwide.
Whether information is sought by employers, lawyers, international STEM experts, recent graduates of STEM degree programs, state, local or federal government actors, multilateral organizations, universities, or others – the ResearcherUSA.com site provides a “one-stop shop” on the STEM Research Initiative, including resources directly from the U.S. Department of State’s own FAQs.
Sponsoring Organizations
The researcherusa.com site was developed by a group of nonprofit exchange visitor program sponsors looking to better ensure access to fulsome information about how the STEM Research Initiative can be utilized by U.S. companies of every size, geography, and sector.
Goals for the STEM Research Initiative:
Foster stronger global collaboration
Increase mutual understanding between U.S. citizens and citizens of other countries
Improve competitiveness
Support an increase in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) students, professionals, and exchange visitors on educational and cultural exchange programs in the United States
Bring fresh ideas, perspectives, and approaches to:
- U.S.-based companies and their employees
- U.S. institutions and their scholars, researchers, and faculty
- Innovation hubs and incubators
- The nation’s innovation ecosystem
Why STEM Research Initiative?
In 2022, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announced the STEM Research Initiative. Working in collaboration with designated program sponsors, the initiative was designed to support U.S. companies and institutions interested in hosting J-1 visa exchange visitors in STEM fields to add a global perspective to STEM R&D being conducted by private businesses across America.
The STEM Research Initiative was initially devised by the State Department in collaboration with the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy based on the recognition that when people come to the United States to study, to take part in science and technology endeavors, and to build ties between cultures and countries, this benefits America and Americans.
The STEM Research Initiative was designed to create opportunities for companies to broaden networks and tap into the global marketplace of talent, and to allow U.S. businesses of any size to work with people who bring a different lens, different background, and different perspective. Leveraging the existing J-1 Research Scholar program and existing regulations governing that program, the initiative was developed as a way to expand eligibility and remove barriers to participation, so more U.S. organizations could benefit.
One of America’s greatest competitive advantages is its ability to attract innovators and entrepreneurs from all over the world. By making key policy changes and establishing the STEM Research initiative, the United States has successfully carved out new avenues for businesses and institutions to connect with talented global researchers and other highly skilled individuals in STEM fields.
Participate in the STEM Research Initiative
If you’re a U.S.-based company, institution, or a foreign researcher interested in participating in the J-1 STEM Research Initiative, find out how you can get started by selecting one of the participation categories below.
If you are a STEM participant, sign up at STEMTalentConnect.com to start your journey.
FAQs from State Department
Want to read other user-specific FAQs?
Can you please provide some concrete examples of off-campus STEM placements in the Research Scholar Category?
Below are some concrete examples of how sponsors are implementing the STEM initiative in the Research Scholar category, based on a March 2023 data snapshot. All exchange visitors are on a STEM exchange connected to a Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List.
- A biotechnology corporation partners with an international student exchange organization to host a Research Scholar from Finland in the field of cancer biology.
- A university sponsors a Research Scholar from Spain hosted by a NASA research center in the field of astronautical engineering.
- A university sponsored Research Scholar in the field of molecular genetics and genomics is hosted by a not-for-profit plant science research center.
- A battery technology corporation hosts a Research Scholar in the field of battery materials engineering, sponsored by an international exchange organization.
- A personal genomics company hosts a Research Scholar in the field of cardiovascular science.
Can you please provide some concrete examples of off-campus STEM placements in the Short-Term Scholar Category?
Below are some concrete examples of how sponsors are implementing the STEM initiative in the Short-Term Scholar category, based on a March 2023 data snapshot. All exchange visitors are on a STEM exchange connected to a Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List.
- Through an international arts organization sponsor, an art museum hosts a Short-Term Scholar from India in the field of animation, interactive technology, video graphics, and special effects animation.
- A fermentation research and development company hosts a Shot-Term Scholar from Denmark to conduct research to improve the performance and fermentation characteristics of yeast strains.
- A science foundation partners with an international exchange organization to host a Short-Term Scholar from Japan in the field computational astrophysics.
- A university sponsors a Research Scholar in the field of astronomy and astrophysics to study solar flares at a NASA flight center.
- A not-for-profit applied science and technology development company hosts a Research Scholar from India in the field of chemical engineering hosted by a U.S. Department of Energy research laboratory.
Can you please provide some concrete examples of off-campus STEM placements in the Specialist Category?
Below are some concrete examples of how sponsors are implementing the STEM initiative in the Specialist category, based on a March 2023 data snapshot. All exchange visitors are on a STEM exchange connected to a Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List.
- Personal Protective Equipment manufacturing company hosts a manufacturing engineering Specialist from Sri Lanka who advises on technical aspects of glove manufacturing and product development.
- Magazine and television company hosts a Specialist from the United Kingdom to share expertise in marine biology and environmental research.
- Television network hosts a Specialist from the United Kingdom to be a content contributor and subject-matter expert in the field of geology and earth science.
- Technology corporation sponsors and hosts a Specialist from Italy in the field of computer semiconductor engineering.
Can you please provide some concrete examples of off-campus STEM placements in the Student Intern Category?
Below are some concrete examples of how sponsors are implementing the STEM initiative in the Student Intern category, based on a March 2023 data snapshot. All exchange visitors are on a STEM exchange connected to a Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List.
- A supply chain operations and logistics company hosts a university sponsored Student Intern from Republic of Korea in the field of Engineering.
- A hospital hosts a Student Intern from Japan, sponsored by a university, in the field of neurology.
- A national research institute hosts a Student Intern from Germany in the field of cellular and molecular biology.
Can you please provide some concrete examples of off-campus STEM placements in the Trainee Category?
Below are some concrete examples of how sponsors are implementing the STEM initiative in the Trainee category, based on a March 2023 data snapshot. All exchange visitors are on a STEM exchange connected to a Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List.
- A software company hosted a Trainee in the field of computer software engineering after partnering with a business association who provided sponsorship.
- A steel manufacturing company hosts an industrial engineering Trainee from Mexico, sponsored by a professional membership organization.
- A car manufacturing corporation partners with an international exchange organization to host a computer software engineering Trainee from Japan.
- A shipping logistics software company hosts a Trainee from France in the field of artificial intelligence.
