Looking for an International Research Job?

The United States is a global leader in training and employing the best scientists from all over the world. However, international scientists trained in the U.S. are increasingly exploring global careers. On the one hand, the convoluted and outdated U.S. immigration system stymies career ambitions of international scientists. On the other hand, global demand for scientific talent is increasing as competition for R&D creates desirable incentives for scientists, particularly those trained in U.S. universities.

The current administration is further eroding federal research investments, resulting in layoffs and hiring freezes that impact all researchers in the U.S., particularly early-career researchers. In fact, 75 percent of the approximately 1,600 scientists who responded to a 2025 Nature poll said they are considering leaving the U.S. following the recent disruptions to federal scientific funding, with Europe and Canada being top choices for relocation.

International scientists in the U.S. face a particularly unwelcoming environment due to uncertainties and restrictions around immigration that can limit their academic independence and career agency. In this article, I will outline considerations and approaches for international scientists exploring global careers. These insights are drawn from my forthcoming book, Thriving as an International Scientist (expected this fall from University of California Press). That said, much of the following information is relevant to all early-career scientists—domestic and international—who are exploring careers beyond the United States.

Considerations for a Global Career Search

Your first instinct as an international scientist may be to return to your country of citizenship. But if you are casting a wider net, you may consider the following factors and approaches.

Begin with clarity of purpose and identify your primary drivers for global mobility—whether it is financial reasons, academic freedom, better career prospects or feasibility of immigration. Understanding the primary drivers will help you decide which country will best suit your values and goals.

Then, conduct a comparative analysis of countries that takes into account macroeconomic and socioeconomic factors, career options and employability, immigration climate, and other personal preferences.

Macroeconomic factors. To understand investments in research and innovation in a particular country, investigate R&D intensity—that is, the R&D share of overall GDP. In simple terms, R&D intensity indicates the relative share of the economy devoted to R&D, which has important implications for the landscape of current and future research jobs. A 2024 report from the American Association for the Advancement of Science suggests that China, South Korea and Taiwan, followed by the United Kingdom and European Union countries, reported the largest growth in R&D expenditures since 2002, beyond the U.S.

Also, identify countries that have thriving academic and industry R&D and robust global connections in your specific field. The number of start-ups or multinational companies, as well as the availability of diverse funding mechanisms, in a specific field (e.g. biotech or green tech) are indicators of a thriving innovation ecosystem. Read global economy reports and business news (e.g., from the World Economic Forum). Also talk to scientists and industry professionals based in those countries and follow R&D-related entrepreneurship news coming out of universities or economic development units of governments to learn more.

Socioeconomic factors. Compare factors such as salaries for researchers, cost of living, the competitiveness of job markets and opportunities for cultural integration. Global cities or university towns are most likely hubs for research innovation. Therefore, carefully examine whether salary and benefit levels support cost of living expenses in such cities. You can use online cost of living calculators to compare living costs in global cities.

Based on your specific circumstances, you may want to investigate social and medical support for families and children. If you are a single person (especially a woman), you may also investigate safety considerations in places of interest, as well as societal attitudes toward single people.

For ethnic and religious minorities, evaluate the acceptance level for multiculturalism. Many international researchers explore countries that are culturally like their home country or the U.S. for a smoother transition.

To truly understand the socioeconomic climate, talk to other researchers (e.g. alumni of your universities or members of your online communities) who migrated from the U.S. to understand benefits and challenges. Their perspectives will inform your cost-benefit analysis.

Immigration climate. Explore typical immigration pathways for employment and options and timelines for permanent residency and citizenship. You may want to avoid countries that have an increasingly anti-immigrant climate or restrictive immigration policies.

Look into language requirements in specific countries or regions (e.g., French language requirements in Quebec, Canada). Would you need to be fluent in additional languages to live and work in specific countries? Does that pose a challenge or barrier for you?

Make a short list of countries with global talent programs and incentives for recruiting international scientists. Many countries and regions such as Australia, Canada, China, the E.U., South Korea and the U.K. have talent programs (outlined here and here) enabling career transitions for international STEM Ph.Ds.

Career options and employability. You may be fearful or fatigued about career transition, particularly due to lack of knowledge of employability, professional standards and expectations, and career norms. For a semi-smooth transition, consider postdoc training or working in a multinational company or global satellite campus of a U.S. university. Maintaining an association with U.S. employers will provide a cultural cushion in the workplace while you navigate a new country.

Platforms such as EURAXESS, DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) and GoinGlobal, among others, provide comprehensive resources for global mobility, including resources on research funding, career exploration and job search, and professional norms across cultures. Seek mentorship from other international scientists who have walked this path.

Also consider your long-term career goals when comparing a career in the U.S. versus other countries. If you prioritize career innovation and anticipate a nonlinear career path, prioritize countries that support your career adventures. Moving to a country that honors tradition and linear advancements in career trajectories and that has a conservative employment and workforce culture may not be a good fit for your ambition.

If salary growth, career changes and rapid advancement are important factors for you, my benchmarking and conversations with scientists indicate that salaries and growth opportunities in the U.S. still are superior in the long term once you can secure your immigration pathway. This may change in coming years, but the U.S. still leads in research expenditure, innovation and entrepreneurial activity globally, across most STEM fields.

Values Alignment, Strategic Experimentation and Patience

Ultimately, it comes down to your (and your family’s) values and priorities. For my forthcoming book, I spoke to many U.S.-trained scientists who migrated to Canada, Europe or Asia for various reasons, including long-term stability, freedom to travel, work-life balance, better health care and childcare for families, and proximity to aging parents.

I identified common threads in their advice to others contemplating global mobility. They emphasized that even with benchmarking and methodical planning, moving countries involves risk-taking and a leap of faith. You will need to experiment, embrace serendipity and have patience. Initially, it will be bumpy; most transitions are. But give it a few years to see how you really feel.

After two or more years, if the new country doesn’t suit you, you can explore returning. If your employer has a base in the U.S., you can use visas for intra-company transfers for managers and executives. Explore programs such as the STEM Research Initiative enabling short-term employment in the U.S. for international scientists. Migration is a significant undertaking, but international researchers have the advantage of muscle memory. You did it once (when you came to the U.S.); you can do it again.

In addition to professional skills, international scientists also develop distinct strengths from navigating life in new environments. Exposure to more countries will build your leadership skills and multicultural competency. In the long run, your global awareness, networks and experience will make you highly competitive and valued in the workplace.