Senior Data Scientist, Clinical Research

About Us

Function was founded with a singular focus: empower you to live 100 healthy years. We’re doing that by using the best available technology to make sure people don't suffer or die a preventable death. Function has been recognized as one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies of 2024, and is venture-backed by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z). 130,000+ members have joined Function to take control of their health. We are growing our team and seeking out world-class talent that deeply believes in our mission to positively impact global health, has a relentless bias toward action and a growth mindset. Function fosters a collaborative and dynamic environment, where every day we are building the future.

Role

We are seeking a senior data scientist with deep clinical and scientific expertise to lead the development of data structures, metrics, analyses, and academic-style whitepapers and research publications that quantify and provide scalable evidence of our product’s impact on members’ health. The ideal candidate combines technical proficiency in data science with a deep understanding of health data, epidemiologic principles, and outcomes research, as well as strong communication and collaboration skills.

This role sits at the intersection of advanced data science and machine learning, clinical interpretation and medical domain expertise, scientific writing and publication-quality communication, and strategic marketing and sales enablement. As the first hire in this area, you will also have the opportunity to partner with a world-class set of scientists, clinicians, and researchers both at Function Health and academic institutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Research

• Design and execute rigorous analyses on member data to understand population-level health trends, quantify health improvements, risk detection, prevention impact, and longitudinal outcomes.

• Develop academically structured whitepapers that clearly demonstrate Function Health’s clinical and economic value.

• Translate complex analyses into compelling narratives for both scientific and commercial audiences.

• Support publication strategies, including potential peer-reviewed journal submissions and academic collaborations.

• Advanced Data Science & Analytics

• Develop and apply best-in-class statistical and machine learning models on topics such as:

• Early disease detection

• Risk stratification

• Biomarker clustering and phenotyping

• Longitudinal health trajectory modeling

• Operationalize data structures, metrics, and dashboards into our Data Platform for self-service analytics usage

• Ensure analyses meet high standards of methodological rigor.

• Conduct sensitivity analyses and address confounders, bias, and data quality issues.

• Clinical & Scientific Rigor

• Apply deep understanding of physiology, pathology, and clinical guidelines to ensure appropriate interpretation of lab data.

• Frame findings in context of established medical literature.

• Identify opportunities to validate or challenge current standards of care using Function Health data.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Marketing and Sales to translate findings into compelling external materials.

• Collaborate with clinical, research, and product teams to define population health metrics, outcome criteria, and study methodologies.

• Collaborate with academic institutions on joint research initiatives where appropriate.

Qualifications/Skills

• PhD in a natural science (e.g., biology, biomedical sciences, epidemiology, biostatistics, systems biology, computational biology) or MD with strong quantitative research experience.
• 5+ years of experience in data science, clinical research, or applied biomedical analytics.
• Demonstrated experience publishing scientific papers or producing publication-quality research reports.
• Strong statistical foundation (regression modeling, causal inference, longitudinal analysis, survival analysis, etc.).
• Proficiency in Python or R for advanced data analysis.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.

Nice-to-Have Skills And Experiences

While the core competencies are essential, the following qualifications will distinguish exceptional candidates:

• Experience working with large-scale clinical or lab datasets.
• Background in preventive medicine, internal medicine, endocrinology, cardiometabolic health, or related fields.
• Experience translating research into business or policy impact.
• Prior collaboration with academic institutions or health systems.
• Familiarity with regulatory considerations (HIPAA, IRB processes).

To Be a Strong Fit, You Also Need

• Bias Toward Action: Demonstrated ability to take initiative, make decisions under uncertainty, and move projects forward even in the face of ambiguity. We value individuals who are self-starters and ready to act on opportunities and challenges alike.
• Entrepreneurial Spirit: Strong adaptability to changing business needs with a knack for building and optimizing processes. Your entrepreneurial mindset will be crucial in navigating the dynamic landscape of our industry, ensuring our platform remains competitive and responsive to user needs.
• Communication: Excellent communication skills, capable of explaining complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders. Effective communication is vital for cross-functional collaboration and ensuring alignment across our organization.
• Remote Work Adaptability: Comfort with remote work environments, demonstrating the ability to stay productive and connected with the team irrespective of physical location.
• Continuous Improvement: A willingness to question assumptions and a commitment to continuous improvement. Your openness to feedback and dedication to personal and professional growth will contribute significantly to our collective success.

We value our team at Function and offer a competitive salary, equity and benefits package, flexible, fully-remote working hours, and a dynamic work environment where creativity and innovation are encouraged. If you are a highly motivated and experienced individual who is passionate about using technology to improve people’s lives, we would love to hear from you.

Join the Function Health team and become a part of our mission to revolutionize healthcare. Work with us to make a difference in the lives of thousands, ensuring a healthier future for all. Discover more about us and how we're changing the face of healthcare at Function Health.

Important Notice: Legitimate communication from the Function Health team will always come from an email address ending in @functionhealth.com. Function Health will never request personal information such as banking details or payment during the hiring process. Please be cautious of communications or job offers that come from other email domains, instant messaging platforms, or unsolicited calls. If you ever have doubts about the legitimacy of a communication, please reach out to us directly at talent@functionhealth.com_._