Research Scientist

Schedule: Full-time; Remote with benefits | 2 weeks PTO + federal holidays
Payment: $100,000. Opportunity for a salary increase upon demonstrating readiness to independently lead client work, typically within 6–9 months.
Start Date: Immediate

About Fit Minded
Fit Minded is a strategic applied science firm for digital health companies, integrating scientific research with business strategy to drive growth, boost revenue, and build credibility. We work with clients at every stage, some starting from scratch, others scaling existing research, helping them turn science into competitive advantage. Our team is composed of experienced scientists who thrive in fast-paced, high-stakes environments where research directly influences product decisions, funding rounds, and company trajectories. Learn more at fit-minded.com

The Work Environment
This isn't an academic research role, but it's not a standard industry role either. You will work across a number of clients simultaneously, each at different stages of scientific maturity, each in different areas of digital health, each with distinct business priorities. Nothing is cut-and-paste here. Every client requires you to learn their product, understand their competitive landscape, and translate their business goals into rigorous science. You will context-switch constantly and you're expected to get up to speed quickly without sacrificing scientific rigor.

This role is rooted in our values—Courageous Ownership, Balanced Excellence, Fearless Innovation and Clear & Accountable. You’ll be expected to take initiative, make thoughtful judgment calls, and move work forward even when things aren’t fully defined. We value proactive, ongoing communication and trust you to problem-solve first, then share your approach. You’ll also be navigating shifting priorities in a fast-moving environment, so adaptability, curiosity, and comfort with variety are key. If you’re energized by that kind of pace and want your work to directly shape how multiple companies grow, you’ll likely thrive here. This role requires 3+ years of industry, startup, or consulting experience. Note - Academic, postdoctoral, and government research positions do not meet this requirement, regardless of research quality or publication record. If this describes your background exclusively, please do not apply.

The Position
We are seeking a Research Scientist who brings established industry research experience and is ready to grow into independent client leadership within 6 to 9 months. You already know how to design studies, analyze data, and publish. What you'll learn here is how Fit Minded does it: our proprietary needs assessment and science map methodology, and how to apply it across clients with different products, health domains, and business pressures.

Your onboarding is structured in three stages:

• Months 0–3: Work alongside our Senior Research Scientists on active client engagements. Learn the needs assessment and science map process by contributing directly to it, and own defined project components from the start.
• Months 3–6: Co-lead client engagements with Level 3 oversight. Run client meetings, drive study design and analysis decisions, and take primary responsibility for deliverables.
• Months 6–9: Independently own multiple client engagements end-to-end, with Level 3 support on strategy and escalation.

Advancement is based on demonstrated readiness, not time in role. Scientists who show independent client readiness earlier move faster. We're looking for someone who wants to build a long-term career with Fit Minded and grow toward senior scientific leadership.

What you'll build here is hard to replicate elsewhere. You'll gain hands-on exposure to a breadth of digital health companies, research problems, and business contexts — working simultaneously across clients at different stages of scientific maturity, in different health domains, with different product and funding pressures. That breadth accelerates your development as a scientist and strategist in ways a single-lab or single-company role rarely does. Our scientists publish, present, and build track records that span industries. If you're motivated by variety, ownership, and the chance to watch your science directly shape how companies grow, this is the right environment.

How You'll Contribute
As a Research Scientist, your core responsibilities include:

• Lead the design and conduct research studies including randomized controlled trials (RCTs), from literature review and conceptualization through IRB submission, data analysis, and interpretation. You'll make methodological decisions independently and communicate progress without being prompted.
• Communicate research findings to executives, product teams, and other non-scientific stakeholders, translating results into clear recommendations that inform product and business decisions.
• Develop statistical analysis plans matched to research questions; implement data analysis using R, including for large, complex datasets with repeated measures; document analytic approach and decisions with scientific justification. When you encounter methodological decisions (e.g., covariate selection), you will use available resources to make informed choices and document your reasoning.
• Lead manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals and contribute to scientific presentations, white papers, or reports. This includes coordinating with co-authors to meet deadlines.
• Lead client engagements end-to-end by months 6–9, applying our needs assessment and science map methodology to translate client business goals into research strategy.
• Collaborate with lead scientists on research aligned with broader strategic goals, contributing to proposals, publications, and innovation initiatives. Collaboration here means proactive communication, not waiting to be asked for updates.

We need someone who:

• Can define their own path forward from a business problem. You won't be handed a research agenda or a fully scoped protocol. Client goals are the starting point, and you're expected to translate those into rigorous science independently. If you've only worked within a pre-defined research program, this will be a significant adjustment.
• Communicates proactively with clients including progress and blockers.
• Takes initiative when problem-solving (tries multiple approaches, uses resources, doesn't freeze when something is unclear)
• Moves fast without sacrificing quality (tight timelines are standard, not exceptions)
• Is socially aware and collaborative (you don't need to be extroverted, but you do need to read the room, coordinate effectively, and engage professionally with clients and teammates)

Minimum Qualifications

• PhD in Behavioral Health, Clinical Psychology, Health Psychology, Public Health, or a related field
• Minimum of 3 years of post-degree experience conducting research in an industry, startup, or consulting environment; digital health or health technology is a must. Academic research, postdoctoral positions, and government roles do not satisfy this requirement.
• Demonstrated experience presenting research to non-scientific stakeholders (e.g., executives, product, marketing) and influencing product or business decisions.
• Experience in behavior change research with strong interest in both mental and physical health
• Experience leading or co-leading randomized controlled trials (RCTs) including protocol development, recruitment, and data collection
• Strong proficiency in conducting advanced quantitative analyses using R or similar statistical software
• A strong track record of publishing research in peer-reviewed journals
• Excellent writing and communication skills, with demonstrated ability to solve problems, work independently and collaboratively

Preferred Qualifications

• Consulting or multi-client experience
• Mentoring or supervising junior scientists
• Familiarity with regulatory evidence pathways (DTx/SaMD).
• Familiarity with AI tools for workflow optimization and strategic applications
• Expertise in data collection methodologies (survey design, longitudinal tracking, mixed-methods)
• Experience writing Institutional Review Board (IRB) protocols
• Experience running RCTs at scale, including large-sample recruitment, multi-site coordination, and adherence to trial protocols.
• Ability to efficiently gather and synthesize information through scientific literature and market reviews
• High-level proficiency in qualitative research (interviews, thematic analysis)
• Comfort working remotely while maintaining regular, proactive communication with supervisors and teammates

How to Apply
https://fit-minded.com/careers/

About our CEO, Dr. Jennifer Huberty
Dr. Jennifer Huberty is a distinguished behavioral research scientist with over 25 years of experience, serving as a cornerstone between academia, science, and business—a rare and invaluable skill set. She specializes in digital approaches to promote behavior change and enhance well-being, driving science-driven growth and business innovation. Dr. Huberty is the former Head of Science at Calm and the CEO at Fit Minded Inc., and holds academic roles at Arizona State University and adjunct faculty roles at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, University of Texas Health San Antonio/Mays Cancer Center, and Banner Health/University of Arizona. With over 200 peer-reviewed publications, she is a recognized leader in clinical study design, brand positioning research, and scientific content marketing to support data-driven business strategies. Learn more here.