Senior Epidemiologist

PicnicHealth is simplifying clinical research with AI, making it faster and cheaper to get new treatments to patients. We’re bringing a patient-centered, AI-first approach to a $100b market otherwise dominated by old-school, services-driven incumbents.  We’re creating a streamlined operating system for clinical research, built on top of our AI for medical record data in trials and a personal health assistant that keeps patients engaged (NPS 66). 

Founded in 2014, PicnicHealth has raised over $100 million from investors including YC, Amplify Partners, Felicis Ventures and B Capital Group. Our business running observational studies more than doubled last year and we expect to grow even faster this year.  We've gained real traction in a conservative industry: 12 of the top 20 pharma companies use PicnicHealth, we've got 60+ publications across 40 disease areas, and we just had our first FDA approval that included our data in the submission.

The Opportunity

Join PicnicHealth as a Senior Epidemiologist and lead groundbreaking observational research that advances clinical insights and improves health outcomes. Leveraging PicnicHealth’s innovative Real-World Data (RWD) platform, you’ll collaborate with life sciences partners to design, conduct, and publish impactful studies that deepen understanding of health conditions and inform critical healthcare decisions. As the primary scientific point of contact, you’ll craft fit-for-purpose study designs, oversee analytical workflows, and ensure research excellence across diverse methodologies, including natural history studies, registries, safety and effectiveness studies, and regulatory submissions. Your work will be showcased at leading conferences, published in peer-reviewed journals, and may contribute to regulatory advancements—all while working alongside multidisciplinary teams to address complex research questions using electronic health records, patient-reported outcomes, claims data, and other rich datasets.

What we’re looking for in a Senior Epidemiologist:

• Extensive experience leading the design and implementation of complex observational research studies for life science customers across a variety of indications, involving both primary data collection and secondary data usage.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, especially in customer-facing, consultative interactions and the ability to forge and manage relationships across all levels within the organization as well as with external stakeholders 
• Proven ability to draft study documents, including but not limited to study protocols, informed consent forms, statistical analysis plans, study reports, and scientific publications.
• A collaborative approach, with experience working cross-functionally with diverse teams such as sales, biostatistics, quality / regulatory, data management, medical, patient enrollment, and clinical operations. Bonus: experience working with product or engineering teams. 

Over the next 12 months, you will be focused on:

• Serving as the primary scientific point of contact for our external research partners to ensure their success, manage client interactions and outreach to ensure exceptional client satisfaction.
• Designing, conducting, interpreting, and publishing complex observational research studies leveraging primary (e.g., PROs, ClinROs) and secondary data (e.g., medical records, claims) to meet partners’ goals. 
• Translating partner research needs into actionable requirements for cross-functional internal teams, ensuring clarity and alignment.  
• Overseeing the scientific conduct of studies to generate high-quality, fit-for-purpose data.
• Collaborating with cross functional internal teams to ensure seamless study execution.
• Contribute to thought leadership initiatives, advancing PicnicHealth’s scientific credibility and value proposition.

You’ll be successful if you have:

• PhD in epidemiology, public health, outcomes research, health economics or a relevant scientific field with at least 5 years of experience working for or with life sciences partners.
• Intellectual curiosity and independence, strong organizational skills, and the ability to balance shifting priorities to meet or exceed expectations. 
• Proficiency in statistical software (R, SAS, Stata, etc.) and SQL.
• Experience managing data submissions to regulatory or other health authorities.
• Intellectual curiosity and independence, strong organizational skills, and the ability to balance shifting priorities to meet or exceed expectations. 

We expect all team members to be motivated to be amazing in their roles and, ultimately, to move the PicnicHealth mission forward.

What is clinical research and why will PicnicHealth win?

Clinical research is the industry that runs studies to evaluate how drugs & treatments work. It's hugely impactful — better trials mean faster, cheaper drug development, which means more and better treatments reaching patients. Unfortunately, the process is very inefficient. Trials are one of the biggest bottlenecks in drug development, and all the exciting advances in biotech won't translate into real impact if clinical research doesn't work better.

The industry runs on outdated technology and manual processes. Research sites (hospitals, academic centers, doctors' offices) are a major bottleneck, and contract research organizations (CROs) spend most of their time wrangling sites and cobbling together vendor software. 

PicnicHealth has built technology that uniquely positions us to run faster, cheaper, and more flexible studies without requiring sites:

• PicnicAI (trained on 350M+ clinician annotations over 100k+ patient records) is the only system that can effectively access and structure all participant EMR data trials need
• Our AI health assistant (NPS of 66 in 2024) guides participants through study activities and enables most to be done at home
• We're an integrated solution — virtual site, CRO, and software platform — with AI built in from the ground up, initially focusing on observational research.  

The other perks & benefits you get when you work at PicnicHealth   

We pay competitive salaries. Everyone on the team is an owner: all full time employees get competitive equity.

Target Base Salary Range: $160K - 200K 

The base salary PicnicHealth offers may vary depending upon the scope, complexity, and autonomy of the position and on the candidate’s job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. 

We’re a remote first company, with teammates spread across the US. We support in-person gatherings, including co-working spaces and multi-day onsites, to build connections and move forward strategic initiatives. Expect to travel 2-4 times a year.  For our team members in the Bay Area, who prefer to work in person we can offer a hybrid set up to work from the SF office on a flexible schedule.

You also get:

• Comprehensive benefits including above market Health, Dental, Vision
• Family friendly environment 
• Flexible time off
• 401k plan
• Free PicnicHealth account
• Equipment and internet funds for home office set up 
• Wellness Stipend

PicnicHealth is committed to promoting an inclusive work environment free of discrimination and harassment. We value a diverse and balanced team where everyone can belong.