(Associate) Scientist, Health Data

About the role

The Health Data team at Variant Bio turns data generated in the field, across our international partner cohorts, into harmonized, analysis-ready resources that power genetic target discovery. We are looking for someone who enjoys the challenge of complex, real-world data and is motivated to build robust, reproducible solutions for maximizing its quality and comparability across studies, modalities, collaborators, and collection sites.

Key Responsibilities

• Curate, clean, and harmonize multi-omic, survey, biochemistry, and clinical data from international field sites and partner cohorts, reconciling differences across studies, platforms, and sites.
• Build reproducible QC (validation checks and anomaly detection) that flags problematic data; drive solutions to trace root causes and suggests long term solutions.
• Contribute to study design, sample selection, and randomization schemes for multi-omic data generation.
• Catch data issues early and work with the internal team overseeing data collection to resolve them at the source.
• Run and adapt the ETL/ELT pipelines that ingest field data with room to own them over time.
• Prepare analysis-ready datasets, analyses, and quality assessments that feed downstream target discovery, with clear documentation throughout.
• Support quality data generation through occasional wet lab work including aliquoting, protocol testing, and sample QC.

Qualifications

• Must Have:
• MS or PhD in epidemiology, biostatistics, genetics, bioinformatics, data science, public health, computational biology, or a related field - or bachelors with a minimum of 2 years relevant professional experience.
• Demonstrated experience with large, imperfect real-world datasets (multi-omic, survey, biochemistry, and/or clinical) and a track record of catching quality issues before they reach an analysis and tracing them back to their cause.
• Basic proficiency in R, Python, or a similar programming/scripting language.
• Genomic study-design literacy: Able to recognize when recruitment, sampling, batching, or measurement decisions could introduce bias or confounding, and what the resulting data can and cannot support.
• Prior wet lab experience in molecular biology or related context.
• A learning mindset and creative problem-solving; comfortable working at the edge of your expertise and drawing on a cross-functional team to solve unfamiliar problems.
• Strong attention to detail and record-keeping, and the ability to manage parallel workflows across multiple studies.
• Clear communication and comfort collaborating across a cross-functional, international team.
• Ability to be onsite in the Seattle office a minimum of three days a week.
• Nice to Have:
• Experience developing and owning data pipelines; familiarity with workflow managers (e.g., Nextflow), databases (e.g. SQL), version control (Git), and HPC/cloud environments (e.g., AWS, Slurm).
• Experience with REDCap or similar electronic data capture (EDC) platforms.
• Familiarity with data harmonization frameworks — common data elements, common data models, or FAIR principles, including metadata schemas and data dictionaries.
• Familiarity with clinical data including biochemistry, anthropometrics, and health history.
• Experience with multi-omic data (proteomic, transcriptomic, metabolomic) generation, and an understanding of how multi-omic and phenotypic evidence is used to identify and prioritize therapeutic targets.
• Prior experience with nucleic acid extraction and QC, qPCR, and/or ELISA assays.
• Experience with human subjects research, IRB/ethics workflows, or international multi-site collaborations.
• Familiarity with biomedical coding systems and ontologies (ICD-9/10, Phecodes, HPO, etc.) for defining and harmonizing phenotypes across cohorts.

Compensation & Perks

At Variant Bio, we’re building something meaningful and we believe supporting our people is essential to that mission. We offer a thoughtful and competitive set of benefits designed to support your health, growth, and life outside of work.

• Competitive Compensation & Equity – Market-competitive salary with the opportunity to participate in company equity and share in our long-term success.
• Comprehensive Health Benefits – Variant Bio covers 100% of employee premiums for medical, dental, and vision insurance. Dependents may be added to the plan at an incremental cost.
• Flexible Time Off – Flexible paid time off and company holidays, with an emphasis on trust and personal responsibility.
• 401(k) Plan – Employer-sponsored retirement plan with company match.
• Professional Growth – Support for learning and development.
• Collaborative, Mission-Driven Culture – Work alongside a highly engaged, interdisciplinary team passionate about transforming human health through genetics.
• Early-Stage Impact – A chance to make a meaningful contribution at a growing biotech where your work has visible impact.

Anticipated annual base salary for this position is $100,000 - $150,000 plus up to 10% bonus and an options package, for total compensation of up $110,000 - $165,000, plus equity options. The annual salary range above is based on the responsibilities and qualifications listed above. Individual salary will depend on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.