Back to jobs
New

Research Scientist

Scottsdale, Arizona, United States

Research Scientist – Gut Health & Clinical Research

The Role

The Research Scientist is responsible for building the scientific foundation that differentiates our gut health portfolio through innovative research and evidence-based product development. This role designs, manages, and executes preclinical and clinical research to generate robust scientific substantiation, support regulatory-compliant structure/function claims, and advance a pipeline of science-based initiatives.

Working closely with Product Development, Regulatory, Marketing, Product Education, and Quality, this scientist translates complex microbiome science into compelling, consumer-relevant product benefits that are easily understood.

Employee Value Proposition

This is a unique opportunity to own the scientific direction of research initiatives—from identifying emerging ingredient opportunities to designing studies, generating evidence, and influencing product strategy. Backed by executive support, you'll have the autonomy to shape research programs, contribute to first-to-market innovations, and build the scientific credibility that differentiates our products and empowers our field.

Key Performance Objectives

  • Lead and complete 1–3 priority preclinical studies supporting upcoming product launches and patent opportunities.
  • Strengthen scientific substantiation by developing differentiated, regulatory-compliant structure/function claims.
  • Advance innovation by identifying and evaluating emerging gut health ingredients, technologies, and research opportunities.
  • Partner with Marketing and Product Education to translate science into compelling product stories and field education.
  • Support innovation and renovation initiatives that strengthen the company's long-term gut health portfolio.

Performance Accountabilities

Scientific Research & Innovation

  • Design, manage, and execute preclinical and clinical research programs in partnership with internal teams and Contract Research Organizations (CROs).
  • Critically evaluate emerging science, patents, and competitive technologies to identify innovation opportunities.
  • Develop research strategies that support a 3–5 year gut health innovation pipeline.

Scientific Substantiation

  • Develop defensible scientific substantiation for structure/function claims through literature evaluation, research findings, and clinical evidence.
  • Author scientific dossiers, white papers, technical summaries, and ingredient substantiation documents.
  • Translate microbiome science into differentiated product positioning across digestive health, immune health, metabolic health, and the gut-brain axis.

Cross-Functional Leadership

  • Collaborate with Regulatory, Marketing, Product Development, Product Education, Quality, and Legal to ensure scientific accuracy and compliance.
  • Develop educational content and scientific training that equips internal teams and the field with evidence-based product knowledge.
  • Provide scientific leadership throughout product development and commercialization.

External Scientific Engagement

  • Build relationships with CROs, academic researchers, Scientific Advisory Boards, and industry partners.
  • Attend scientific conferences and evaluate emerging research, ingredient technologies, and partnership opportunities.
  • Support Quality with scientific evaluation of Serious Adverse Event reports when needed.

Performance Qualifications

Required

  • PhD in Microbiology, Nutrition Science, Biochemistry, or a related scientific discipline.
  • Minimum of 2 years of relevant industry experience or postdoctoral research.
  • Experience designing, managing, analyzing, and interpreting preclinical and clinical research.
  • Strong scientific writing, literature evaluation, and communication skills.
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities while collaborating across cross-functional teams.

Preferred

  • Four or more years of relevant industry experience.
  • Expertise in probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics, fermentation-derived ingredients, or microbiome science.
  • Experience in weight management and/or cardiometabolic health.
  • Peer-reviewed publications and experience supporting product claim substantiation.

About Plexus

Founded in gut health. Experts in microbiome. Plexus Worldwide®, headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, is a renowned direct-selling company recognized as a top employer. Over the past 18 years, Plexus has dedicated itself to promoting hope, health, and happiness through its scientifically backed, innovative dietary supplements, weight management products, and personal care products, sold primarily through Plexus Brand Ambassadors. As a six-time Best Places to Work awardee, Blue Zone-approved employer, and an AZ Most Admired Company, Plexus prides itself on its robust organizational culture and commitment to community support and philanthropy.  Our team is driven by a shared mission to empower individuals to achieve their health and wellness goals while offering additional income through the sale of products. Join us to be part of a team that values people, innovation, wellness, and community impact.

 

Thank you for taking the time to apply for an opportunity with our One Plexus team! If you had any issues during the application process, please contact us directly at careers@plexusworldwide.com.

We are committed to protecting the privacy and security of your information. Visit our Candidate Privacy Notice for additional information.

#LI-HK1

Create a Job Alert

Interested in building your career at Plexus Worldwide? Get future opportunities sent straight to your email.

Apply for this job

*

indicates a required field

Resume/CV*

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Cover Letter

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

You can copy your LinkedIn URL to the answer field below.

Select...

Have you ever previously worked at Plexus?

Select...
Select...
Select...

What is your primary address?
Example:


1111 E. Phoenix Rd. Apt 11

Phoenix, AZ 85205

Select...

The base rate is your annual salary that does not include bonuses

Select...
Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Plexus Worldwide’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Select...
Select...
Race & Ethnicity Definitions

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Form CC-305
Page 1 of 1
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 04/30/2026

Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer (past or present)
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
  • Diabetes
  • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
  • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual or developmental disability
  • Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
  • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
  • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
  • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
  • Short stature (dwarfism)
  • Traumatic brain injury
Select...

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.