(Associate) Scientist, Health Data

Variant Bio is developing life-saving therapies by studying the genes of people with exceptional health-related traits. By identifying communities with unique genetic architectures and outlier phenotypes, Variant Bio has identified novel human genetic evidence that is the basis for programs with breakthrough potential across multiple therapeutic areas. The company's research is powered by its proprietary Inference platform, which integrates across deep phenotyping and multi-omic data using statistical genetics and AI/ML approaches to identify and validate therapeutic targets. In addition, Variant Bio has established strategic partnerships with Novo Nordisk and Boehringer Ingelheim, validating the strength of the platform and enabling the advancement of novel therapeutic programs through world-class development expertise.

With ethics at its core, the company launched an unprecedented benefit-sharing program in 2020, in which it has pledged tangible benefits that directly impact the communities it partners with throughout the world. 

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. In this role you will own the curation, quality control, and harmonization of multi-omic, survey, biochemistry, and clinical data as it arrives from field sites around the world. You will help develop the standards and pipelines that keep that data trustworthy at scale. Success in this role depends on good scientific judgment about how data is produced: an instinct for where recruitment, sampling, batching, or measurement can introduce bias. We value curiosity and resourcefulness alongside technical skill. There is room to grow from running and adapting existing processes toward owning pipelines and contributing to downstream analyses.

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. 

Don't meet every single requirement but are excited to join the Variant Bio team? If your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may still be the right candidate for this or other roles. 

Variant Bio is an equal opportunity employer that guarantees a work environment that respects and values diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.