Research Scientist - Global Health
Full Time $100,000 - $135,000 / yearJob Overview
We are looking for a research scientist to work on a wide array of global health projects that combine data science, research, and behavioral science. You will wear many hats, from internal R&D to developing client-facing materials, to insight dissemination. This is the right role for you if you are passionate about using advanced analytics and health-related data to deliver impactful insights for improving health around the globe. We are looking for a curious and creative individual. You’ve cut your teeth in research and are now looking to work in a fast-paced company to innovate and deliver impact to our clients. The exact projects you work on - whether heavier on data, behavior science, or primary data collection - depends on your expertise and ambitions. You’ll have mentorship from senior researchers and opportunities to lead projects as you grow.
Surgo Health is a Public Benefit Corporation building the world’s most comprehensive and insightful AI-powered sociobehavioral data platform. We uncover the unseen drivers of health - people’s beliefs, barriers, and behaviors - and transform that intelligence into scalable products that enable healthcare organizations to drive impact, reduce costs, and advance equity. From improving clinical trial design to optimizing care delivery and public health strategies, our solutions help decision-makers act on what truly shapes health outcomes. By revealing the human side of healthcare, we’re making it more personal, precise, and effective - for everyone.
Our world-class team of healthcare experts and scientists use behavioral science, data science, and artificial intelligence to deliver solutions that put the person at the center of healthcare to improve outcomes. We operate with the structure and rigor of a research organization while maintaining the agility and innovation of a start-up. We are a growing team with ambitious plans, and we're searching for top-class talent who want to roll up their sleeves and dive into a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.
Based in Washington, DC but with global reach, this is a rare opportunity for someone who wants to bring innovation, purpose, and rigor to delivering healthcare in low- and middle-income settings. If you believe health is more than biology and want to help systems see the human side of care, then you’ll feel right at home here.
What you’ll achieve:
- Drive high-impact research across a wide range of activities, from advanced data analytics and literature reviews to instrument design, development of novel data sources, and creation of compelling reports and presentations that inform global health decision-making.
- Shape the future of health equity through innovation by taking full ownership of your work, experiment boldly, and use your creativity and technical expertise to uncover insights that improve health outcomes for underserved populations worldwide.
- Advance methodological excellence by pioneering new analytical approaches, technologies, and data sources that strengthen the scientific foundation of our global health programs.
- Collaborate across disciplines to scale impact, working closely with our Product, Client Engagement, and R&D teams to design and deliver data- and AI-powered solutions that help solve some of the most pressing health challenges across low- and middle-income countries.
About you:
- 5+ years of hands-on experience conducting end-to-end data analysis and programming with health-related datasets - ideally in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) - and a demonstrated ability to flex across diverse projects within global health.
- Strong proficiency in R and/or Python, including experience with version control and interest in Databricks or other large-scale data platforms.
- Deep understanding of applied statistics and the ability to translate complex analyses into clear, actionable insights for technical and non-technical audiences.
- A strong grasp of how beliefs, attitudes, and barriers shape health behaviors and outcomes.
- A PhD in a relevant field (e.g., public health, health sciences, economics, neuroscience, or engineering) is a plus, but we also value equivalent research or analytical experience.
- Demonstrated experience in global health research and a willingness to travel as needed.
- Fluency in French is a plus
- A collaborative mindset with the confidence to voice well-informed opinions and challenge assumptions constructively.
- Excitement about working in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment, where you’ll be both a strategic thinker and a hands-on contributor.
Location: This role is based in Washington, D.C. with 2 days/week in office.
Travel: Some travel (up to 10%) possible.