Please note: We work with AI every day, so yes, we can tell when an application was written in 30 seconds by ChatGPT. If you’re excited about this role, put real thought into your application. A short, genuine letter of motivation is required, and it’s the fastest way for us to understand if you’re a good fit for this role. We’re not anti-AI (quite the opposite), but we’re very pro effort and originality. If that sounds like you, keep reading.

Who we are

Citruslabs is a decentralized, full-service CRO that runs IRB-approved clinical trials and consumer perception studies for health and wellness brands. Think supplements, functional foods, skincare, pet health, and biotech. We've run 500+ studies for brands you've probably seen or even used yourself, and we're an Inc. 5000 company doing it with a small, sharp team and an AI-forward platform.

We're not pharma. We're faster, leaner, and closer to the consumer. If you've ever wanted to see your research actually show up on a product label, this is that job.

The role

We're hiring a Head of Science to be the scientific backbone of the company. This is not a back-office role. You will be in contact with study sponsors, helping them understand what's feasible and translating the science for them. You will be publishing in peer-reviewed journals and building relationships with academic collaborators. And you will be the person who makes sure every study we run is methodologically sound from the very beginning.

This is a role for someone who is as comfortable in a client meeting as they are reviewing a protocol.

You will have real ownership and a direct line to the CEO from day one.

What you will own

• Serve as Principal Investigator on studies.
• Review and QC study documents and reports.
• Be the scientific voice on client calls, including scientific feasibility assessments, and ensuring study designs, protocols, and endpoints are defensible and appropriate for a decentralized model.
• Author and co-author manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals.
• Build partnerships with journals and academic collaborators.
• Improve research process and set the standard for how we do science.
• Represent Citruslabs externally at conferences and webinars.
• Support regulatory and IRB-related needs as they come up.

What we're looking for

• PhD in a relevant field: Nutrition, exercise science, pharmacology, biomedical science, or similar.
• 2-4 years of postdoctoral or early industry experience. You've done the academic grind and you're ready for something with more variety, more speed, and more direct impact.
• An excellent communicator who genuinely likes talking to people about science.
• You can translate complex methodology into plain language.
• Comfortable with biostatistics. You don't need to be a statistician, but you need to understand study design, power calculations, and analysis on a higher level.
• Genuinely interested in health and wellness. Supplements, functional foods, longevity, skincare, consumer health.
• Publication track record. You understand the journal submission process end to end.
• Self-directed. We're a small team. Nobody is going to hand you a checklist.

This role is not for you if...

• You want to sit behind a desk and review protocols without ever talking to a client.
• You need a large team and established processes to be effective.
• You think health and wellness research is less serious than pharma.
• You're uncomfortable pushing back on clients or colleagues when the science doesn't support their expectations.

Why Citruslabs

Citruslabs hires rarely and with high standards. We place a strong emphasis on long-term retention and building a small, high-quality team. When people join, they're trusted with real ownership and meaningful responsibility.

• You will own the entire research function and have a direct impact on every study we run.
• You will work with cutting-edge brands in supplements, beauty, food, pet health, and biotech.
• You will have the breadth most research roles never offer: publications, client strategy, conference presentations, webinars, actual research unfolding, and more.
• We are a remote-first, fast-moving team that values quality, curiosity, and execution.
• We offer 10 days of paid vacation that you can take anytime, plus paid time off between Christmas and the New Year, plus 10 major US holidays off.
• We offer a 401(k) company match.
• And we also offer medical, dental, and vision insurance.

How to apply
Send us a short letter of motivation explaining why this role excites you and why you're a strong fit (applications without a letter of motivation will not be considered). Please include the word "Banana" somewhere in your note.