Senior Research Scientist, Modeling & System Design at SecureBio

The role

SecureBio is seeking a quantitative researcher or epidemiologist to join the Detection team in building a pathogen-agnostic early warning system. You will assess the reliability of metagenomic surveillance systems and guide strategic investments to improve pandemic detection. The role involves connecting disease spread models with sequencing data to optimize sampling strategies and site selection.

What you'll do

• Build estimates for early and reliable detection of emerging pathogens across various outbreak scenarios
• Use metagenomic data to estimate key parameters like population contribution and viral abundance rates
• Develop in-house models and utilize complex epidemiological models from external collaborators
• Evaluate tradeoffs between different sampling strategies site locations and sequencing depths
• Collaborate with laboratory scientists and external partners to steer research toward practical answers
• Provide quantitative analyses for leadership and funding proposals to inform scientific priorities

What you'll bring

• Graduate degree in epidemiology biostatistics applied mathematics or a related quantitative field
• At least five years of experience in quantitative epidemiology or infectious disease modeling
• Proficiency in Python or R along with standard software development practices
• Strong quantitative judgment in parameter estimation and uncertainty analysis
• Ability to translate ambiguous questions into focused projects and communicate results clearly

Your impact

Your work will directly shape the design and scaling of a global early warning system for catastrophic pandemics. By providing rigorous quantitative evidence, you will influence critical decisions on sampling strategies and resource allocation. Ultimately, your models will help build conviction among stakeholders and funders, ensuring the system is optimized to detect threats before they become global crises.