Scientist, Machine Learning (Human Physiology)

Flagshippioneeringinc; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 136,000 - 212,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare coverage

Annual incentive program

Retirement benefits

Broad range of other benefits

Job summary

FL127 is building a first-in-category platform in the Flagship Pioneering ecosystem. We seek a scientist to connect physiological signals to insights about people, ground signals in physiology, and co-design human studies to improve measurement quality.

You will work with AI agents for literature synthesis, study design, data analysis, and code. You will co-design endpoints, collaborate with imaging and product teams, and build models that relate measurements to outcomes in small cohorts,

Qualifications

• PhD in biomedical engineering, physiology, bioengineering, biophotonics, or related field, with substantial ML experience.
• Deep knowledge of human physiology (microcirculation, hemodynamics, tissue optics, skin biology, or cardiorespiratory).
• Experience conducting human studies with endpoints, reference measurements, IRB protocols, and agreement analysis.
• Statistical modeling on small human datasets, including within-subject and longitudinal designs.
• Proficiency in Python and the modern ML stack; comfortable in a research codebase.
• Imaging/signal-processing background to reason about calibration, registration, sampling effects.
• Ability to work independently in an early-stage, ambiguous environment.

Responsibilities

• Ground signals in physiology and identify confounds and possible physiological states.
• Collaborate with product/market teams to select application focus based on plausibility and cost.
• Co-design human studies with imaging team, defining endpoints and protocols.
• Build and evaluate models linking measurements to reference outcomes in small cohorts.
• Set evidence bar for data-driven product decisions and report gaps.
• Review signals for plausibility and suggest improvements to measurement pipeline.

Skills

Statistical modeling

Machine learning

Study design

End-to-end data analysis

Independent work

Education

PhD in biomedical engineering or related field

MD/PhD considered

Tools

Python

Signal processing

Monte Carlo simulation

Job description

ABOUT FLAGSHIP PIONEERING

Flagship Pioneering is a platform innovation company that conceives, creates, resources, and develops first-in-category life sciences and technology companies. Since its founding in 2000, Flagship has originated over 100 scientific ventures and has deployed over $3 billion in capital toward the development of transformative life science businesses. Flagship's current portfolio of more than 35 companies includes Moderna, Generate Biomedicines, Sail Biomedicines, iris labs, and Extuitive.

ABOUT FL127

FL127 is a privately held, early-stage company operating within the Flagship Pioneering ecosystem. The company is developing a first-in-category platform anchored in novel device technology. FL127 is building its scientific and technical foundation through a hypothesis-driven experimental program. We are assembling a lean team of scientists and engineers who work at the intersection of hardware, software, and physiology, and who want to build in an era when AI agents are first-class members of the team.

THE ROLE

FL127 is seeking a scientist to help connect the physiological signals our platform measures to what they indicate about a person. You will ground each signal in physiology, help design the human studies that test what it reflects, and build models that relate our measurements to reference measures and outcomes in small human cohorts. Our imaging and signal-extraction team produces the measurements. Your work starts from those outputs. You will co-design human studies with that team so a single study informs both measurement quality and interpretation. FL127 is an AI-native company. Team members direct AI agents in their daily work for literature synthesis, study design, data analysis, and code. We are looking for someone who wants to work this way.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Ground each measured signal in physiology: what it reflects, what confounds it, and which physiological states it may indicate
• Work with the product and market team to decide which applications to study first, weighing scientific plausibility, study cost, and user value
• Co-design human studies with the imaging team, including endpoints, reference measurements, and protocols
• Build and evaluate models that relate our measurements to reference measures and outcomes on small cohorts, with attention to confounders, leakage, demographic stratification, and sample size
• Set the evidence bar a finding must meet before it shapes the product, and report what the data supports and where it falls short
• Review extracted signals for physiological plausibility and suggest improvements to the measurement pipeline

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• PhD in biomedical engineering, physiology, bioengineering, biophotonics, or a related field, or an MD/PhD, with substantial applied machine learning experience
• Deep knowledge of human physiology in an area such as microcirculation, hemodynamics, tissue optics, skin biology, or cardiorespiratory physiology
• Experience taking a measurement or digital biomarker through human studies, including endpoint selection, reference measurements, IRB-governed protocols, and agreement analysis
• Statistical modeling on small human datasets, including within-subject and longitudinal designs
• Proficiency in Python and the modern ML stack, and comfort working inside an existing research codebase
• Enough imaging and signal-processing background to reason about how calibration, registration, and sampling affect a derived measurement
• Ability to work independently in an early-stage, ambiguous environment and make decisions with incomplete data

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Published or applied work in remote physiological sensing, digital biomarkers, or wearable or contactless measurement
• Experience turning research results into a product feature, ideally at a consumer device company
• Familiarity with skin optics models (Monte Carlo simulation, diffusion theory, chromophore decomposition)
• Experience modeling individual baselines and change over time
• Experience in a venture-backed startup or early-stage research environment

WHY FL127

• Work with human study data from your first weeks
• Shape which applications the company studies and builds first
• Join a small team where scientists and AI agents work side by side
• Draw on the scientific, operational, and capital resources of the Flagship Pioneering ecosystem

The salary range for this role is $136,000 - $211,750. Compensation for the role will depend on a number of factors, including a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies, and experience.

FL127 currently offers healthcare coverage, annual incentive program, retirement benefits and a broad range of other benefits.

• Healthcare coverage
• Annual incentive program
• Retirement benefits
• A broad range of other benefits

Compensation and benefits information is based on FL127's good faith estimate as of the date of publication and may be modified in the future.

Privacy Notice for Applicants: When you apply for a role at Flagship Pioneering or one of its portfolio companies, we collect and use personal information you provide (such as your name, contact details, work history, and application materials) to evaluate your application, communicate with you, and comply with legal obligations. Your application data is processed through Greenhouse, our applicant tracking system, and may also be reviewed using AI-assisted screening tools. We do not sell your personal information. California residents have rights under the CCPA/CPRA including to know, delete, and opt out of the sharing of their personal information. If you are located in the EU or UK, we process your data under GDPR and you have rights to access, rectify, and erase your data. To exercise your rights or for questions, contact [e-mail].