Research Lead

As Kalogon's Research Lead, you'll architect and oversee our research ecosystem, ensuring methodological rigor as you manage a range from quick and dirty user testing to consumer surveys to clinical validation. You'll be conducting in-house research and working with outside groups to go a level deeper.

This role blends strategic vision with hands-on execution, requiring equal expertise in clinical seating assessments and cross-functional collaboration to translate insights into tangible advancements.

Key Responsibilities

• Use a variety of research modalities to answer key questions about seating from comfort surveys to blood flow analysis and everything in-between
• Balance long-horizon clinical validation with short-term product development needs
• Conduct user research, beta testing, and claims research
• Socialize research findings and ensure team members can self-support by creating tools to access your research
• Write, field, and analyze consumer surveys on seating, sitting, or any topic as discussed with the team
• Help drive the business by ideating, testing, and validating unique claims that can be published or shared publicly
• Support partner by gathering key stakeholder and end user feedback, synthesizing this and sharing insights with the team
• Work with sales, product, and marketing for post-market surveillance activities
• Identify and establish relationships with potential research partners including clinics, universities, and rehabilitation centers
• Handle all research activities from project design through recruitment to final analysis
• Run beta testing programs
• Develop and execute IRB protocols
• Manage project timelines and resource needs within startup constraints
• Translate technical findings into actionable insights for both clinical and non-clinical folks
• Stay abreast of key research happening in seating and sitting, ensuring the team is aware and taking this research into their work

Qualifications

• Master's degree or higher in rehabilitation science, biomedical engineering, clinical research, life sciences, or related field
• Hands-on experience with a wide variety of user research methodologies and quick-turn usability testing
• Ability to write effective research plans, protocols, interview guides and the like
• Great understanding of statistics or qualitative insights and what is meaningful in research results
• Experience managing clinical research projects with minimal supervision
• Ability to navigate IRB processes efficiently
• Experience coordinating studies with external collaborators
• Demonstrated success working in resource-constrained environments
• Self-starter mentality with exceptional time management skills
• Ability to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders
• Experience with data analysis tools and research documentation
• Understanding of regulatory requirements for medical devices at a startup scale

Must-Have Traits

• Creative problem-solver who can determine the right research approach for the desired outcomes
• Adept at creating strong internal relationships
• Comfortable with ambiguity and changing priorities
• People skills to engage potential research participants and partners
• Ability to independently prioritize research needs without extensive guidance
• Passion for both scientific validity and practical application
• Comfort switching between deeply technical and highly accessible communication
• Enthusiasm for the startup journey including its challenges and rewards
• Willingness to travel

Nice-to-Have Experience

• Previous work in early-stage startups
• Established connections in clinical rehabilitation settings
• Experience developing research protocols with limited resources
• Background in both clinical and commercial product testing
• History of successful grant writing to fund research initiatives
• Connections within rehabilitation clinical communities
• Know something about seating, sitting, or butts or wants to learn