Job Description

Overview  

We are seeking a passionate, board-certified MD or DO to serve as the Founding Principal Investigator (PI) for a premier rural site network making clinical research a trusted care option for priority population health needs in cardiometabolic disease and Alzheimer’s . The Founding PI will be the clinical and regulatory anchor for our first sites, responsible for leading trials as PI-of-record, standing up research governance and quality systems, and helping build a scaled, compliant, and sponsor-loved network from day one. This is a hands-on role for a physician who thrives at the intersection of patient care, research rigor, and company building, but you’ll be backed by a broader network team who will assemble the tech stack, support with regulatory affairs and recruitment, and centralize enrollment, contracting, and data management. This will be a hybrid role with an initial expectation that the candidate will be on site in Mississippi or Alabama 1-2 days a week for the first 6-12 months.

What you’ll do  

As the Founding PI, you will: 

• Conduct research : Serve as PI-of-record on clinical trials and collaborate with research staff, sponsors, and regulatory teams to ensure protocol execution in alignment with FDA requirements and site SOPs
• Provide oversight : Ensure accurate, timely regulatory documentation and oversight of the informed consent process, maintaining audit-ready study records.
• Build the clinical team : Supervise and mentor sub-investigators and research staff
• Support trial origination : Build trusted relationships with sponsors by participating in site initiation visits, sponsor monitoring visits, and national conferences
• Champion patient recruitment and retention : Recruit patients particularly in underserved rural populations, and engage with local providers to build trusted referral pathways
• Shape clinical workflows : Help shape our AI-native workflows (screening, eligibility, documentation, query resolution, source-to-EDC, safety surveillance)
• Patient Safety: Maintain ultimate responsibility for patient safety and ensure compliance with ICH-GCP, FDA regulations, and sponsor requirements.

Who you are  

Required  

• MD/DO with active, unrestricted license in at least one US state; willing to obtain additional state licenses in MS and/or AL 
• Located in Mississippi, Alabama or open to relocating/traveling 1–2 times per week
• Board-certified (or board-eligible) in Internal Medicine or Family Medicine ; subspecialty in Endocrinology, Cardiology, Neurology, or Nephrology preferred 
• Demonstrated experience in clinical research : PI on 2+ Phase I-III trials or substantial Sub-I experience with readiness to assume PI responsibilities 
• Working fluency with ICH-GCP, informed consent, IRB processes, and safety reporting  
• Strong, professional communicator who can educate patients, collaborate with site staff, and represent the company with sponsors/CROs 

Preferred  

• Trial experience in cardiometabolic conditions (e.g., T2D, obesity) and/or neurology/Alzheimer’s 
• Prior involvement in site start-up, SOP creation, and audits/inspections 
• Comfort with technology-enabled operations (EHR, eSource, eReg, eConsent, EDC); enthusiasm for AI tools in clinical workflows. 
• Track record improving access and trust in rural or under-served communities; bilingual (e.g., Spanish-speaking) is a plus. 

Why Join Us  

• Transformative impact: Help lead a company that will redefine clinical research access for rural patients and providers 
• High-growth opportunity: Build a leading site network that is the research partner of choice for rural physicians and sponsors 
• Mission-driven work: Expand access to care, reduce health inequities, and accelerate the development of therapies for high-burden conditions 
• Long-term upside – Competitive compensation paired with the potential for equity participation as the network scales

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