Senior Principal Scientist, Psychiatry

Role Overview

• Oversee the scientific delivery of psychiatry clinical trial services across a portfolio of studies, including rater training and central monitoring.
• Contribute to definition and implementation of study-specific delivery plans for endpoint quality, including integration of central monitoring and review workflows.
• Provide direction to internal study teams on feasibility, scale selection, administration standards, and timing of deliverables.
• Serve as the primary scientific point of contact for assigned studies, ensuring clarity and consistency in internal and sponsor communications.
• Contribute to design and implementation of rater training programs (e.g., MADRS, HAM-D, HAM-A, YMRS), including certification, calibration, and remediation pathways.
• Monitor central monitoring outputs, including identification of data quality signals, rater drift, and protocol deviations, and guide appropriate follow-up actions.
• Support the resolution of scientific and data quality escalations arising from central monitoring and study review activities.
• Develop central monitoring resources to systematize feedback.
• Collaborate with Project Management to ensure efficient and profitable delivery of services, including resource allocation and workflow optimization.
• Contribute to the development and standardization of SOPs, training materials, and operational guidelines for psychiatry trials.
• Support staff development within scientific and rater training teams, including mentoring and performance feedback.
• Contribute to the development and refinement of psychiatry-focused products and services, including rater training programs, central monitoring methodologies, and scale-specific guidance.
• Support innovation in endpoint quality assurance and approaches for detecting data quality issues.
• Contribute to the design and interpretation of metrics related to rater performance, endpoint reliability, and data quality.
• Analyze patterns in clinical trial data to identify risks such as placebo response inflation, rater drift, and scoring inconsistencies.
• Provide scientific consultation on study design, scale selection, administration strategy, and risk mitigation.
• Support business development through scientific input in proposals
• Drive scientific dissemination through publications, conference presentations, and internal knowledge-sharing initiatives.
• Contribute to advancing best practices in psychiatric endpoint assessment and central monitoring.

Requirements

• Tertiary qualifications or post graduate degree in the area of psychology, psychiatry, neuroscience, or related field
• Evidence of scientific track record in publications, conference presentations, patents or grants, with maintenance of on-going professional development.
• Experience in interacting with clinical scientists, neuropsychologists and medical professionals at a high level.
• Experience managing scientific projects and directing staff.
• At least 6 years of neuropsychological practical experience.
• An understanding of the science of measuring cognition and behavior, including an understanding of computer-based tools and traditional neuropsychological assessment tools available to measure change in cognition in a clinical setting
• Expertise in psychiatric rating scales (e.g., MADRS, PANSS, HAM-D, YMRS) and structured interview methodologies (e.g., SIGMA).
• Experience with rater training, central monitoring, or data quality oversight.
• 5+ years of experience in clinical trials, with emphasis on CNS/psychiatry preferred.

Benefits

• Remote Work Practices: Cogstate is a virtual first company. Cogstate employees can work from anywhere where Cogstate is registered to business within the United States, Australia, or the United Kingdom!
• Generous Paid Time-off: Cogstate employees receive 20 days of vacation leave, 10 days of personal leave and 10 paid public holidays.
• 401(k) Matching: As you invest in yourself and your future, Cogstate invests in you too: we match up to3% of your yearly salary in Cogstate’s 401k program.
• Competitive Salary: We offer competitive base salaries plus additional earning opportunities based on the position.
• Health, Dental & Vision Coverage: We've invested in comprehensive health & dental insurance options with competitive company contributions to help when you need it most. We also offer free vision insurance for all full-time employees.
• Short-Term & Long Term Disability Life Insurance: 100% employer sponsored
• Pre-Tax Benefits: Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• Learning & Development Opportunities: Cogstate offers a robust learning program from mentorships to assistance with programs to improve knowledge or obtain certifications in applicable areas of interest.