Research Fellow, Clinical Trial Abundance

The Opportunity

1Day Sooner represents altruistic research participants while seeking to accelerate medical progress. We are launching the 1Day Sooner Research Fellowship, a two-year program for people beginning a career in clinical research and policy, including those pivoting from another field. Fellows work as full members of one of our teams, contributing directly to organizational priorities. The program is designed to give people at the start of their careers hands-on experience doing impactful work, while also being a period of intensive development with close supervision and mentorship. Successful fellows will both contribute to our work and build skills and connections for career growth, and exit the program as strong candidates for positions at 1Day Sooner and elsewhere.

This posting is for a fellow on our Clinical Trial Abundance team, which works to reform the clinical trial ecosystem to accelerate medical progress through innovative trial design, greater data generation and transparency, and reduced regulatory burden. During the first year, fellows focus on building skills and contributing within the fellow role. In the second year, we hold a structured check-in on each fellow’s goals, and responsibilities may shift accordingly. Fellows join a small cohort: we expect to recruit roughly two fellows per year, and to eventually have four fellows at any given time.

Fellowship program features will include:

• Protected time and budget for development: 10% of work time reserved for professional development, plus a stipend for courses, conferences, or coaching, with support from your manager on setting development goals and mapping pathways to achieve them;
• A dedicated senior mentor (from 1Day staff or our broader network) alongside your direct manager, with regular feedback and career guidance;
• Opportunities to present on your work and professional interests to the full organization and at professional conferences and related channels; and
• Participation in activities like a fellows’ article club and possible contributions to professional publications.

Key Information

• How to apply: Fill out our Airtable application form. Review of applications is underway and will continue until the position is filled.
• Start date: Fall 2026, as soon as possible after receiving an offer.
• Term: This is a full-time, two-year fellowship. Continuation through the program is performance-based, with clear structure and feedback along the way.
• Location & work eligibility: This is a remote position — 1Day Sooner has no offices — but fellows on the CTA team must be based in or near Washington, DC for their first year. After the first year, fellows may continue in the DC area or work remotely from elsewhere in the U.S. You must already be authorized to work in the United States for the full two-year term of the fellowship; we are not able to sponsor or transfer work visas. We can consider candidates on F-1 OPT or STEM OPT, but only if that authorization is already approved and in hand and covers the full term. Whatever your status, you should be confident at the time you apply that you can live and work in or near the DC area for the first year.
• Compensation: $70,000 per year. 1Day will supply support for relocation to the DC area of up to $2,000 (grossed up for taxes) and cover work-related travel expenses, including travel to events within the DC area.
• Benefits: Our benefits package includes: generous health and wellness benefits through an Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA) for you and your family; 401(k) match up to 6%; 15 vacation days plus federal holidays and an office closure between Christmas and New Year’s; 15 fully paid sick days; parental and bereavement leave. Professional development time and budget are described under Fellowship program features above.

Position Responsibilities

Fellows are integrated into the day-to-day work of their team rather than pursuing a standalone project. Responsibilities may include:

• Conducting literature reviews and background research to support team projects;
• Drafting and editing research memos, policy documents, and contributions to reports and publications;
• Supporting policy development, advocacy, and stakeholder engagement;
• Presenting your work internally and, over time, externally; and
• Contributing to team planning, meetings, and cross-organizational projects.

What We’re Looking For

• Mission-driven: You are motivated by 1Day’s mission, vision, and values and excited to build a career making clinical research faster, cheaper, and more useful.
• Early-career: This is an entry-level program aimed at recent graduates and people pivoting into the field from another career. We care about interest in our priority areas, not a specific degree, field of study, or career history.
• Strong researcher and writer: You can digest technical or policy material quickly and produce clear, well-organized writing.
• Analytical rigor: You reason carefully about evidence, notice what’s missing, and are honest about uncertainty.
• Ability to engage in conceptual analysis
• Reliability: You manage multiple workstreams, track details, and follow through with appropriate supervision.
• Drive for growth: You actively seek and incorporate feedback and want to grow quickly.

Nice to have:

• Academic or work background in a relevant science or policy field, or in humanities such as philosophy or bioethics
• Experience with literature synthesis or policy writing (coursework, thesis, internships, or jobs all count)

If this sounds like you, please apply now!

Equal opportunity & accommodations

Consistent with federal, state, and local law, we are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, Veteran status, or other protected category. Please let us know what accommodations you might need when applying or if asked to interview by emailing jobs@1daysooner.org.

Further resources/reference documents:

You can learn more about 1Day’s Clinical Trial Abundance Program here.