Apple has published a job listing on its website seeking physiologists and engineers to run tests related to health and fitness data. This job will require the employees to “design and run user studies related to cardiovascular fitness & energy expenditure, including calories burned, metabolic rate, aerobic fitness level measurement/tracking and other key physiological measurements…”

Last week, we reported that Apple is developing a new application for iOS 8 called Healthbook. The Healthbook iPhone application is designed to capture and monitor user-data related to steps taken and calories burned. The application is also planned to include the ability to read vital signs such as blood pressure, heart rate, and potentially hydration and glucose statistics as well.

Today’s Apple job listing appears to essentially confirm that Apple is working on fitness/health related products. The job listing also indicates that Apple is moving into the development phase in which real-world tests will occur. Here are some of the key qualifications to prove that:

Good understanding of physiological monitoring equipment, measurement techniques and interpretation of results

Experience with indirect calorimetry to measure energy expenditure for a range of activities and environments

Ability to design tests isolating the impact of various factors (activities, environments, individual subject differences, etc.) on the physiological effects being measured

Experience with exercise testing – how to conduct, interpreting results, determining when to halt testing, etc.

Additionally, Apple wants to utilize the new hires to ensure that the data results are accurate. “Candidate will be knowledgeable about the physiological effects being measured and how to avoid potential inaccuracy and experimental error due DOE flaws and/or reference monitor (i.e. metabolic cart, etc.) usage issues,” the job listing reads.

With any medical device, Apple certainly needs to conduct a large amount of testing. The company has also begun meeting with the FDA regarding medical applications. Apple is likely working on a sensor-laden “iWatch” to drive the data portion of the Healthbook software in iOS 8. While many of our reports have indicated Apple is working on health/fitness-oriented software and hardware, this new job listing is essentially confirmation direct from Apple.

Update: Job listing has been removed. Screenshot of the job listing in its entirety:

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