Director, Stem Cell R&D

At Parallel Bio, we are using the immune system to unlock safer, more effective drugs. By creating access to genuine human biology in a diverse, reproducible, and scalable way we’re changing the way researchers find, test, refine, and deliver these life-changing therapies.

The human immune system is the master regulator of health and disease in our bodies. Current tools used to discover drugs that target the immune system are wildly inadequate. To fix this critical gap, Parallel Bio created a human ‘immune system in a dish’ to rapidly accelerate the development of new drugs and immunotherapies more likely to work in patients. This means developing drugs that are known to safely work in humans before the first patient receives the first dose and an end to needlessly destroying millions of lab animals in the pursuit of human health.

By blending this biological innovation with the latest in high-throughput lab automation and integrated data capture & analysis, we’re creating a new type of biotech – one that brings the advantages of cloud computing to next-generation wet lab studies.

Why Work With Us

As a biologist, joining our team means:

• Pushing forward the understanding of how the immune system functions with real-world experimentation.
• Helping create new experimental methods that can be repeated and varied from the keyboard instead of the bench.
• Learning modern data & software practices - techniques considered beyond the cutting-edge in biotech.
• Creating experiments where copies of the same organism can be held constant - either for varied treatments or repeated across replicants to drive down scientific uncertainty.
• Access to diverse populations varied by sex, age, race, medical history can be used repeatedly and repeatably.
  
  

As a technologist, joining our team means bringing the rigor and scalability of computing into the biological domain:

• Work a problem with clear benefits for humanity. This is work worth doing.
• Bring modern software and data practices to biotech, an industry still catching up on 15 years of big data tech evolution.
• The breadth of our systems is breath-taking: from low-level robotics programming to data science & visualization to AI models of immune response and everything in-between. As a small team we tend to work across these areas rather than be siloed into one of them.
• Software is a first-class product concern at Parallel Bio, not a cost-center / service organization. We operate wet labs but we ship data-as-a-product.
• Learn the intricacies of the biological computing system that is the human immune system: antibody selection and production is a complex search problem.
  
  

As part of our operations team, joining Parallel Bio means:

• Playing a key role in enabling the seamless functioning of a pioneering biotech company driving groundbreaking drug discovery.
• Supporting visionary leaders whose work is reshaping how therapies are developed and delivered to patients.
• Collaborating with a multidisciplinary team at the forefront of science, technology, and innovation.
• Gaining insight into the unique challenges and opportunities of scaling a high-impact startup.
• Contributing to a mission-driven organization focused on creating safer, more effective drugs and transforming the future of human health.
  
  

The Role

Parallel Bio is pioneering a human immune system in a dish to revolutionize drug discovery. Our platform enables the rapid development of immunotherapies and other drugs with a higher likelihood of clinical success. We are expanding our footprint in Vienna and seeking a Director of Stem Cell R&D to establish and lead our Vienna R&D site. This role is foundational to our global research efforts and will require a balance of scientific leadership, people management, and hands-on strategic execution.

The Director of Stem Cell R&D will be responsible for building and leading a world-class research team, driving innovation in stem cell and immune organoid research, and ensuring alignment between scientific, operational, and strategic goals. This role requires a seasoned leader who thrives in fast-paced, high-ambiguity environments and can translate scientific vision into tangible results.

Key Areas of Responsibility

People Leadership & Team Building

• Build and lead the Vienna R&D team from scratch, hiring, onboarding, and mentoring senior scientists.
• Manage and develop scientists, ensuring strong career development, performance management, and mentorship.
• Establish a collaborative, high-performance research environment, fostering innovation and cross-functional collaboration with global teams.
• Partner closely with the Head of Scientific Operations to optimize procurement workflows, resources, and site operations.
• Drive team alignment on priorities, project goals, and strategic initiatives, balancing multiple research tracks.
  
  

Scientific Strategy & Project Management

• Oversee multiple early-stage R&D projects, ensuring a balance of high-risk, high-reward innovation and execution efficiency.
• Assess scientific and operational risks, make tough prioritization decisions, and strategically allocate resources.
• Build and optimize a new R&D lab, including securing equipment, coordinating with operations, and setting up scalable workflows.
• Drive collaborations with international research teams, ensuring seamless integration of research efforts.
• Stay at the forefront of stem cell research, organoid advancements, and advancements in bioengineering, bringing cutting-edge methodologies into the lab.
  
  

Technical Leadership

• Lead research efforts in stem cell biology, developmental biology, and advanced cell culture techniques.
• Provide technical expertise and guidance in areas such as:
• Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)
• Reprogramming and differentiation methods
• 2D/3D cell culture models and advanced differentiation protocols
• qPCR and related analytical methods for cellular characterization
• Ensure the team employs best practices in experimental design, data analysis, and lab operations.
• Support the integration of lab management tools and automation to enhance research efficiency.
  
  

Adaptability & Scientific Influence

• Navigate scientific uncertainty and drive progress even in ambiguous situations.
• Engage in scientific networking to build strong relationships within the Vienna biotech community.
• Represent Parallel Bio in external partnerships, fostering collaborations with academic and industry leaders.
• Step in to support lab work when necessary, while maintaining a focus on high-level strategy and leadership.
• Work with founders and other company leadership to help define new strategic goals and communicate shifts in strategy and goals to the entire Vienna R&D site.
  
  

Job Requirements

Leadership & Strategic Execution

• Minimum 2 years of experience managing scientists, including mentoring, performance management, and career development.
• Proven ability to build and lead a team from scratch, hiring and onboarding multiple senior scientists.
• Strong interpersonal and cross-functional collaboration skills, particularly in scientific operations and project execution.
• Experience driving high-level strategy while making pragmatic, hands-on decisions.
  
  

Scientific & Technical Expertise

• PhD in Biomedical Sciences or a related field.
• Postdoctoral experience required.
• Strong hands-on experience in:
• Stem cell biology (hESCs, iPSCs, differentiation, and reprogramming)
• Developmental biology and cell fate specification
• Disease modeling
• Advanced 2D/3D cell culture techniques
• A range of biomedical assays including but not limited to qPCR, RNA sequencing, flow cytometry, confocal imaging, ELISA, Luminex, etc.
• Experience in lab setup, workflow optimization, and operations management.
• Familiarity with lab management tools and data tracking systems.
  
  

Mindset & Problem-Solving

• Comfortable balancing multiple initiatives, making tough prioritization calls, and adapting in a rapidly evolving research environment.
• Thrives in ambiguity and is proactive in finding solutions rather than waiting for direction.
• Ability to identify key external partnerships and build scientific collaborations within Vienna’s biotech ecosystem.
• Strong decision-making skills, knowing when to push projects forward, pivot, or cut underperforming initiatives.
  
  

Location

• Vienna, Austria
• This is a site leadership role, requiring in-person presence for lab oversight and team management.
  
  

Your compensation package will include a minimum base salary of a minimum of €82,000 annually, based on a full-time engagement. The final amount will be determined based on experience and qualifications. This is a full-time position with no overtime compensation; the agreed salary covers all working hours. Flexible work arrangements may also be possible to support work-life balance.

Parallel Bio is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and respectful workplace. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, religion, disability, or sexual orientation.

Compensation Range: €82K