PhD Program, Microglia Therapeutics

Retro Biosciences

Redwood City (CA)

On-site

USD 150,000 - 210,000

Full time

7 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) plan with 4% matching

Flexible time off

Paid parental leave

Learning & development stipend

Longevity stipend

Lunch and snacks

Job summary

Retro Biosciences in Redwood City, CA seeks an eager scientist to contribute to cutting-edge aging research. You will perform mammalian cell culture, differentiate iPSCs to neural cell-types, and develop 2D/3D culture models.

The role emphasizes hands-on wet lab work, data analysis, and collaborative project execution. Ideal candidates hold an MS in Biology or related field, with experience in tissue culture and neural differentiation.

Qualifications

MS in Biology or related field; hit the ground running in research.
Experience with standard tissue culture and tissue processing techniques.
Proven ability to drive things to completion both independently and in a team.
Strong organizational skills, time management, and attention to detail.
Passion for aging research and related diseases.

Responsibilities

Perform mammalian cell culture, mainly cell lines and iPSCs using aseptic techniques.
Differentiate iPSCs to neural cell-types, including microglia, neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes.
Develop and optimize 2D and 3D (organoid) culture protocols.
Conduct cell-based and molecular assays to characterize cells and assess function.
Process animal tissue and perform downstream analyses.
Plan and execute wet lab and computational experiments as part of the team and independently.
Collaborate across internal groups to drive research progress.
Produce extensive studies, publish and present results at conferences.

Skills

Tissue culture

Experimental planning

Data analysis

Scientific writing

Education

MS in Biology or related field

Tools

iPSC culture

Differentiation protocols

Cryosectioning

Brain tissue handling

Job description

About You:

You are highly motivated and eager to develop into an exceptional scientist. You approach your work with a growth mindset, showing deep curiosity, strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and a willingness to learn new techniques and technologies as needed. You enjoy hands-on experimental work and value thoughtful planning, organization, careful execution, and attention to detail. You are resourceful when experiments do not go as expected and comfortable learning through quick iteration. You are a highly collaborative teammate who communicates clearly, seeking to understand others and create an environment where sharing ideas, welcoming scientific challenge, and working together helps us accomplish our mission!

In this program, you will:

Lean into the immersive experience. This may mean experiments by day, writing in the evenings, and/or feeding cells on the weekends. It will definitely mean a huge opportunity for learning, mentorship, and personal and professional growth.

Contribute as an active member of the Microglia team: Performing regular culture of mammalian cells, mainly cell lines and iPSCs using aseptic tissue culture techniques.

Differentiating iPSCs to brain cell-types including microglia, neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes.

Differentiating and optimizing 2D and 3D (organoids) culture protocols.

Performing cell-based and molecular assays to characterize the cells and prove function.

Processing animal tissue and performing downstream assays.

Supporting development of new assays as needed as our research quickly progresses.

Plan and execute wet lab and/or computational experiments as part of the team and independently.

Participate in cutting edge research with your team under your PI’s supervision.

Select research topics collaboratively with your team, in alignment with both your program goals and Retro’s mission.

Foster collaboration with other internal groups, including Computational Biology, Automation, Vivarium, and Operations, to drive research progress.

Produce extensive studies; publish and present your results at relevant conferences.

Write a thesis and conduct formal oral thesis defense before your thesis committee.

Meet growth expectations and milestones of progressive independence and by the end of the program have developed into an independent scientist.

You will thrive in this program if you have:

General:

An MS in Biology or a related field. This is a European-style PhD program that does not start off with intro classes like an American PhD; you need to hit the ground running.

Experience with standard tissue culture and tissue processing techniques.

Proven ability to drive things to completion by yourself and in the team; highly self-motivated to make progress on research and writing.

Demonstrated organizational skills, time management, and attention to detail.

A passion for research on aging and age-related diseases.

Program-specific bonus skills:

Experience with iPSC culture.

Experience performing differentiation of iPSCs to neural cell-types or myeloid cells.

Experience with cryosectioning and more specifically, working with brain tissue.

At Retro, we don’t use titles. New hires join as a “Member of X Team.” Depending on experience, this role could flex from what might be traditionally regarded as a Scientist to a Senior Scientist level.

Total compensation also includes generous equity and benefits including: