Scientist, Microglia Therapeutics Team

Retro Biosciences; Redwood City (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) plan with 4% matching

Flexible time off and 10 company days

Paid parental leave

Annual learning & development stipend

Longevity stipend

Lunch and snacks provided

Job summary

Retro is seeking an experienced, hands-on scientist to join its Microglia Therapeutics team and drive discovery research in Alzheimer’s disease. You will develop in vitro and in vivo disease models, establish assays, and interpret experiments to investigate the therapeutic potential of our microglial cell therapy.

You have a Ph.D. in Neuroscience or related field with 3+ years of post‑degree experience, strong mammalian cell culture and imaging skills, and a track record of designing robust

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Neuroscience, Biology, or related field and at least 3 years of post‑degree experience.
• At least 3 years hands-on Alzheimer’s disease research with in vitro/in vivo models.
• Strong mammalian cell culture skills and iPSC‑derived neural cell types experience.
• Developed and optimized cell‑based and molecular assays for function or disease phenotypes.
• Experience with brain tissue immunostaining, fluorescence/confocal microscopy, and quantitative image analysis.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute discovery experiments to evaluate microglial cell therapy in Alzheimer's disease.
• Culture and differentiate iPSCs into CNS cell types and optimize 2D/3D protocols.
• Develop 2D/3D disease models to study responses to Alzheimer's challenges.
• Design and optimize in vivo modeling approaches, including readouts for engraftment and pathology.
• Develop cellular and molecular assays to evaluate microglial function and phenotypes.
• Perform staining and imaging of cells, organoids, and brain tissue; interpret results.
• Collaborate with histology/imaging colleagues and integrate findings across studies.
• Present results to internal teams and collaborators; maintain organized ELN entries.

Skills

Cell culture

Immunostaining

Fluorescence microscopy

Image analysis

Experimental design

Education

Ph.D. in Neuroscience or related field

Tools

iPSC culture

Confocal microscopy

Job description

Retro develops therapies for diseases driven by the biology of aging. We focus on cellular reprogramming and autophagy to rejuvenate cell and tissue function with the ultimate aim of adding 10 years to healthy human lifespan.

We are seeking an experienced, hands‑on scientist to join our Microglia Therapeutics team and drive discovery research in Alzheimer’s disease. You will develop in vitro and in vivo disease models, establish assays, and design and interpret experiments to investigate the therapeutic potential of our microglial cell therapy.

About you:

You are passionate about neurobiology and finding solutions to age‑related neurodegenerative disease. You feel comfortable being self‑directed and independent, but you understand collaborative effort is the key to Retro going farther, faster. You stay resourceful when experiments need troubleshooting and move fluidly between experimental design and the hands‑on execution at the bench. You’re motivated by deepening your knowledge and doing impactful science over climbing the title ladder. You communicate 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 role you will:

• Design and execute discovery experiments to evaluate the potential of our microglial cell therapy in Alzheimer’s disease.
• Culture and differentiate iPSCs into CNS cell types, troubleshooting and optimizing 2D and 3D (organoids) protocols to support research experiments.
• Develop and use 2D and 3D (organoids) in vitro disease models to investigate responses to Alzheimer’s disease‑relevant challenges.
• Design and optimize in vivo modeling approaches for Alzheimer’s disease, including selection of disease models, experimental groups, controls, time points, and readouts to evaluate microglial engraftment, function, and effects on disease‑associated pathology.
• Develop and optimize cellular and molecular assays to evaluate microglial function and disease‑relevant phenotypes, including cytokine profiles and imaging‑based readouts.
• Design, troubleshoot, and perform experimental staining and fluorescence or confocal imaging for cultured cells, organoids, and brain tissue from Alzheimer’s disease in vivo models; interpret changes in microglial morphology, engraftment, and disease‑associated pathology.
• Partner with histology and imaging colleagues on routine sectioning, staining, and image acquisition, providing scientific guidance on experimental methods, image quality, and interpretation.
• Integrate findings across in vitro experiments and in vivo tissue studies to refine hypotheses and determine next steps.
• Analyze and present experimental results to internal teams and collaborators.
• Collaborate effectively within the Microglia Therapeutics team and across Retro teams, including In Vivo, Computational Biology, and Automation.
• Maintain an organized electronic lab notebook, contribute to supporting documents, and participate in lab organization and ordering.

You might thrive in this role if you:

• Have a Ph.D. in Neuroscience, Biology, or related field and at least 3 years of relevant post‑degree experience in academia or industry.
• Have at least 3 years of hands‑on experience in Alzheimer’s disease research, including designing and using in vitro and in vivo disease models.
• Bring strong mammalian cell culture skills and experience working with iPSC‑derived neural cell types and brain organoids.
• Have developed and optimized cell‑based and molecular assays to investigate biological function or disease phenotypes.
• Have experience with brain tissue immunostaining, fluorescence or confocal microscopy, and quantitative image analysis, including interpreting neuronal cell morphology and Alzheimer’s disease‑associated pathology.
• Can independently design and troubleshoot experiments, evaluate results critically, and adapt your approach as new findings emerge.

It’s a bonus if you have experience with:

• Microglial biology or differentiation of iPSCs into microglia.
• Performing CNS cell transplantation procedures.

• $150,000 - $190,000 a year

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. The posted compensation range is reflective of this experience spread.

Total compensation also includes generous equity and benefits including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your family
• 401(k) plan with 4% matching
• Flexible time off and 10 company holidays per year
• Paid parental leave
• Annual learning & development stipend
• Monthly Longevity stipend
• Daily Retro-sponsored lunch and snacks

We take pride in cultivating an environment that fosters collaboration, open communication, and authenticity. We believe that great results are best delivered by a highly creative team working in concert. We are an equal opportunity employer; we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We are diverse in background and singular in mission.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.