Scientist – Cell Engineering

Experience level: PhD or equivalent experience.

The position

We are looking for an extremely smart and hard working Cell Engineer with expert-level knowledge in various cell engineering methods, including experience with iPSCs and differentiated cells. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of advanced techniques such as epigenetic targeting, global editing, CRISPRa, CRISPRi, and RNA-based reprogramming and will generally be well-versed in thinking about complex, cutting-edge methods to target cell differentiation using cell engineering tools. As a critical member of our team, you will lead projects designing vectors for gene expression or silencing in stem cells to create specific cell types. You will work with our computational team to analyze single-cell RNA-seq data to target genes effectively and collaborate with our organoid team to develop organoid models using reprogrammed cells. 

Our Mission

Conception is a startup with the mission of generating viable human eggs from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Successful development of our research could have many benefits, such as removing age limits on motherhood, allowing for easy screening of eggs with harmful genetic mutations, and allowing same-sex couples to reproduce. This has been done in mice, and now we are working to translate it to humans.

Our Research  

To accomplish our goal, we must derive human germ cells from iPSCs (human germ cell-like cells, hPGCLCs) that resemble both the transcriptional and epigenetic profile of in vivo germ cells (PGCs) that are able to enter meiosis and develop to viable human eggs. We create ovarian organoids from primary cells and stem cell derived cells to help the eggs develop properly.

What we’re looking for

It is important for us that you are aligned with our mission. You should have a strong solid scientific background with a reliable track record in designing and executing experiments independently.

You should have experience in transfecting (using viral or non-viral vectors) different cell types and ideally have run larger gene editing and/or transgene expression screens before. You should have experience with different assays that could be used as a functional readout such as flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, and RNAseq. Having experience with computational tools to analyze data is a big plus too.

Come and work with us

We are well funded and well connected in Silicon Valley. We offer competitive pay, company equity, and excellent healthcare benefits for these positions.

‍To learn more about the original mouse proof of concept to live birth that inspired us, see https://www.nature.com/articles/nature20104

To learn more about us, our mission, and approach you can read two features published by The New Yorker and MIT Technology Review.