PhD Program, Microglia Therapeutics

Retro•Redwood City, CA

About The Position

Retro Biosciences develops therapies for diseases driven by the biology of aging, focusing on cellular reprogramming and autophagy to rejuvenate cell and tissue function, with the aim of adding 10 years to healthy human lifespan. The Microglia Therapeutics program is accepting applications for a PhD fellow to join its team and Retro’s accelerated, industry-based three-year PhD program. The program is accredited with Retro College of Woolf University. The fellow will support and lead aging- and program-related research while progressing through milestones intended to prepare them for a scientist role. The position offers experience in a fast-paced startup environment, guidance from leading scientists, and access to company research resources. On the Microglia team, the fellow will make iPSC-derived CNS cell types, including microglia, and develop models to evaluate their therapeutic potential. The program is immersive and may involve conducting experiments during the day, writing in the evenings, and feeding cells on weekends. Fellows will receive learning, mentorship, and opportunities for personal and professional growth. They will conduct collaborative and independent research, produce studies, publish and present results, write a thesis, and complete a formal oral thesis defense. The program aims to develop fellows into independent scientists by its conclusion.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Biology or a related field.
Experience with standard tissue culture and tissue processing techniques.
Ability to drive work to completion independently and as part of a team.
High self-motivation to make progress on research and writing.
Organizational skills, time management, and attention to detail.
Passion for research on aging and age-related diseases.
Willingness to learn new techniques and technologies, and to work hands-on with thoughtful planning, careful execution, and iteration.
Clear communication and collaborative working skills.

Nice To Haves

Experience with iPSC culture.
Experience differentiating iPSCs into neural cell types or myeloid cells.
Experience with cryosectioning, particularly working with brain tissue.

Responsibilities

Perform regular mammalian cell culture, primarily of cell lines and iPSCs, using aseptic tissue culture techniques.
Differentiate iPSCs into brain cell types, including microglia, neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes.
Differentiate and optimize 2D and 3D (organoid) culture protocols.
Perform cell-based and molecular assays to characterize cells and demonstrate their function.
Process animal tissue and perform downstream assays.
Support development of new assays as research progresses.
Plan and execute wet-lab and/or computational experiments independently and as part of the team.
Participate in cutting-edge research under the supervision of the team’s PI.
Select research topics collaboratively with the team, aligning them with program goals and Retro’s mission.
Collaborate with internal groups, including Computational Biology, Automation, Vivarium, and Operations, to advance research.
Produce studies and publish and present results at relevant conferences.
Write a thesis and conduct a formal oral thesis defense before the thesis committee.
Meet growth expectations and milestones for progressive independence, developing into an independent scientist by the end of the program.