Scientist / Senior Scientist, Structural Cell Biology

Altos Labs • San Francisco, CA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Our mission is to restore cell health and resilience through cell rejuvenation to reverse disease, injury, and the disabilities that can occur throughout life. Altos Labs has been named one of the Top 3 Biotech Companies and ranked for the second year on the Forbes 2026 Best Startups in America list. At Altos, exceptional scientists and industry leaders from around the world work together to advance a shared mission. Our intentional focus is on Belonging, so that all employees know that they are valued for their unique perspectives. We are all accountable for sustaining a diverse and inclusive environment. As an individual contributor and Scientist at the Bay Area Institute of Science, you will play a key role in advancing Altos' scientific programs on brain aging and neurodegeneration. Working within the Frost lab, you will be responsible for designing and implementing innovative experimental approaches using electron and light microscopy techniques. This includes developing and utilizing cell types derived from the central nervous system (CNS), applying genetic perturbations to these cells, and employing experimental approaches that include light microscopy and electron microscopy. The ideal candidate will possess an understanding of CNS cell biology and proficiency in advanced microscopy, image analysis and the biochemical techniques required for electron microscopy. This role reports to Senior Scientist Frank Moss, who reports to Vice President Adam Frost.

Requirements

• PhD in a related field, such as Cell Biology, Neuroscience, Genetics
• Thorough understanding of the principles of light microscopy image visualization, analysis, and processing.
• Demonstrable understanding of biochemistry, including the use of electron microscopy for structural biochemistry.
• Excellent communication skills and proven ability to collaborate within a dynamic team.

Nice To Haves

• Preparation and culturing of iPSC-derived human CNS cell types
• Operation of light microscopes for fixed and live imaging, including confocal and structured illumination microscopes
• Practical experience with the management of terabyte-size microscopy datasets
• Literacy in Fiji/ImageJ, Arivis, Relion, cryoSPARC, MATLAB, R, or Python
• Practical experience with cellular image segmentation and quantitation

Responsibilities

• Provide advanced cell culture, and genetic manipulation of iPSC-derived CNS cell types.
• Provide independent design and implementation of all phases of light microscopy experimentation, including experimental design, microscope operation, image capture, and quantitative image analysis.
• Engage with cross-Altos research labs to bridge in vitro with in vivo models and to suggest complementary biochemical and imaging approaches.
• Assist other scientists in the Frost group and beyond in analysis of microscope images using tools such as Zen, Elements, Arivis, Napari, Fiji, or other software.
• When appropriate, manage image analysis collaborations with the Computer Vision team.
• Prepare samples for cryo-electron microscopy, including single particle and tomographic imaging.

Benefits

• The salary range for Redwood City, CA Scientist I, Structural Cell Biology: $148,700 - $190,600
• Scientist II, Structural Cell Biology: $157,200 - $201,500
• Senior Scientist I, Structural Cell Biology: $174,200 - $223,300
• Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and location.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree