Conception-posted 2 months ago
Full-time • Senior
Berkeley, CA
11-50 employees

We’re seeking a motivated, independent, and highly organized iPSC Scientist to own and scale our iPSC core. You will play a central role in building the foundation of Conception’s preclinical and, later, manufacturing arm for CMC readiness. This is a high-ownership, high-growth role that starts heavily in the lab—learning systems, people, and protocols—and grows into leading a large core spanning multiple iPSC lines and differentiation protocols. You will establish stability, traceability, and consistency across our iPSC operations, implementing strong QC guidelines and standard practices. Over time, you will expand the core to manage multiple iPSC lines and differentiation protocols, build predictive QC systems (ML imaging, sequencing), and prepare workflows for preclinical and translational work.

  • Organize and run the iPSC core day-to-day
  • Maintain cell banks and execute QC for iPSCs and feeder lines
  • Track QC results, reagents, lots, consumables, and equipment; manage incubators and hoods in collaboration with Operations
  • Work closely with Operations to ensure differentiation protocols remain extremely stable and repeatable
  • Build and document SOPs for routine workflows
  • Collaborate with the Cell Engineering team to validate, QC, bank, and integrate new cell lines into the core
  • Establish strong communication loops with R&D teams to manage cell handoffs, define acceptance criteria, and communicate disruptions or delays to maintain quality
  • Lead, mentor, and grow a small team; set expectations for consistency, documentation, and accountability
  • Keep junior scientists engaged and motivated on core work; invest in training and mentorship
  • Coordinate across R&D and Operations to communicate timings, risks, delays, and mitigations proactively
  • Collaborate with R&D scientists to standardize and scale directed differentiation of at least one lineage, expanding to multiple lines over time
  • Partner with ML and computational biology experts to explore automated imaging and RNAseq as predictors of long-term culture success
  • Develop and implement new QC methods for differentiations
  • Propose innovations to improve cell quality, efficiency, and early risk detection
  • PhD in Cell or Developmental Biology or related field (preferred), or Master’s with relevant industry experience
  • Extensive, senior-scientist-level experience with iPSC culture, naïve pluripotency (preferred), and differentiation protocols to one or more lineages
  • Proven ability to run organized, traceable, high-quality cell culture operations
  • Experience mentoring or managing junior scientists
  • Exceptionally organized, detail-oriented, and proactive
  • Strong communicator and collaborator
  • Motivation to build systems that scale from R&D to preclinical and CMC readiness
  • Competitive pay
  • Company equity
  • Excellent healthcare benefits
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