Senior Scientist, NHP Group Leader

Conception • Berkeley, CA

3d

About The Position

Conception is pioneering the future of reproductive biology by generating functional human eggs from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Our mission is to unlock new possibilities for fertility, reproductive health, and genetic diversity. We are building a world-class team at the intersection of stem cell biology, developmental biology, and synthetic biology to make this vision a reality. We are seeking an exceptionally strong, hands-on senior scientist to own the vision and execution of our NHP stem cell program. You will lead a small team (2–3 scientists) while staying involved at the bench. The core of this role is building and running high-quality pluripotent stem cell systems and translating them into a robust, end-to-end proof-of-concept NHP protocol to support our pre-clinical safety dataset. NHP experience is a plus, but not required. What matters most is deep iPSC expertise, strong experimental taste, and the ability to tighten variability, build reliable workflows, and mentor a team in a high-intensity startup environment.

Requirements

• PhD in Stem Cell Biology, Developmental Biology, Cell Biology, Reproductive Biology, or a related field, plus postdoctoral training or equivalent industry experience
• Deep hands-on expertise in pluripotent stem cell culture (iPSC required; ESC a plus), ideally in human or other mammalian systems
• Strong experience optimizing differentiation protocols and improving reproducibility and outcomes over time
• Independent at the project level, able to design, execute, and interpret complex experiments with clear, well-designed readouts
• Strong troubleshooting instincts and ability to drive logical next steps based on data
• Experience mentoring or leading others, with the ability to set a high bar for rigor, documentation, and quality
• Comfort interpreting and discussing sequencing datasets (SmartSeq2, single-cell RNA-seq, ATAC-seq, EM-seq, or similar). Training available for gaps
• Exceptionally organized, strong record keeping, and attention to detail
• Strong work ethic and team-first mindset. Willing to do hands-on work, including routine and repetitive tasks, and step in when needed
• Able to thrive in a high-intensity, fast-paced, flexible startup environment

Nice To Haves

• NHP experience

Responsibilities

• Own the roadmap and experimental strategy for the NHP stem cell program, with clear milestones and readouts
• Develop a proof-of-concept, start-to-finish protocol from an iPSC starting point, with the eventual goal of enabling preclinical safety data supporting healthy live birth outcomes
• Drive differentiation into germline and ovarian somatic cell types, including troubleshooting, optimization, and repeatability improvements
• Lead day-to-day execution while mentoring and developing scientists, setting expectations for rigor, documentation, and pace
• Work closely with IVG and preclinical teams to coordinate experimental priorities and timelines
• Analyze and interpret data and communicate progress clearly, including sequencing-based datasets where relevant
• Build strong documentation habits, tracking systems, and SOPs that make work reliable and transferable across people and time

Benefits

• Impact: Own one of Conception’s most critical preclinical programs, with the potential to transform human reproduction
• Ownership: Operate with autonomy in a fast-moving biotech startup and build a program end-to-end
• Growth: Lead and develop a small team and expand scope as the program scales
• Mission-driven: Work alongside passionate scientists tackling one of the most exciting frontiers in biology with a deeply aligned team
• competitive pay
• company equity
• excellent healthcare benefits

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees