Senior Scientist - Tissue Engineering

e184•Portland, OR

About The Position

About us e184 Artificial Womb is a biotechnology research company dedicated to advancing ectogenesis - the ability to support human development outside the body - to expand reproductive freedom and redefine what is possible in medicine. Our mission is to remove the biological constraints that limit who can safely carry a pregnancy, enabling new pathways to parenthood for individuals facing medical risk, infertility, or physiological barriers to gestation. We operate at the intersection of biology, engineering, and computational science, building integrated platforms that combine advanced tissue models, adaptive culture systems, and automated experimental workflows to understand and recreate the conditions required for healthy human gestation beyond the uterus. Role overview As a Senior Scientist at e184 Artificial Womb, you will lead the development of engineered tissue systems designed to support placental development through controlled vascularization and maternal–fetal interface modeling. Your work will focus on building vascularized culture platforms that integrate trophoblast stem cell models, placental organoids, and endothelial cells to recreate the structural and signaling environments required for placental formation and function. You will drive experimental strategy from system design through biological validation, working closely with developmental biologists, biomaterials scientists, and engineering teams to translate principles of tissue engineering into functional platforms for ex utero gestation. This is a highly hands-on leadership role for a scientist experienced in vascularized tissue models who is excited to work at the intersection of tissue engineering and developmental biology in a fast-moving startup environment where engineered systems directly enable biological discovery.

Requirements

PhD in Tissue Engineering, Bioengineering, Biomedical Engineering, Developmental Biology, or a related field with postdoctoral experience, or 7+ years of relevant industry or academic experience
Demonstrated expertise in tissue engineering and 3D culture system development
Experience engineering or studying vascularized tissues or angiogenesis in vitro
Hands-on experience with mammalian cell culture and complex co-culture systems
Strong understanding of endothelial biology and vascular development
Experience designing and executing independent experimental programs
Ability to lead technically complex projects in interdisciplinary environments
Strong organizational and documentation skills
Comfort working in a fast-paced, iterative startup environment

Nice To Haves

Experience working with trophoblast stem cells, placental organoids, or placental biology models
Expertise in vascular patterning, perfusion culture, or microvascular engineering
Experience integrating engineered tissues with biomaterials or hydrogel systems
Hands-on histology and advanced imaging experience for 3D tissue characterization
Experience with angiogenic signaling pathways and endothelial–epithelial interactions
Familiarity with microfluidic or perfusion-based tissue culture platforms
Experience translating engineered tissue models into functional biological systems
Prior startup or early-stage technology development experience

Responsibilities

Engineer vascularized tissue systems: Design and develop platforms that promote formation and maturation of engineered vasculature to support placental tissue development and function.
Build placental development models: Establish and optimize co-culture systems integrating trophoblast stem cells, placental organoids, and endothelial cells to model maternal–fetal interface biology.
Guide vascular patterning and function: Develop strategies to control angiogenesis, perfusion, and endothelial–trophoblast interactions that drive tissue organization and nutrient exchange.
Integrate biomaterials and perfusion systems: Collaborate with biomaterials and engineering teams to incorporate hydrogels, scaffolds, and perfusion interfaces that enable long-term tissue viability.
Characterize tissue structure and function: Apply imaging, histology, molecular profiling, and functional assays to evaluate vascular development, trophoblast differentiation, and placental maturation.
Drive iterative platform development: Translate biological outcomes into engineering improvements through rapid experimental iteration and cross-disciplinary collaboration.