(Senior) Scientist, Stem Cell
Experience level: PhD plus postdoctoral training or equivalent industry experience (typically 4+ years post-PhD for senior level).
About Conception
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 reproductive biology to make this vision a reality.
The position
We are seeking an extremely hard-working, highly skilled, hands-on scientist or scientific specialist to support our pluripotent stem cell program. This is a technical specialist role for someone who wants to be in the lab doing difficult, delicate, high-impact work.
Ideally, you have direct experience deriving, establishing, expanding, banking, and characterizing pluripotent stem cell lines. We are looking for a rigorous bench scientist who is excited to execute, troubleshoot, repeat, improve, and master technically demanding workflows. The right person will be flexible in focus, willing to learn new techniques, and motivated to contribute wherever the lab needs them most. Experience with QC readout establishment, stem cell differentiation, 3D culture, or related reproductive biology techniques is highly valuable.
Title is negotiable based on experience and may range from Scientific Specialist to Senior Scientist.
What you’ll do
Build, optimize, and repeatedly execute workflows needed for stem-cell-derived reproductive cell development
Derive, establish, expand, bank, and characterize iPSC & ESC lines
Maintain high-quality ESC/iPSC cultures, document passage history and culture conditions, and support characterization and QC assays
Troubleshoot protocols, improve reproducibility, and help maintain consistency across difficult and delicate workflows
Establish epigenetic quality readouts
Collaborate closely with stem cell, reproductive biology, embryology, genomics, and preclinical teams
Execute technically demanding workflows with precision, timing, repetition, and consistency
What we’re looking for
PhD in stem cell biology, developmental biology, reproductive biology, cell biology, embryology, bioengineering, or a related field
Ideally 4+ years of hands-on experience with human pluripotent stem cell culture, reproductive biology, or related technical workflows
Direct experience with ESC/iPSC derivation, or ESC/iPSC line establishment is especially valuable
Strong aseptic technique and experience maintaining sensitive, high-value cell lines
Excellent attention to detail, reliability, and comfort with difficult, repetitive protocols that require precision and consistency
Hands-on experience with ESC/iPSC expansion and banking, stem cell QC, 3D culture, organoid culture, co-culture systems, microdissection, micromanipulation, or long-duration tissue and cell culture workflows is highly desirable
Strong work ethic and team-first mindset. Willing to do hands-on work, including routine and repetitive tasks, and step in wherever needed
Able to thrive in a high-intensity, fast-paced, flexible startup environment
Why join us
Impact: Help build the technical foundation for one of the most ambitious programs in reproductive biology
Ownership: Take responsibility for difficult, high-value workflows and help make them reproducible and scalable
Growth: Develop deep expertise in technically demanding reproductive and stem cell biology methods
Community: Work alongside passionate scientists tackling one of the most exciting frontiers in biology with a deeply aligned team
Mission: Build the biological foundation for a new era of reproductive medicine, expanding what is possible for millions of people and families with limited options today
Come and work with us
We are well funded and well connected in Silicon Valley. We offer competitive pay, company equity, excellent healthcare benefits, and a collaborative research environment focused on meaningful results.
If you are passionate, hardworking, and aligned with our mission, we want to hear from you.
To learn more about the original mouse proof of concept to live birth that inspired us, see https://www.nature.com/articles/nature20104