Senior Research Associate/Associate Scientist, Cell Process Development & Manufacturing

About the company

Retro develops therapies for diseases driven by the biology of aging. We focus on cellular reprogramming and autophagy to broadly improve tissue function by targeting mechanisms of aging with the ultimate aim of adding 10 years to healthy human lifespan.

We’re building a mission-driven team of accomplished and kind individuals who embrace our startup culture of rapid iteration, transparency, and versatility.

We are hiring a new member of the Microglia Therapeutics team* who will help us ramp toward manufacturing readiness. In the near term, this role will focus on hands-on execution of cell culture and manufacturing-related activities in support of GMP readiness and production. Over time, as manufacturing operations become established, this person may also contribute more broadly to process development activities.

About you:

You are a thoughtful, hands-on team member who likes making complicated things work in the real world. You bring strong experience with iPSC-derived cell types and understand the care, consistency, and discipline required to work with live cell products. You move fast, sweat the details, and do not see speed and rigor as opposites. You are comfortable with repetitive, SOP-driven work and take pride in doing it with consistency and care, while also staying curious, noticing when something is off, and looking for ways to help the team and process work better. You are organized, collaborative, and low-ego, and you are willing to jump in where needed to help the team succeed. You communicate clearly, take ownership of your work, and are excited to help move the mission forward.

In this role you will:

• Perform culture of mammalian cells, mainly iPSCs using aseptic technique.
• Differentiate iPSCs to brain cell types like microglia in a bioreactor.
• Formulate media and reagents for PD and manufacturing activities.
• Follow SOPs and perform work in a GMP facility.
• Work collaboratively across Retro teams such as Manufacturing, Assay Development, Quality Control, Automation, etc.
• Analyze and present experimental data to our internal teams and collaborators.
• Maintain highly organized and detailed notes in an electronic lab notebook and contribute to supporting documents.
• Perform regular lab organization activities and ordering.

You might thrive in this role if you:

• Have a B.S. in Biology or a related field and at least 5 years of relevant experience, or an M.S. with at least 3 years of post-degree research experience.
• Have hands-on experience with mammalian cell culture, including work with bioreactors and process development activities.
• Are willing to do hands-on manufacturing work and can execute consistently in structured, SOP-driven environments.
• Work well in a collaborative, fast-moving environment and maintain detailed, high-quality documentation.

It’s a bonus if you:

• Have experience with iPSCs or microglia culture.
• Have worked in a GMP manufacturing facility.

*At Retro, we don't use titles. New hires join as a "Member of X Team". The expectations for this role are generally aligned to levels ranging from Senior RA or Associate Scientist.