(Sr Sci) Principal Scientist, Gene Perturbation & Cell Fate

Job Description

We are working with a team at the forefront of reproductive biology, developing human eggs from stem cells (iPSCs) to transform fertility, reproductive health, and genetic diversity—powered by expertise in stem cell, developmental, and synthetic biology.

The Role

We’re looking for a scientist with deep expertise in transcription factor and gene network–guided cell fate engineering to lead a critical new initiative.

You’ll be responsible for designing and executing RNA- and TF-based strategies to accelerate iPSC differentiation into germline fates. This means driving transcription factor–guided differentiation projects, developing RNA-based gene perturbation approaches, and shaping the strategy that defines this program.

This is a high-impact leadership role: you’ll begin hands-on in the lab with a small team, then quickly expand into managing direct reports and building a broader program. We want someone who thrives in a fast-moving, startup-like environment, is comfortable taking ownership, and is motivated to deliver rigorous results that make a real-world impact.

Responsibilities

• Design and lead transcription factor and gene perturbation projects, with emphasis on RNA-based, non-integrative strategies.
• Develop a company strategy for applying a clinically viable gene perturbation approach to speed up differentiation across multiple areas of our existing pipeline.
• Build, manage, and mentor a small team of scientists and research associates.
• Drive innovation in non-integrative gene expression systems (mRNA, circRNA, CRISPRa/dCas9), especially adapting these technologies to high-throughput screens.
• Develop and apply high-throughput pooled TF/gene screening approaches (e.g., TFome, ORF libraries) as implicated by scientific strategy.
• Integrate machine learning–guided or computational pipelines (e.g., ATAC-seq, DNase-seq, RNA-seq–driven predictions) with experimental design.

Qualifications

Required:

• PhD in Synthetic Biology, Developmental Biology, Stem Cell Biology, RNA Biology, or related field.
• Strong publication record demonstrating impact in cell fate engineering, stem cell or developmental biology, transcription factor biology, or RNA biology.
• Hands-on expertise with transcription factor–guided differentiation and gene perturbation approaches.
• Experience designing and executing high-throughput genetic, ideally RNA-based screens.
• Expertise with non-integrative gene modulation tools (mRNA, circRNA, dCAS/CRISPRa systems).
• Familiarity with computational and/or machine learning approaches for TF or target discovery (via direct work or collaborations). Ideal if you have spearheaded initiatives to mine data yourself for target overexpression candidates or developed new computational tools to do so.
• Demonstrated leadership in academia (e.g., leading large collaborations) or biotech (e.g., managing small teams).
• Desire to thrive in a fast-paced, high-ownership startup environment.

Preferred:

• Experience with pooled ORF/TFome libraries, combinatorial TF perturbation, or barcoded screening workflows.
• Experience integrating chromatin accessibility data (ATAC-seq, DNase-seq) or transcriptomics into TF discovery.
• Prior management of small teams in academia or industry.