Senior Scientist, Organoid

Job description

Senior Scientist, Organoid and Tissue Systems Experience level: PhD plus postdoctoral training or equivalent industry experience (typically 3+ years post-PhD). About Conception Conception is pioneering the future of reproductive biology by generating functional human eggs from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Our work combines stem cell biology, cell engineering, developmental biology, tissue engineering, and computation to recreate the key stages of human ovarian development in the lab. We recently shared that we have, for the first time, generated early human egg cells and follicles entirely from stem cells https://www.conception.bio/science-and-updates/the-first-early-human-eggs-from-stem-cells. The next major challenge is to support those fully stem cell-derived follicles through growth and maturation. We are building a world-class scientific team to solve this problem and create new possibilities for fertility and reproductive health. The position We are seeking an exceptionally strong, hands-on senior scientist to help drive the development of advanced 3D tissue and organoid systems. The strongest candidates will have personally built new differentiation, organoid, or complex multicellular culture systems and worked through the biological and technical challenges required to improve their fidelity, maturation, function, and reproducibility. Direct reproductive biology experience is not required. We are excited about scientists who have built difficult systems in other tissues and can bring new approaches to ovarian biology. In this role, you will lead the development of advanced stem-cell-derived ovarian tissue systems central to Conception’s mission. You will work across developmental biology, cell-cell interactions, tissue organization, the cellular microenvironment, matrix and mechanics, signaling, metabolism, computation, and culture design to build systems that more faithfully recapitulate human ovarian biology. What you’ll do - Own the scientific strategy and day-to-day development of our ovarian organoid and follicle niche systems - Design and build new differentiation and tissue engineering approaches that support follicle formation, growth, maturation, and oocyte competence - Identify the main biological and technical bottlenecks, prioritize the highest-value experiments, and systematically improve the system - Establish quantitative, stage-specific, and functional readouts that distinguish meaningful biological progress from marker expression alone - Remain deeply hands-on and close to the cultures, experiments, and data - Work closely with cross-functional teams to integrate complementary approaches and advance shared scientific goals - Mentor and develop scientists while setting a high bar for rigor, documentation, pace, and scientific thinking - Help build a team culture grounded in curiosity, urgency, flexibility, technical excellence, and transparency What we will provide You will build from a strong scientific foundation, including advanced stem-cell-derived ovarian tissue systems, extensive internal datasets, and human reference biology. You will work closely with a strong cross-functional team across stem cell biology, developmental biology, reproductive biology, computation, and engineering. We will provide the resources and flexibility to test new approaches, bring in the right tools and collaborators, and build additional expertise around the program as it grows. You will have direct support from scientific and company leadership and meaningful ownership over the direction of the work. What we’re looking for - PhD in a relevant field, plus postdoctoral training or equivalent industry experience - Strong track record of personally building or substantially improving complex organoid, tissue, or differentiation systems - Deep understanding of cell-cell interactions and how the microenvironment shapes tissue development and function - Exceptional hands-on troubleshooting and experimental judgment - Ability to set scientific direction, prioritize clearly, and turn complex data into actionable next steps - Clear communicator who is highly organized, keeps strong records, and works well across teams - Strong work ethic and willingness to stay close to the bench, including routine work when needed - Able to learn quickly and work effectively in a fast-moving startup environment - Experience in reproductive biology, ovarian development, or germ cell biology is a plus Why join us - Impact: Own one of Conception’s most critical preclinical programs, with the potential to transform human reproduction - Growth: Develop and lead a small team and expand scope as the program scales - 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, and excellent healthcare benefits for these positions. ‍To learn more about the original mouse proof of concept to live birth that inspired us, see https://www.nature.com/articles/nature20104 https://www.nature.com/articles/nature20104