Job Details

Microglia Research Associate

Retro develops therapies for diseases driven by the biology of aging. We focus on cellular reprogramming and autophagy to rejuvenate cell and tissue function 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 be involved in making iPSC-derived microglia, characterizing them, and developing them into cellular therapy product. In this role, you will enable the microglia team to move faster and iterate more quickly by increasing the capacity for hands-on work in the lab.

About you:

You approach your work with a growth-mindset, eager to use your critical thinking skills and problem solving abilities. You enjoy hands-on work and value being honest, organized, and paying attention to details. You're a highly collaborative team member with a "can-do" attitude and great communication skills.

In this role you will:

• Perform regular culture of mammalian cells, mainly iPSCs and stable cell lines using aseptic tissue culture techniques.
• Differentiate iPSC lines to brain cell-types including microglia, neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes.
• Perform and optimize 2D and 3D (organoids) differentiation protocols.
• Perform cell-based and molecular assays to characterize the cells and prove function.
• Work collaboratively across Retro teams such as In-Vivo, Computational Biology, Automation, Process Development, etc.
• Support development of new assays as our research progresses fast.
• Analyze and present experimental data to our internal teams and collaborators.
• Maintain an organized 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 related field and at least 5 years of relevant experience or an M.S. with at least 3 year of post-degree research experience.
• Experience with standard tissue culture and cell-based assays.

It's a bonus if you have:

• Have experience with iPSC or brain cell-type culture.
• Have animal tissue processing experience like cryo-sectioning, staining and imaging.

$100,000 - $120,000 a year

At Retro, we don't use titles. New hires join as a "Member of X Team." Depending on experience, this role could flex from an Associate Manager to Manager level. Total compensation includes competitive base salary, generous equity, and benefits including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your family
• 401(k) plan with 4% matching
• Flexible time off and 10 company holidays per year
• Paid parental leave
• Annual learning & development stipend
• Daily Retro-sponsored lunch and snacks

We take pride in cultivating an environment that fosters collaboration, open communication, and authenticity. We believe that great results are best delivered by a highly creative team working in concert. We are an equal opportunity employer; we do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We are diverse in background and singular in mission.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.