Research Associate or Associate Scientist, Genome Engineer

About the role

We are seeking a highly organized, rigorous, and hands-on Research Associate or Associate Scientist with strong experience in genome and cell engineering to help build tools that enhance Conception’s differentiation platform.

Responsibilities

• Build engineered cell lines to support Conception’s differentiation platform, including reporter lines, knock-out lines, knock-in lines, and overexpression lines.
• Use CRISPR-based genome engineering approaches to design, generate, screen, and validate edited cell lines.
• Develop DNA-integrating expression systems for constitutive and inducible transgene expression during differentiation.
• Optimize workflows for transfection, transduction, selection, clonal isolation, expansion, genotyping, and expression validation.
• Build assays to track reporter activity, transgene expression, silencing, differentiation state, and biological outcomes.
• Support differentiation experiments using engineered lines to monitor and improve cell fate transitions.
• Collaborate across differentiation, organoid, cell engineering, and computational teams.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Stem Cell Biology, Bioengineering, Genetics, Synthetic Biology, Developmental Biology, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Hands-on experience with mammalian cell culture and cell engineering workflows.
• Experience with CRISPR genome engineering, including knock-out, knock-in, or reporter line generation.
• Experience designing, generating, screening, and validating engineered cell lines using molecular and functional assays.
• Experience with DNA delivery or integrating expression systems such as plasmid transfection, viral transduction, PiggyBac, Sleeping Beauty, lentiviral systems, or related approaches.
• Experience with standard validation and readout assays such as PCR, genotyping, sequencing, flow cytometry, imaging, qPCR, reporter assays, or immunostaining.
• Strong experimental execution, troubleshooting, documentation, organization, and data interpretation skills.

Preferred

• Experience with iPSCs, ESCs, primary cells, differentiating cells.
• Experience building reporter lines to track gene expression, cell state, or differentiation.
• Experience with inducible expression systems, constitutive expression systems, promoter testing, or transgene expression optimization.
• Experience assessing or troubleshooting transgene silencing during extended culture or differentiation.
• Experience with CRISPRa, CRISPRi, dCas9-based systems, or other gene modulation approaches.
• Familiarity with stem cell differentiation, developmental biology, reproductive biology, germ cell development, ovarian biology, or organoid systems.

Pay

Competitive pay.

Schedule

N/A

Benefits

Educational benefits, company equity, and excellent healthcare benefits.