(Senior) Principal Scientist, Cell Fate Engineer

About Conception

Conception is pioneering the future of reproductive biology by generating functional human eggs from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Our mission is to unlock new possibilities for fertility, reproductive health, and genetic diversity. We are building a world-class team at the intersection of stem cell biology, developmental biology, and synthetic biology to make this vision a reality.

The Role

We are seeking an exceptionally smart and ambitious scientist with deep expertise in transcription factor and gene network-guided cell fate engineering to lead a new initiative at Conception. You are someone who has internalized the power of transcription factor-guided differentiation and is ready to put it into action to build something that works and can grow to have real real-world impact. You will be responsible for shaping and executing the company’s RNA and TF-based strategy to accelerate iPSC differentiation into germline fates.

This is a high-impact, high-ownership role: you’ll start hands-on in the lab with a small team, quickly take on direct reports, and drive innovation as if leading a “startup within a startup.” The ideal candidate is hungry for progress and thrives on generating rigorous results while moving fast to make an 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.
  

Why Join Us

• Impact: Define and accelerate one of Conception’s most critical programs, with the potential to transform human reproduction.

• Ownership: Operate with startup-like autonomy inside a growing biotech company.

• Growth: Build and lead a team from the ground up.

• Mission-driven: Work alongside passionate scientists tackling one of the most exciting frontiers in biology with a team that is deeply mission aligned.

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