Cancer Immunology - TIL Therapy
Redwood City, CA
Partial Reprogramming /
Full-time /
We are a well-funded, untraditional bio startup based in Redwood City. Retro develops therapies for diseases driven by the biology of aging. We work on (1) partial reprogramming, (2) blood factors, and (3) autophagy to rejuvenate cell and tissue function with the ultimate aim of adding years to a healthy human lifespan by 10 years.
We are seeking a highly motivated and innovative Scientist with deep expertise in cancer immunology, specifically Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TILs) to support the development of the next generation of rejuvenated Adoptive T-cell therapies.
In this role, you will:
- Design and implement from scratch complex experiments with scientific rationale and methods.
- Shape strategic plans, drive timelines and achievements, and coordinate tasks across multiple collaborative projects.
- Work with internal teams to design and apply cell reprogramming strategies to rejuvenate TILs.
- Develop in vitro and in vivo assays to test immune cell function.
- Establish purification, culture, and expansion protocols of Tumor Reactive TILs from human cancer tissues.
- Optimize gene delivery in TILs.
- Design TIL reprogramming time courses to analyze their gene expression using sc-RNA, CITE-seq, and/or ATAC-seq.
- Collaborate with the computational biology team to advance our internal programs.
- Analyze and present experimental data to our internal team and collaborators.
- Maintain an electronic lab notebook and contribute to support documentation.
You might thrive in this role if you:
- Have a PhD, MD, or equivalent in immunology, cell biology, or related discipline. Postdoc experienceand a roven track record in high-impact publications in top-tier journals is preferred.
- Have Recognized proficiency related to the characterization of primary T cells, including cytotoxicity assays, cell proliferation assays, and phenotypic characterization
- Have ex vivo transgenic manipulation of T cells (e.g. viral transduction, lipofection, and or LNPs)
- Are experienced with multi-parameter flow cytometry
- Have a deep understanding of T cell biology and knowledge of T cell therapy (CAR-T, TILs, TCRs)
- Are experienced with single-cell technologies (sc-RNA seq, CITE-seq, and/or ATAC-seq)
- You’re energetic, detail-oriented, intellectually curious, and deeply pragmatic. You thrive in a culture that embraces rapid iteration and open, straightforward communication
- Have a burning desire to understand aging biology through the lens of modern data-rich measurement technologies
Our team is a group of mission-driven, kind, and thoughtful individuals. We take pride in evolving a work environment that fosters collaboration, open communication, and authenticity. We believe that great results are best delivered by a highly creative group working in concert. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company; we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
The annual salary range for this role is $130,000 - 160,000. Total compensation also includes generous equity and benefits.
Benefits and perks:
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your family
- 401(k) plan with 4% matching
- Unlimited time off and 10 company holidays per year
- Paid parental leave
- Annual learning & development stipend
- Free lunch and snacks
