PhD Program, Tissue Reprogramming
Redwood City, CA
Retro PhD /
Full-time /
On-site
Retro Biosciences 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.
Retro recently announced the accreditation of Retro College of Woolf University and the Retro PhD program. Retro’s PhD is an accelerated 3-year program. As a fellow, you will support and lead aging research projects, progressing through key milestones designed to prepare you for a scientist role.
If you are extremely motivated and have a strong desire to learn while also being a high-impact team member, you might be a Retro fellow. As a Retro fellow, you’ll gain exposure to a fast-paced startup environment and work under the guidance of the world’s leading scientists in the field. You’ll have access to all the resources of a well-funded company and the ability to accelerate your learning, as well as your experimentation volume.
The Tissue Reprogramming program works on partial reprogramming (PR) technology to reverse aging phenotypes in various tissue types in vivo, thereby developing rejuvenation therapies. We employ gene therapy approaches to target specific aging mechanisms and improve pathophysiological conditions. Our mission is to develop PR-based rejuvenation therapies for a broad population suffering from various age-related health conditions.
In this program you will:
- Plan and execute wet lab and/or computational experiments as part of the team and independently.
- Participate in cutting edge research with your team under your PI’s supervision.
- Select research topics collaboratively with your team, in alignment with both your program goals and Retro’s mission.
- Foster collaboration with other internal groups, including Computational Biology, Automation, Animal Facilities, and Operations, to drive research progress.
- Produce extensive studies, publish and present your results at relevant conferences.
- Write a thesis of at least 20,000 words, as well as at least 3 papers of publishable quality.
- Conduct formal oral thesis defense before your thesis committee.
- Lean into the immersive experience. This may mean experiments by day, writing in the evenings, and/or feeding cells/training models on the weekends. It will definitely mean a huge opportunity for learning, mentorship, and personal and professional growth.
- Meet growth expectations and milestones of progressive independence and by the end of the program have developed into an independent scientist.
General Program Qualifications:
- STEM MS or a BS. BS must have additional experience. This is a European-style PhD program that does not start off with intro classes like an American PhD; you need to hit the ground running.
- Proven ability to drive things to completion by yourself and in the team; highly self-motivated to make progress on research and writing.
- Demonstrated organizational skills, time management, and attention to detail.
- A budding passion for research on aging and age-related diseases.
- Ability to present your science clearly and concisely and excellent scientific writing skills.
Tissue Reprogramming Program Qualifications:
- You are scientifically curious, fast-acting, proactive, and well-organized.
- At least two years of experience in a molecular biology lab. Well-versed with basic molecular biology skills, including DNA/RNA isolation, RT-qPCR, culture of mammalian cells, ELISA
- Basic hands-on mouse work.
- Previous experience with cellular reprogramming and gene therapy highly preferred.
- Previous experience with DNA construct design, NGS and computational analysis, or mouse model development is a plus.
Compensation/Perks:
$91,697 annually
Generous equity
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 (with manager approval)
Paid parental leave
Annual learning & development stipend
Free lunch daily 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 on the basis of 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.
