Research Associate, Autophagy
Redwood City, CA
Autophagy Enhancement /
Full-time /
On-site
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.
Our autophagy program is advancing rapidly and leading the charge in translating our science into a first-in-human clinical trial, marking a major step toward delivering transformative therapies rooted in the biology of aging.
We are hiring a new member of the Autophagy team who will enable the team to move faster and iterate more quickly by increasing the capacity for hands-on work in the lab. In this role, you’ll learn and grow exponentially within a collaborative and supportive team of scientists and engineers.
About you:
You’re entrepreneurial and eager to spend time deeply engaged in hands-on science; building the foundation for your future career as a scientist. 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 organized, planning, and paying attention to the 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 stable cell lines and iPSCs using aseptic tissue culture techniques.
- Differentiate iPSC lines to brain cell types including, microglia, neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes.
- Perform cell-based and molecular assays to characterize the cells and prove function.
- Process animal tissue and perform downstream assays like cryo-sectioning, staining and imaging.
- Work collaboratively across Retro teams such as In-Vivo, Computational Biology, Automation, etc.
- Support development of new assays as needed to support our rapidly progressing research.
- Analyze and present experimental data to our internal teams and collaborators.
- Maintain an 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, neuroscience, or related field and at least 2 years of relevant experience or an M.S.
- Are solid on the fundamentals: aseptic technique, mammalian cell culture, accurate pipetting, serial dilutions, plate-based assay workflows, and standard tissue culture and tissue processing techniques.
- Are organized and detail-oriented—able to plan your day, label meticulously, follow SOPs, and ask thoughtful, timely questions.
- Can turn raw data into interpretable figures/tables, spot basic QC issues, and communicate results clearly in writing and in-person.
- Learn quickly, enjoy iterative experimentation, and are comfortable in a fast-moving environment where priorities evolve.
- Are mission-driven and excited to contribute to extending healthy human lifespan!
It's a bonus if you:
- Have experience with iPSC culture or cryosectioning.
- Have experience with the development of stable cell lines (lenti, CRISPR knockout).
- Have used molecular biology and protein methods.
$85,000 - $93,000 a year
Total compensation also includes generous equity and the following benefits:
- 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 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.
