Scientist, Stem Cell and Embryology

Experience level: Master’s, PhD, or equivalent work experience.

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 reproductive biology to make this vision a reality.

The position

We are seeking an extremely hard-working, highly skilled, hands-on scientist or scientific specialist to support our in vitro gametogenesis program. This is a technical specialist role for someone who wants to be in the lab doing difficult, delicate, high-impact work.

The most critical skillset is human ESC line generation and expert pluripotent stem cell culture. Ideally, you have direct experience deriving, establishing, expanding, banking, and characterizing human ESC lines. Experience with follicle culture, gamete handling, embryo handling, embryo biopsy, IVM, ovarian tissue workflows, 3D culture, stem cell differentiation, or related reproductive biology techniques is highly valuable.

This is not a traditional clinical embryologist role and not a management role. We are looking for a rigorous bench scientist who is excited to execute, troubleshoot, repeat, improve, and master technically demanding workflows. The right person will be flexible in focus, willing to learn new techniques, and motivated to contribute wherever the lab needs them most.

Title is negotiable based on experience and may range from Scientific Specialist to Scientist.

What you’ll do

• Help build, optimize, and repeatedly execute workflows needed for stem-cell-derived reproductive cell development

• Derive, establish, expand, bank, and characterize human ESC lines

• Maintain high-quality hESC/iPSC cultures, document passage history and culture conditions, and support characterization and QC assays

• Support workflows across stem cell differentiation, follicle isolation and culture, IVM, gamete and embryo handling, embryo culture, embryo biopsy, ovarian tissue handling, 3D culture, organoid culture, and downstream readouts

• Troubleshoot protocols, improve reproducibility, and help maintain consistency across difficult and delicate workflows

• Collaborate closely with stem cell, reproductive biology, embryology, genomics, and preclinical teams

• Execute technically demanding workflows with precision, timing, repetition, and consistency

What we’re looking for

• Master’s degree, PhD, or equivalent work experience in stem cell biology, developmental biology, reproductive biology, cell biology, embryology, bioengineering, or a related field

• Ideally 3+ years of hands-on experience with human pluripotent stem cell culture, reproductive biology, embryology, follicle culture, IVF-adjacent procedures, or related technical workflows

• Direct experience with human ESC derivation, ESC line establishment, or embryo-derived stem cell workflows is especially valuable

• Strong aseptic technique and experience maintaining sensitive, high-value cell lines

• Excellent attention to detail, reliability, and comfort with difficult, repetitive protocols that require precision and consistency

• Hands-on experience with hESC/iPSC expansion and banking, stem cell QC, follicle isolation, follicle culture, IVM, gamete handling, embryo handling, embryo culture, embryo biopsy, ovarian tissue handling, ovarian cortex cryopreservation, 3D culture, organoid culture, co-culture systems, microdissection, micromanipulation, or long-duration tissue and cell culture workflows is highly desirable

• Strong work ethic and team-first mindset. Willing to do hands-on work, including routine and repetitive tasks, and step in wherever needed

• Able to thrive in a high-intensity, fast-paced, flexible startup environment

Why join us

• Impact: Help build the technical foundation for one of the most ambitious programs in reproductive biology

• Ownership: Take responsibility for difficult, high-value workflows and help make them reproducible and scalable

• Growth: Develop deep expertise in rare and technically demanding reproductive and stem cell biology methods

• Community: Work alongside passionate scientists tackling one of the most exciting frontiers in biology with a deeply aligned team

• Mission: Build the biological foundation for a new era of reproductive medicine, expanding what is possible for millions of people and families with limited options today

Come and work with us

We are well funded and well connected in Silicon Valley. We offer competitive pay, company equity, excellent healthcare benefits, and a collaborative research environment focused on meaningful results.

If you are passionate, hardworking, and aligned with our mission, we want to hear from you.

To learn more about the original mouse proof of concept to live birth that inspired us, see https://www.nature.com/articles/nature20104