About this role
The Mission
Drug discovery has a translation problem: more than 95% of drugs that succeed in animal models fail in humans. We're building the alternative: human-first drug discovery, powered by organoids and AI, running on real human biology from the very first experiment.
Our platform is 87% concordant with clinical patient data - a vast improvement over the 3% translational success rate of animals. We’ve demonstrated the ability to model immunotoxicology, immunogen stimulation, and two autoimmune diseases with more on the way. Numerous pharma partners including 3 Fortune 500 companies are already using the platform. We've raised ~$30M from AIX Ventures, Marc Benioff, Jeff Dean, and Y Combinator. With the FDA Modernization Act 3.0 and the FDA's March 2026 validation framework, the regulatory tailwinds only continue to get stronger.
The opportunity ahead of the company is generational: build the first scaled engine for generating real human biological data, and use it to fundamentally change how medicines are discovered.
The Role
Derivation, quality control and biobanking
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Derive iPSC lines from donor blood, from cell isolation through colony picking, clonal expansion and cryopreservation.
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Interpret cell line quality control data and determine passed or failed samples using internationally recognized acceptance criteria.
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Understand and reduce the sources of variation that affect iPSC-generation success and quality as our biobank expands.
Organoid development
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Maintain iPSC and primary cultures to a consistent standard.
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Differentiate iPSCs towards immune organoids using in-house protocols.
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Run iterative optimisation cycles: change conditions, measure the effect, keep what works.
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Improve organoid longevity, reproducibility and functional performance against the intended phenotype.
Assays and data
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Design, validate and run the readouts that show organoid functionality: flow cytometry panels, (q)PCR, immunofluorescence and imaging, ELISA and Luminex.
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Prepare samples for external sequencing (bulk RNA-seq, scRNA-seq, whole exome) and manage submissions and turnaround with providers.
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Willingness to do routine tasks (e.g. equipment maintenance) to ensure our laboratory is running smoothly.
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Interpret your own data, including the flow analysis, and present conclusions, not just raw data.
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Document in the electronic lab notebook and write up what works as Work Instructions and SOPs, kept current as the process changes.
Team and culture
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Work with the US team on platform comparison and share your expertise with colleagues as the team grows.
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Share knowledge and expertise with colleagues/junior researchers and present findings in internal meetings and challenge conclusions, including ours.
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Flag when the data does not support the conclusion being drawn, and report ambiguous results with the same care as clean ones.
Education and Experience
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MSc in molecular biology, cell biology, immunology, bioengineering or a related field.
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Strong preference for aseptic human pluripotent stem cell culture (iPSC or ESC). Otherwise at least one year of tissue culture experience with excellent aseptic technique.
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Hands-on experience with standard molecular and cellular assays, including flow cytometry with panel design and independent analysis, (q)PCR and ELISA.
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Experience with reprogramming, clonal derivation, karyotyping or genotyping, or cryopreservation at scale is an advantage.
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3D culture, organoid or spheroid experience is a clear advantage. Immunology knowledge, particularly lymphocyte biology, is a strong plus as well.
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Experience preparing samples for NGS is welcome.
Skills and Competencies
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You are comfortable working on a system that is still being defined and you can tell a real signal from a failed experiment.
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You treat reproducibility as an interesting problem rather than a chore and you hold a standard under time pressure.
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Strong organisational discipline and attention to detail. Familiarity with electronic lab notebooks or laboratory information systems is essential, since sample traceability is central to this role.
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A team player, quick to help where needed and comfortable working across disciplines.
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Excellent command of English, our only working language. German is nice to have.
Additional Requirements
- This role requires weekend work on a rotating basis to maintain cell cultures and ensure experimental continuity.
Your compensation package will include a minimum base salary of €40.000 annually, based on a full-time engagement. The final amount will be determined based on experience and qualifications. This is a full-time position with no overtime compensation; the agreed salary covers all working hours. Flexible work arrangements may also be possible to support work-life balance.