Role:

We are seeking a highly motivated Associate Scientist or Scientist to join the Research organization in a process science role supporting the CNTY-813 beta islet cell therapy program. This position sits at the intersection of islet differentiation biology, upstream process development, and scale translation, with a focus on improving the islet cell therapy process across key development stages, including protocol optimization, media and feed strategy, 3D culture, bioreactor scale-up, cryopreservation, recovery, and manufacturing readiness. The ideal candidate will bring hands-on bioreactor experience and a genuine interest in research innovation. This is not a routine production role. The successful candidate should be excited to design and execute experiments, interpret complex biological and process data, troubleshoot variability, and translate new insights into scalable, reproducible, and manufacturing-relevant process improvements.

The expected annual salary range for this role is approximately $115,00 - $150,000 depending on experience and level of role offered. Additional benefits offered include but are not limited to an annual performance-based bonus (prorated by start date), medical, dental, and vision insurance, matching 401K plan, and 20+ days per-year of PTO (prorated by start date). Additionally, a US work authorization is preferred.

Requirements

• Execute routine iPSC maintenance, scale-up preparation, 3D aggregate culture, and directed differentiation toward pancreatic islet-like cell populations.
• Design, run, and troubleshoot suspension-based differentiation experiments in scalable formats, including PBS Vertical Wheel bioreactors when appropriate.
• Operate controlled bioreactor systems and monitor key process inputs such as pH, dissolved oxygen, agitation, inoculation density, feeding strategy, media exchange, and culture timing.
• Innovate across the islet cell therapy development workflow by evaluating signaling timing, growth factor and cytokine conditions, media and feed strategies, aggregate handling, cryopreservation and recovery approaches, and culture-format changes that improve cell fate, scalability, and process performance.
• Develop and optimize process parameters that improve endocrine commitment, beta cell identity, process reproducibility, cell recovery, cryopreservation compatibility, and scalability through late-stage differentiation and downstream process handling.
• Use Quality by Design and DOE principles to connect biological outcomes with controllable process variables and to support rational process optimization.
• Help define critical quality attributes, critical process parameters, operating ranges, and process risk areas that support scale-up readiness and future manufacturing translation.
• Generate and interpret analytical readouts, including RT-qPCR, intracellular flow cytometry, immunofluorescence imaging, ELISA, viability, metabolite, and aggregate-size measurements.
• Support development of standardized, closed or semi-closed, and manufacturing-relevant workflows using single-use components, sterile connections, tubing assemblies, and related process equipment as needed.
• Partner closely with Research, Process Development, Analytical, CMC, and manufacturing-facing teams while maintaining a strong research mindset focused on learning, innovation, and mechanism-informed improvement.
• Maintain high-quality documentation in electronic lab notebooks and contribute to SOPs, batch records, technical reports, and process development summaries.
• Present data in technical forums, propose next-step experiments, and contribute to process strategy discussions.
• Maintain a safe, organized, and compliant laboratory environment.

Qualifications:

• Associate Scientist: BS or MS in bioengineering, chemical engineering, biology, stem cell biology, or a related field with approximately 2-5+ years of relevant experience.
• Scientist: MS or PhD in bioengineering, chemical engineering, biology, stem cell biology, or a related field with approximately 3-8+ years of relevant experience.

• Hands-on experience with human pluripotent stem cell culture, including 2D maintenance and 3D aggregate or suspension culture formats.
• Practical experience operating suspension bioreactors or comparable controlled culture systems for mammalian or stem cell applications.
• Experience designing, executing, and optimizing directed differentiation workflows, ideally in a scalable or process-development setting.
• Scientific curiosity and interest in improving both differentiation biology and process scalability, rather than simply executing established protocols.
• Working knowledge of bioreactor setup, sampling, monitoring, and process control concepts, including dissolved oxygen, pH, agitation, feeding, and culture timing.
• Experience using flow cytometry, RT-qPCR, imaging, ELISA, or related assays to characterize differentiation outcomes and process performance.
• Ability to analyze experimental data, identify trends, troubleshoot variability, and convert findings into clear process recommendations.
• Strong scientific documentation, organization, and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently while staying closely aligned with cross-functional collaborators.

Requirements:

• Direct experience with pancreatic, endocrine, beta cell, or islet-like differentiation from human pluripotent stem cells.
• Experience optimizing differentiation yield, on-target purity, maturation state, media or feed strategy, cryopreservation/recovery, or reproducibility across scales or platforms.
• Hands-on experience with PBS Vertical Wheel bioreactors, stirred-tank bioreactors, perfusion-enabled systems, or larger-scale single-use bioreactor platforms.
• Demonstrated ability to connect mechanistic biological questions with practical process development decisions.
• Familiarity with closed or semi-closed cell culture workflows, including tube welders, sealers, sterile connectors, single-use assemblies, and aseptic process design.
• Experience with DOE or statistical process development tools such as JMP, MODDE, GraphPad Prism, FlowJo, ImageJ/Fiji, or similar platforms.
• A strong process-engineering mindset, including comfort defining CPPs, CQAs, control strategies, and process failure modes.
• Strong collaboration skills and enthusiasm for advancing stem cell-derived therapies toward clinical development.