Associate Scientist III, wanted by Insitro, Inc. in South San Francisco, CA. Establishing and scaling up robust differentiation of iPSCs into mature cell types relevant to human disease, with a priority on microglia and astrocyte differentiation across multiple patient donor lines; Working with both transcription factor driven and directed differentiation techniques; Adapting existing protocols to scaled production, followed by development of standardized quality control assays and cryopreservation of progenitor banks; Incorporating and executing established protocols to develop co-culture and tri-culture in vitro models; Performing cell line engineering of iPSCs using various transduction and transfection techniques such as piggy-back transposon, viral transduction, and lipofectamine for random integration of transcription factor-expression cassettes; Characterizing the development of protocols for in-vitro cellular models using various techniques, including flow cytometry, immunocytochemistry, transcriptomics; Validating functionality of in-vitro cellular models of disease by live cell based and functional such as FQ6 assays; Developing, standardizing, scaling, and executing quality control assays of various mammalian cell types, of mammalian cell culture material using a variety of assays (listed above), with an emphasis on automated high-content microscopy; Collaborating with cross-functional teams to integrate automation solutions into existing production workflows; Contributing to the development of predictive machine learning models through the provision of high-quality iPSC derived cellular data; Presenting data and project updates across cross-functional teams and company wide meetings.
Must have a Master’s degree in Biotechnology, or a related field plus two (2) years of experience in a related occupation. In lieu of a Master’s degree plus two (2) years of experience, we will accept a Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology, or a related field plus five (5) years of progressive experience in a related occupation. Must also have two (2) years experience conducting cryopreservation on various neuronal cell types; two (2) years experience performing cell type characterization assays including immunocytochemical and imaging based in-vitro assays to validate cellular activities; one (1) year experience using transcription factor and directed differentiation of iPSCs in CNS cell models for neurodegenerative disorders; one (1) year experience scaling up and productionization of iPSC differentiations using automation equipment, including the Tecan Fluent liquid handler; one (1) year experience writing detailed experimental notebooks using Benchling (Electronic Lab Notebook); one (1) year experience writing image analysis sequences on Harmony software; one (1) year experience generating co-culture in-vitro models; and one (1) year experience transfecting mammalian cell cultures. $125,278-$129,000 /yr. Please send resume to: ta-resumes@insitro.com and refer to: Job Req. 2026-insitro-003P
Our target starting salary for successful US-based applicants for this role is $125,278 - $129,000. To determine starting pay, we consider multiple job-related factors including a candidate's skills, education and experience, market demand, business needs, and internal parity. We may also adjust this range in the future based on market data.
This role is eligible for participation in our Annual Performance Bonus Plan (based on company targets by role level and annual company performance) and our Equity Incentive Plan, subject to the terms of those plans and associated policies.
In addition, insitro also provides our employees:
401(k) plan with employer matching for contributions
Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage as well as mental health and well-being support
Open, flexible vacation policy
Paid parental leave of at least 16 weeks to support parents who give birth, and 10 weeks for a new parent (inclusive of birth, adoption, fostering, etc)
Quarterly budget for books and online courses for self-development
Support to attend professional conferences that are meaningful to your career growth and role's responsibilities
New hire stipend for home office setup
Monthly cell phone & internet stipend
Access to free onsite baristas and daily lunch for employees who are either onsite or hybrid
Access to a free commuter bus network that provides transport to and from our South San Francisco HQ from locations all around the Bay Area
insitro is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.
We believe diversity, equity, and inclusion need to be at the foundation of our culture. We work hard to bring together diverse teams–grounded in a wide range of expertise and life experiences–and work even harder to ensure those teams thrive in inclusive, growth-oriented environments supported by equitable company and team practices. All candidates can expect equitable treatment, respect, and fairness throughout the interview process.
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About insitro
insitro is a drug discovery and development company using machine learning (ML) and data at scale to decode biology for transformative medicines. At the core of insitro’s approach is the convergence of in-house generated multi-modal cellular data and high-content phenotypic human cohort data. We rely on these data to develop ML-driven, predictive disease models that uncover underlying biologic state and elucidate critical drivers of disease. These powerful models rely on extensive biological and computational infrastructure and allow insitro to advance novel targets and patient biomarkers, design therapeutics and inform clinical strategy. insitro is advancing a wholly owned and partnered pipeline of insights and therapeutics in neuroscience and metabolism. Since launching in 2018, insitro has raised over $700 million from top tech, biotech and crossover investors, and from collaborations with pharmaceutical partners. For more information on insitro, please visit www.insitro.com.
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