Senior Research Associate/Associate Scientist, Cell Differentiation

Cellular Intelligence (CI) is an AI-native TechBio company building a universal foundation model of cell signaling to understand, predict, and ultimately control cellular behavior, transforming biology from trial-and-error into an engineering discipline. We take a full-stack approach, generating perturbation data at over 1,000x the efficiency of conventional methods, capturing millions of time-resolved treatment combinations per experiment, and training large-scale models that generalize across contexts to enable rational protocol design for regenerative medicine, context-specific drug effect prediction, and systematic disease modeling. Our founding team includes repeat AI entrepreneur Dr. Micha Breakstone (Chorus.ai http://Chorus.ai, acquired for $575M), the Head of the Fundamental AI Group at MIT, and four professors from Harvard Medical School and the University of Washington, including the Chair of Genetics at Harvard, collectively holding five National Academy memberships. Based in Boston, CI has raised over $60M to date from Khosla Ventures, CZI, SciFi VC, and AMD Ventures, and is rapidly scaling its world-class team. Cellular Intelligence’s Core Values 1. We show up - fully accountable, all-in, doing whatever it takes 2. We act with urgency - swift, decisive, proactive 3. We support one another - collaborative, helpful, empathetic Location: Boston, MA Reports to: Senior Scientist, Translational Science About the Role We seek a motivated and experienced cell biologist to join our team and support hiPSC-based differentiation efforts for novel cell therapy programs, our proprietary platform, and computational modeling efforts. In this role, you will execute and optimize cell differentiation protocols to generate functionally relevant target cell types. You will play a critical facilitator role in protocol and platform development by conducting high-throughput experiments and collaborating cross-functionally with teams in platform development, process development, analytics, translational research, and molecular biology. This is a hands-on, lab-based position that requires strong technical expertise, rigorous and reproducible data practices, and the ability to work independently while staying tightly aligned with team priorities. Success in this role requires not just executing experiments but rigorously analyzing data, critically assessing data quality, synthesizing findings clearly, communicating proactively, and adapting quickly when priorities shift. This role is best suited for a bench scientist with meaningful independent industry experience at the SRA or Associate Scientist level; it is not an entry-level position, and a PhD is not required or expected. Responsibilities - Independently execute and optimize stepwise hiPSC differentiation protocols to generate multiple target cell types with high reliability and reproducibility - Maintain transparent, reproducible records in Benchling or equivalent ELN or file system including experimental study design details, execution processes, experimental outcomes, analytical workflows, parameters, thresholds, and file naming conventions when necessary that allow any team member to independently trace and evaluate results; contribute to the development of SOPs and technical documentation for established protocols as needed - Prioritize and complete time-sensitive experiments critical to lead program progression, including occasional weekend work as needed (usually no more than 4 hours a month) to support long-term cultures. Candidates should feel comfortable with proactive communication with the team lead to confirm task priorities and flag when new work may impact existing planning - Troubleshoot assay or protocol challenges with initiative and structure: propose and attempt reasonable solutions before requesting direction, document troubleshooting steps and outcomes, and escalate proactively when timelines or shared workflows are affected - Analyze experimental data using reproducible, well-documented workflows; summarize key findings with sufficient context for cross-functional stakeholders to understand outcomes and implications; tailor the level of detail to the audience (full ELN records for internal use, concise summaries for team and company presentations) - Characterize differentiated cell populations using immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, and microscopy-based methods to assess lineage identity, purity, and functional markers - Collaborate closely with colleagues in process development, translational science, and manufacturing to advance shared objectives, following shared workflows and protocols reliably - Support general lab operations including reagent preparation, inventory management, and contributing to a well-functioning shared lab environment - Respond promptly and constructively to time-sensitive requests from teammates; communicate constraints clearly when competing priorities limit availability; align on shared workflows before pursuing independent approaches to support a lab culture grounded in accountability, urgency, flexibility and team success Qualifications - Bachelor’s degree in Biology, or a related field, with 5+ years of hands-on experience in hiPSC culture, stepwise directed differentiation, and characterization across multiple cell lineages in biotechnology or biopharmaceutical industry settings - Alternatively, a Master’s degree in Biology or an equivalent field with 3+ years of said experience - Demonstrated hands-on ownership of stepwise directed differentiation protocols across multiple cell lineages, including protocol execution, optimization, and troubleshooting (not solely characterization of differentiated outputs) - Proven success in developing, optimizing, and scaling protocols for multiple hiPSC differentiation pathways with demonstrated ability to support production-scale experiments and time-sensitive studies - Proven track record of sustained contribution in fast-paced startup biotech environments, with adaptability to shifting priorities; we're building a collaborative, high-ownership culture and are looking for someone ready to grow with us - Proficiency in molecular and cell biology techniques, including immunofluorescence, FACS, and other lineage- specific assays - Strong data analysis skills with demonstrated ability to conduct and document analyses in a transparent, reproducible manner—including analytical parameters, thresholds, and processing steps—so that conclusions can be independently reviewed; proficiency with flow cytometry and imaging data software - Excellent documentation skills in Benchling or similar ELN platforms, with a history of generating SOPs and technical documentation - Ability to synthesize experimental findings into clear, audience-appropriate summaries for both technical and cross-functional audiences - Demonstrated collaboration, flexibility, and problem-solving skills in cross-functional teams - Preferred: - Degree concentrations in molecular biology, developmental biology, and/or stem cell biology - Familiarity with bioreactor systems, engineered culture platforms, or other process-scale technologies - Experience with technology transfer and standard operating procedure (SOP) development - Prior experience in cell therapies and regenerative medicine - Background in mentoring or training junior staff in stem cell workflows Cellular Intelligence is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome and encourage applicants from all backgrounds, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or age. We embrace differences and believe that a diverse workforce enhances our creativity, innovation, and overall success.