Scientist / Principal Research Associate, Beta Islet

Role Summary

Sci entist / Principal Research Associate, Beta Islet. Role involves performing and executing routine stem cell islets differentiation, driving innovation in R&D, and supporting translation to clinical manufacturing. Reports to the Senior Scientist of the Beta Islet Team. Location: Cambridge.

Responsibilities

• Lab-based role focused on culture and differentiation of pluripotent stem cells
• Perform and optimize iPSC culture, expansion in both 2D and 3D platforms
• Operate and optimize closed and automated bioreactor systems under aseptic and GMP-aligned conditions
• Collaborate with PD team to enable scale-up and technology transfer
• Experience bridging between R&D and PD is a plus
• Analysis of differentiated cell product – flow cytometry, PCR, fluorescent microscopy
• Participate in design and execution of experiments critical for SC-451 product development
• Document experiments, analyze data, and prepare summaries
• Maintain excellent scientific documentation and contribute to SOP development
• Assuring compliance with all relevant lab safety and biosafety regulations

Qualifications

• PhD, MSc, or BSc in Stem cell biology, biomedical engineering or related field with 1–2 years (PhD), 5+ years (MSc), or 7+ years (BSc) of direct cell therapy industry experience
• Expertise in iPSC culture and directed differentiation, preferably toward pancreatic islet lineages
• Experience handling large-scale directed differentiations
• Proficiency in aseptic techniques and single-use or closed-system workflows
• Proficient with standard flow cytometry and imaging software (e.g. FACS, Diva, FlowJo, ImageJ, Prism)

Skills

• Hands-on experience with closed systems (tube welder, sealer, single-use assemblies)
• Expertise in controlled bioreactor setup, operation, automation, and process control (DO, pH, perfusion, agitation)
• Knowledge or direct experience in directed stem cell differentiation toward pancreatic islet lineage
• Proven ability to optimize differentiation yield and reproducibility across platforms
• GMP transition, automation, and continuous process improvement
• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills and enthusiasm for advancing cell therapies to the clinic

Education

• PhD, MSc, or BSc in relevant field as listed in Qualifications