Scientist / Senior Scientist

Role overview

Polyphron is creating what it describes as the world’s first autonomous tissue foundry, a platform built to produce functional human tissues at scale for regenerative medicine, disease modeling, and biological discovery. The goal is to make human tissue reproducible, scalable, and manufacturable by bringing together stem cell biology, tissue engineering, automation, and advanced cell characterization.

The company develops human tissue systems from human induced pluripotent stem cells, including neuronal, cardiac, and hepatic tissues, using tools from developmental biology, biomaterials, microphysiological systems, and translational research. It is looking for a motivated scientist to contribute to its stem cell, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine programs. This position reports to the Head of Cell Biology and works closely with company leadership.

Responsibilities

• Plan, carry out, and evaluate experiments in stem cell biology, regenerative medicine, and tissue engineering.
• Own the design and refinement of human iPSC differentiation workflows.
• Advance cardiomyocyte differentiation and characterization efforts.
• Assist in building hepatic tissue platforms.
• Set up and run studies using biomaterials, extracellular matrices, and engineered tissue systems.
• Lead work involving organ-on-chip and microfluidic culture platforms.
• Create and apply cellular and molecular assays such as RT-qPCR, ELISA, immunostaining, flow cytometry, and advanced microscopy.
• Build imaging workflows, including live-cell imaging, time-lapse microscopy, and quantitative image analysis, to track cell behavior, differentiation, tissue structure, and functional readouts.
• Contribute to in vivo work, including transplantation experiments and myocardial infarction models, rodent handling, colony management, tissue collection, and data interpretation.
• Keep precise experimental documentation and maintain electronic laboratory notebooks.
• Assist with inventory control, equipment upkeep, and general lab organization.
• Review, analyze, and present data to internal teams and external partners.
• Prepare technical reports, SOPs, study summaries, and scientific presentations.
• Be available for occasional weekend and holiday coverage when time-sensitive culture, differentiation, or animal work requires it.
• Work with CROs, collaborators, external partners, and company leadership to hit program milestones.

Qualifications

• MS or PhD in Cell Biology, Stem Cell Biology, Tissue Engineering, Bioengineering, Regenerative Medicine, Biotechnology, Biomedical Engineering, or a closely related field.
• For Scientist-level roles, around 5–8 years of relevant research experience in academia and/or industry is expected.
• For Senior Scientist-level roles, 8+ years of relevant research and/or industry experience with evidence of scientific leadership is expected.
• Final title and seniority will depend on the candidate’s background and experience.
• Strong hands-on experience with iPSC culture, including maintenance, characterization, and troubleshooting.
• Background in cardiomyocyte differentiation and characterization.
• Ability to design and execute complex experimental programs.
• Practical experience with RT-qPCR, ELISA, flow cytometry, immunostaining, and microscopy.
• Exposure to high-content imaging, live-cell imaging, time-lapse microscopy, and image analysis tools.
• Strong analytical thinking, organization, and problem-solving ability.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills.
• Comfort working both independently and collaboratively in a fast-moving startup setting.

Preferred experience

Additional strengths include work in biotechnology, regenerative medicine, cell therapy, tissue engineering, cardiomyocyte tissue generation, extracellular matrices, hydrogel-based culture systems, organ-on-chip or microfluidic platforms, and rodent handling or preclinical studies.

Compensation and benefits

Polyphron provides a competitive package that includes salary, equity participation, healthcare coverage for medical, dental, and vision, a 401(k) plan, and paid time off.

Equal opportunity

Polyphron states that it is an equal opportunity employer and values workplace diversity.

Work location

This is an on-site position based in Long Island City, New York.