Research Associate, Research Scientist, Clinical Research

Research Associate – Cell Biology & Tissue Engineering

Location:
Long Island City, NY (On-site)

Polyphron is building the world's first autonomous tissue foundry: a platform designed to engineer functional human tissues at scale for regenerative medicine, disease modeling, and biological discovery. Our mission is to make human tissue reproducible, scalable, and manufacturable. By combining stem cell biology, tissue engineering, automation, and advanced cell characterization technologies, we develop human tissue systems that can serve both as therapeutic products and as powerful platforms for understanding biology.

Our team engineers tissues derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells, including neuronal, cardiac, and hepatic tissues, using developmental biology, biomaterials, microphysiological systems, and translational research approaches. We are seeking an energetic, adaptable, and highly motivated research associate to help advance Polyphron's stem cell, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine programs. This position will report directly to the Head of Cell Biology to advance Polyphron's regenerative medicine platform.

• Maintain, expand, cryopreserve, and characterize mammalian cell lines and human iPSCs.
• Support differentiation of iPSCs into specialized cell types including cardiomyocytes and hepatocytes populations, including routine monitoring and troubleshooting of differentiation workflows.
• Perform molecular and cellular assays including RT-qPCR, ELISA, immunocytochemistry, flow cytometry, and related characterization techniques.
• Perform microscopy-based imaging, live-cell imaging, and quantitative image analysis.
• Assist with tissue engineering studies involving extracellular matrices, hydrogels, and biomaterials.
• Support studies utilizing organ-on-chip and microfluidic culture platforms.
• Prepare media, reagents, buffers, and laboratory materials.
• Maintain accurate experimental records and electronic laboratory notebooks (ELNs).
• Support inventory management, equipment maintenance, and laboratory organization.
• Follow SOPs and maintain high standards of laboratory safety and scientific rigor.
• Participate in occasional weekend and holiday work as required to support cell culture, differentiation, animal studies, and other time-sensitive experimental activities.
• Collaborate closely with scientists and company leadership to achieve program milestones.

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Bioengineering, Biotechnology, Biomedical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 1–5 years of hands-on wet-laboratory experience in academia, and/or industry settings.
• Strong experience with mammalian cell culture.
• Experience maintaining, characterizing, and troubleshooting human iPSC cultures. Experience with molecular biology techniques including RT-qPCR, ELISA, immunocytochemistry, flow cytometry, and related characterization techniques.
• Experience with microscopy and image-based analysis.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and documentation skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a fast-paced startup environment.

• Experience in biotechnology, regenerative medicine, cell therapy, tissue engineering, or related fields.
• Experience with human iPSC culture and differentiation.
• Experience with cardiomyocyte differentiation
• Experience with tissue engineering, biomaterials, extracellular matrices, or hydrogel-based culture systems.
• Experience working in a startup biotechnology environment.

• Polyphron offers a competitive compensation package including salary, equity participation, healthcare benefits (medical, dental and vision), 401(k), and paid time off. Polyphron is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity in the workplace.