Senior Research Associate - In vitro Cell Biology & Analytical Development

Vitra Labs | South San Francisco, CA | Full-Time | $115,000-$140,000 + equity

Position Summary

Vitra Labs is focused on transforming the paradigm for in vitro fertilization, using insights from reproductive biology to induce oocyte maturation in vitro. We are seeking a skilled Senior Research Associate with strong expertise in cell biology, molecular biology, and/or biochemistry to join our preclinical team and play a vital role in driving our discovery efforts. This role combines hands-on experimental execution with rigorous data analysis and contributions to study design and protocols, with scope and responsibility determined by experience and demonstrated expertise. You will own experimental data management, statistical analysis, and data presentation at internal scientific meetings. You will work closely with cross-functional teams and leadership to troubleshoot assay performance and drive data-informed decision-making. This is a hands-on role that bridges bench science and data analysis for someone who thrives in analytical rigor and problem-solving in a fast-paced startup environment.

Core Responsibilities

• Apply appropriate statistical methods to evaluate experimental outcomes, analyze variability across replicates, and recommend experimental design adjustments based on quantitative evidence
• Organize complex datasets from cell culture and assay work, perform quality control, and prepare data summaries for weekly scientific and leadership meetings
• Execute and optimize cell, biochemical, and molecular assays such as qualitative assessments of cellular health and embryo grading, ELISA, and DNA isolation for CNV analysis
• Evaluate the impact of novel growth factors and media compositions on in vitro oocyte maturation, managing experimental parameters and outcomes
• Handle tissues and isolate and cultivate primary cells, including oocytes, from murine and other sources
• Ensure reproducibility through proper bench technique and documentation of methods while managing experimental outputs, imaging data, and associated metadata within secure database platforms

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in life sciences, cell biology, or a related natural science field
• 7+ years of hands-on experience in biotech, pharma, or academic research environments
• Strong proficiency in data analysis utilizing spreadsheet-based tools such as Excel or Prism
• Demonstrated ability to organize complex datasets, perform quality control, and clearly communicate results
• Comfort working in fast-evolving environments; ability to ask the right questions and drive clarity
• Attention to detail and commitment to reproducibility and documentation
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with cross-functional teams

Strongly Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree or advanced experience with embryology, developmental biology, reproductive medicine, or a related field
• 4+ years in assay development, method validation, or process optimization
• Prior experience with embryology, IVF, or reproductive biology
• Experience with statistical software for analysis and visualization (e.g., R, Python, SPSS, JMP, or equivalent)
• Familiarity with high-dimensional or genomic data analysis
• Experience in a startup or early-stage biotech environment
• Hands-on experience with LIMS or secure database platforms for experimental data management

This role is ideal if you:

• Love the analytical side of science and enjoy generating impactful results, statistical problem-solving, and data visualization
• Thrive in operational environments with clear milestones and measurable outcomes
• Want to see your work directly impact business decisions
• Are excited by Vitra's mission in reproductive medicine and the ability to contribute at the bench

Interested candidates should submit the following to [email protected] for consideration:

• Resume
• Short note, no more than 300 words, addressing at least two of the following:

- Most impactful cell biology or analytical development improvement or implementation you've built

- A time when you ran a relevant system or process fully independently, and what you learned

- Highest-impact learning from the past year, or most recent book you read, and what you learned

- Why this role (and why now)