Job Title: Stem Cell Biologist – Kidney Biology

About Trestle Biotherapeutics:

Trestle Biotherapeutics is a seed stage, preclinical regenerative medicine company located in San Diego, CA. Trestle is pioneering the future of organ transplantation through our mission to transform the lives of patients suffering from kidney disease. Chronic kidney disease affects 45 million Americans, with around 850,000 patients suffering from kidney failure requiring chronic dialysis. Through the development of bioengineered kidneys, Trestle is building a solution to address the critical shortage of donor organs and reduce the burden of dialysis for those patients and their families. Our approach combines innovations in stem cell biology and advanced 3D biofabrication techniques to create functional, transplantable kidneys that will restore function in patients with kidney failure.

Position Summary:

We are seeking an innovative Stem Cell Scientist with deep expertise in stem cell and developmental biology, renal physiology, kidney organoid biology, and 3D organotypic tissue models to lead critical R&D efforts in the design, development, and optimization of functional human kidney tissues. This role focuses on translating pluripotent stem cell-derived kidney organoids and tissues into scalable, vascularized, and functional tissue constructs suitable for regenerative therapy applications. You will work closely with our founding team and directly with our Chief Scientific Officer to translate early-stage concepts into scalable preclinical prototypes.

The ideal candidate combines strong stem cell and developmental biology knowledge with hands-on experience in tissue engineering, bioprinting, and translational regenerative medicine. Additional fluency in utilizing AI/ML-based tools to enhance workflow efficiency and/or tissue engineering strategies are a plus.

Key Responsibilities:

· Lead the development and refinement of differentiation protocols for generating kidney cell types from human pluripotent stem cells

· Utilize 3D biofabrication approaches to spatially organize stem cell-derived kidney progenitor and supporting cell types to facilitate the development of organ architecture and function

· Optimize nephron and collecting duct patterning, segmentation, and maturation

· Engineer strategies to enhance tissue-level organization and functional characteristics (glomerular filtration, tubular transport, urine production)

· Integrate tissue vascularization solutions through cellular and/or bioprinting-based approaches

· Employ microfluidic and/or perfusion bioreactor systems for in vitro tissue maturation

· Iterate on tissue design to enable long-term scale and manufacturing solutions

· Develop in vitro functional assays to assess and optimize for critical quality attributes of prototype tissues

· Collaborate on design and execution of in vivo functional assessment in normal and diseased models of severe renal insufficiency

· Analyze data and present findings to internal team members and external partners

· Maintain detailed documentation to support lab SOPs, IP generation, grant writing and regulatory planning

Required Qualifications

· Ph.D. in Stem Cell Biology, Developmental Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Regenerative Medicine, or related field

· Demonstrated expertise in human pluripotent stem cell culture and kidney organoid biology, including knowledge of methods for directed differentiation toward differential kidney lineages

· Deep understanding of renal cell types, development and physiology

· Strong proficiency in bioinformatics, molecular, cellular and imaging techniques (e.g., single cell genomics, spatial transcriptomics, confocal microscopy, flow cytometry, assay development for 3D tissue systems)

· Experience with vascularization strategies and multicellular co-culture systems

· Entrepreneurial mindset with strong sense of drive, partnership, problem-solving ability and confidence with working in a rapid-paced environment

· Must be open to off-hour or light weekend work to maintain cultures

Preferred Qualifications and Skills

· Experience with 3D bioprinting and/or advanced biofabrication platforms

· Background in biomaterials, hydrogels, extracellular matrices, and their cellular interactions

· In vitro assessment of glomerular filtration, renal tubular function, metabolic activity, or renal toxicity

· Familiarity with preclinical transplantation models

· Experience with microfluidic systems or perfusion bioreactors

· Experience incorporating AI/ML-based programs (Claude, Codex, etc) to optimize workflows, data analysis, and decision making

· Prior startup up or fast-paced R&D experience

How to Apply:

If you are a driven and creative thinker who wants to solve hard problems and contribute to revolutionizing the treatment of kidney disease through next generation biofabrication technologies, please submit your resume and cover letter to careers@trestlebio.com for consideration.

We offer a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits package, and the opportunity to work on cutting-edge research in the fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Find us at trestlebio.com