Laboratory Director – Cell Biology

The Mission

You will set up and run Rivercell's Paris laboratory, delivering the experimental datasets used to train and evaluate our AI virtual cell models. Working closely with our CSO, ML scientists, bioinformatics data engineer, and platform development team, you will translate agreed study plans into reliable cell-based experiments and single-cell genomics workflows. You will remain hands‑on at the bench while coordinating a small team of biologists, with responsibility for data quality, throughput, and delivery timelines.

The Challenge

Generate the experimental data that will teach AI models how cells respond to genetic and chemical perturbations. Rivercell's cell-on-a-chip platform creates an opportunity to connect live-cell behaviour with molecular measurements at single-cell resolution. Making these measurements useful for model training requires repeatable experiments, consistent quality, and complete sample traceability across runs. Your challenge is to establish a laboratory that delivers these datasets week after week, from early studies with external partners to routine production on our own instruments.

During your first few months, you will establish the laboratory and recruit and train a team of three to four biologists. You will then coordinate daily experimental work and run experiments yourself when needed.

• Build the lab from an empty room: specify and purchase equipment for cell culture, sample preparation, and library preparation, write the safety procedures, and obtain the required authorizations (class 2 GMO contained use, human biological samples)

• Lead the acquisition of single-cell multimodal instruments: vendor discussions, site preparation, installation, qualification, and acceptance criteria

• Manage studies with external partners until the in‑house instruments are in production: agree protocols, delivery dates, and acceptance criteria; prepare and ship cell populations; and review the completeness and quality of returned data

• Establish and qualify repeatable production workflows for CRISPRi cell lines, pooled guide libraries, lentivirus production, transduction and selection, compound treatment, live‑cell staining, on‑instrument imaging, and library preparation. Select and manage the external sequencing provider

• Translate study plans agreed with the CSO and ML team into executable protocols, resource plans, and delivery schedules, with clear controls and acceptance criteria

• Qualify workflows for primary, iPSC‑derived, and patient‑derived cells alongside standard cell lines, including sourcing, material‑transfer agreements, and consent documentation

• Work with the hardware team to test Rivercell's cell‑on‑a‑chip platform with real cells, adapt and validate assays, and transfer workflows onto it when performance meets agreed production criteria

• Plan daily and weekly workloads, coordinate staffing and instrument capacity, and monitor throughput, turnaround time, run success, and repeat work

• Maintain SOPs, qualify protocol changes, investigate failed runs, and implement corrective actions to improve consistency

• Review run quality and sample traceability with the bioinformatics data engineer, and release complete datasets with the required metadata and documented QC

• Maintain a thorough understanding of the competition and report back on new developments to the leadership team

• Manage the lab: operating budget, suppliers, ordering and inventory, instrument maintenance, sample and metadata tracking, and the recruitment, training, and management of the biology team

• Opportunity to work on a cutting‑edge project in techbio

• Opportunity to join an ambitious team and impactful startup among the first employees

• Competitive salary and equity package

• Exciting opportunities for personal and professional growth within the team

You have an MSc or PhD in cell biology, molecular biology, functional genomics, or a related field, or equivalent industry experience

You have at least 7 years of industry experience delivering cell‑based studies or genomics workflows in a CRO, pharma company, or established biotech, with a record of meeting recurring delivery deadlines

You have hands‑on experience with mammalian cell culture, lentiviral transduction, pooled CRISPR screening (CRISPRi, CRISPRa, or knockout), and single‑cell RNA‑seq sample and library preparation

You have set up a lab or a new lab function (equipment, instrument installation, SOPs, safety) and know the regulatory framework of a class 2 laboratory.

You have led scientists or technicians in routine laboratory operations, planned workloads and staffing, and managed external partners such as CROs, core facil