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Syenex is an open-science biotechnology company founded in 2022, based in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois. The company engineers cell-specific delivery platforms—including enveloped vectors such as extracellular vesicles and viral vectors—that enable cell and gene therapy developers to access best-in-class, plug-and-play tools spanning discovery through GMP manufacturing. Operating on an Open Science model, Syenex makes a continuously improving catalog of cell-engineering and delivery technologies universally accessible to academia and biopharma.
You will join the Discovery Team as a Scientist with expertise in hematopoietic stem cell biology. This role is central to scaling Syenex's synthetic biology and collaborative culture. You will develop and evaluate next-generation delivery vectors for engineering human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), combining primary HSPC biology, cell characterization and engineering, vector development, and quantitative assay development to understand how vector design influences delivery efficiency, cell specificity, stem cell phenotype, and functional or therapeutic potential.
Key responsibilities include:
- Design, build, and evaluate gene delivery vectors for mammalian cells, with primary focus on human HSPCs
- Evaluate vector performance across relevant cell populations (delivery efficiency, specificity, viability, phenotype, functional consequences)
- Culture, manipulate, and characterize primary human CD34+ cells; develop quantitative assays and flow cytometry panels to resolve HSPC subsets and assess retention of stem/progenitor properties
- Design and contribute to in vivo studies evaluating vector performance, HSPC targeting, and functional outcomes
- Develop scalable and higher-throughput screening workflows for vector design evaluation and optimization
- Independently design, execute, troubleshoot, and analyze experiments; recommend subsequent studies
- Develop, optimize, document, and implement experimental protocols and SOPs to improve reproducibility
- Maintain complete and accurate experimental records using electronic laboratory notebooks and databases
- Maintain and expand immortalized and primary human cell cultures
- Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior scientists and research associates as appropriate
- Present scientific results to project teams, R&D organization, and company leadership
You will serve as an independent contributor and scientific problem-solver who owns experimental workstreams end-to-end, from defining the biological question through execution, analysis, interpretation, and recommendation of next steps. You will join a highly collaborative team spanning synthetic biology, molecular biology, immunology, vector engineering, and cell biology.
REQUIREMENTS:
Required:
- PhD in cell biology, molecular biology, bioengineering, biomedical engineering, immunology, hematology, or related discipline
- Substantial hands-on experience culturing and experimentally manipulating primary human CD34+ cells
- Strong understanding of HSPC biology, including phenotypes and differentiation states
- Experience using multi-color flow cytometry panels to phenotype and quantitatively characterize primary cell populations
- Experience with gene delivery, genome engineering, or other approaches for genetic manipulation of mammalian cells
- Strong mammalian cell culture skills, including experience maintaining primary and immortalized cells using aseptic technique
- Strong foundation in molecular and cell biology
- Experience independently designing experiments, troubleshooting technical challenges, analyzing data, and determining appropriate next steps
- Demonstrated attention to experimental rigor, data quality, and reproducibility
- Strong written and verbal scientific communication skills with ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively across multiple projects
Preferred:
- Relevant academic or industry research experience
- Experience producing, using, and characterizing viral vectors, virus-like particles, extracellular vesicles, or synthetic nanoparticles
- Experience with genome engineering in HSPCs, including CRISPR/Cas systems, base editing, or targeted gene integration
- Experience evaluating functional properties of engineered HSPCs using assays such as colony-forming unit assays, differentiation assays, long-term culture assays, or in vivo engraftment studies
- Experience with molecular cloning
- Experience with mammalian cell plasmid transfection
- Experience mentoring and training junior scientists in a laboratory environment
