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The Biological Computing Co. (TBC) is an applied biological computing company that uses real neurons to improve AI models. The company studies how biological neural networks process information, extracts computational principles, and translates those insights into software that makes modern AI models better, faster, and more efficient. TBC's Algorithm Discovery Platform brings together biology, computational neuroscience, AI research, and software engineering to develop new algorithms, architectures, and neurally-optimized software for generative video and next-generation AI infrastructure.
You will join TBC's San Francisco lab as a Senior Biology Research Scientist, leading hands-on biological research. This is a senior individual-contributor role for an experimental scientist who can move from scientific question to experimental design, execution, analysis, and interpretation. You will own major biological workstreams, identify risks before they become blockers, and help establish standards to make TBC's biological platform more reproducible and scalable.
Key responsibilities include:
• Design and lead biological research: Own major experimental workstreams involving cultured neuronal networks. Translate company and research priorities into clear biological hypotheses, experimental plans, and measurable outcomes. Design appropriate controls, replicates, and validation studies. Interpret results and determine next experiments. Present findings to biology, neuroscience, AI, and company leadership.
• Develop neuronal culture systems: Culture, maintain, and optimize mammalian neuronal networks. Improve culture viability, maturity, consistency, and functional performance. Develop workflows involving primary neural tissue, stem-cell-derived neurons, or organoid systems. Establish quality-control criteria for experimental readiness.
• Lead electrophysiology and MEA experiments: Design and execute experiments using high-density multi-electrode arrays for neural stimulation and recording. Develop stimulation paradigms that test how living neural networks encode, transform, and retain information. Ensure high-quality data collection, annotation, and quality control. Work with computational neuroscientists on analysis.
• Connect biology to AI research: Partner with AI and computational neuroscience teams to identify model problems that can be studied experimentally. Help translate AI research questions into biologically meaningful experiments. Determine which biological measurements are sufficiently reproducible to inform new algorithms or architectures.
• Improve reproducibility and experimental throughput: Develop and maintain SOPs, experimental protocols, and quality standards. Build systems that make biological results easier to reproduce. Identify bottlenecks and introduce new assays and workflows. Preserve negative results and limitations as part of the research record.
• Support laboratory quality and compliance: Maintain rigorous experimental documentation, sample traceability, and data-management practices. Follow biological safety and GLP-aligned documentation standards. Support animal research activities where applicable. Ensure work complies with approved IACUC protocols.
• Mentor and strengthen the team: Provide technical guidance to junior scientists and laboratory staff. Review experimental plans, protocols, and results. Help teammates troubleshoot problems. Raise standards of experimental rigor and scientific decision-making. Contribute to hiring and onboarding.
Requirements:
• Ph.D. in Neuroscience, Cell Biology, Bioengineering, Biomedical Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent scientific experience
• Five or more years of relevant experimental research experience, including significant independent ownership of research projects
• Deep hands-on experience with mammalian cell culture, primary neuronal culture, or neural tissue systems
• Experience designing controlled, reproducible biological experiments
• Strong understanding of neuronal development, viability, connectivity, and functional activity
• Experience with electrophysiology, preferably multi-electrode arrays, patch clamp, or related neural recording systems
• Ability to distinguish biological signal from technical artifact and experimental noise
• Strong scientific judgment and comfort making decisions under uncertainty
• Experience analyzing, interpreting, and communicating complex experimental results
• Strong written documentation and data-management practices
• Ability to work across biology, neuroscience, AI, and engineering
• Comfort operating in a fast-moving research environment where priorities evolve as evidence emerges
• Ability to work full-time on site in TBC's San Francisco wet lab
Preferred qualifications include experience with high-density MEA systems and closed-loop stimulation, induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons, neural organoids, cortical tissue isolation, rodent handling, surgical procedures, IACUC protocols, immunohistochemistry, immunoassays, viral transduction, optogenetics, chemogenetics, neural plasticity and learning, Python/MATLAB/R/GraphPad Prism, developing and validating new laboratory assays, biotechnology or neurotechnology environments, mentoring scientists, and publications or patents demonstrating scientific ownership.
