Scientist – Human Oocyte Therapeutics

Company Description

At Ovo Labs, our goal is to give everyone a chance to become a parent. We are a venture-backed biotech startup developing a new class of therapeutics that improve human egg quality to radically increase IVF success rates. Our approach is based on breakthrough discoveries from the lab of Professor Melina Schuh at the Max Planck Institute, a pioneer in tracking human meiosis in real-time using fluorescent microscopy techniques. Our therapeutics have already shown promising results in improving the quality of human eggs when applied in vitro and can be seamlessly integrated into existing IVF workflows. Partnering with world-leading IVF clinics and reproductive medicine experts, we are translating pioneering science into life-changing treatments to usher a new era in IVF.

Role Description

We are seeking a highly motivated Scientist to join our translational research team in Munich. You will be central to conceptualizing, designing, executing, and analyzing experimental work focused on the development and functional validation of our therapeutic candidates in human and mouse oocytes. In addition, you will have the opportunity to take responsibility for various operational tasks of a growing start-up company.

Qualifications

• PhD
  in molecular or cell biology, reproductive biology, developmental biology or related field
• Strong experience with oocyte or embryo handling in any mammalian system
• Prior experience with oocyte/early mouse embyro microinjection is a strong plus
• Hands-on experience in advanced confocal microscopy is a strong plus
• Familiarity with molecular and cell biology techniques (e.g., mRNA work, molecular cloning, tissue culture, quantitative image analysis)
• Proactive, organized, and able to work independently in a fast-paced environment
• Strong communication skills, problem-solving mindset, and resourcefulness
• Genuine interest in cultivating a collaborative, inclusive, and intellectually stimulating lab environment
• Fluent in English; German is a plus but not required

Responsibilities:

• Design, plan and conduct experiments to test the efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics of our therapeutic candidates in mouse and human oocytes
• Handle gametes in high precision settings, including regular egg microinjections
• Execute cutting-edge confocal microscopy assays involving fixed and live gametes
• Perform image analysis, aneuploidy analysis and functional assays on treated oocytes
• Work with mouse oocytes and embryos. Experience in embryo transfers is beneficial but not necessary.
• Maintain relationships with partnering IVF clinics for the collection of human oocyte samples
• Take on selected operational responsibilities (e.g., lab procurement, vendor management, organization of internal databases, etc.) based on the company's demand

Please note:
working with donated human oocytes sometimes follows an unpredictable schedule. This position may include responsibility for essential tasks outside of a standard 9-5 schedule. While we are an early-stage startup building our initial team, this responsibility is equitably distributed across the scientific team, with the appointed candidate expected to participate on a pro-rata basis.

What we offer:

• A unique opportunity to drive a new class of therapeutics from bench to bedside with potential to be one of the biggest improvements in infertility treatment since the discovery of IVF
• Co-authorship on landmark translational publications
• Close collaboration with global scientific and clinical leaders in fertility and embryology
• A dynamic, purpose-driven startup environment
• Opportunity to take ownership and accelerate your professional development in a fast-paced biotech startup
• Competitive compensation and participation in our employee equity program