Retro Biosciences was founded with a bold mission: to extend healthy human lifespan by 10 years. Advances in cellular reprogramming, autophagy, and aging research, combined with AI-driven scientific breakthroughs, created the perfect environment for Retro to launch in 2020. To achieve its vision, Retro fosters a fast-paced, tech-driven research environment that attracts ambitious scientists dedicated to overcoming the biological challenges of aging.

Bridging Industry and Academia in Talent Development

As a cutting-edge biotech startup, Retro faced a key challenge: how to attract and retain top scientific talent who were torn between pursuing traditional PhDs or entering industry research with a credential handicap. Without a structured educational pathway, promising candidates often opted for academia, delaying or foregoing the opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking industry-led research. Retro needed a way to nurture deep scientific training while integrating candidates into their impact-focused scientific R&D.

A Structured, Industry-Immersed PhD Program

Recognizing the need to cultivate future leaders in longevity research, Retro partnered with Woolf to establish the Retro PhD Program with Woolf in August 2023. Retro sponsored and launched the doctoral program at Woolf, offering exceptional candidates the chance to earn a PhD while making meaningful contributions to cutting-edge research. Combining rigorous scientific training with the agility of a startup, the program immerses students in innovative lab methodologies, high-throughput assays, and bioinformatics analysis. Under the mentorship of experienced scientists, online PhD candidates learn to independently design, execute, and analyze experiments while developing essential skills in scientific writing, critical assessment of literature, and collaborative research discussions. Furthermore, because of the open structure inside Retro, students also get to participate in and influence the strategic direction of their groups.

Retention, Growth, and Research Advancement

• The Retro PhD program has welcomed four students across various research areas, who are advancing their education and careers while driving forward Retro’s mission.
• Retro has attracted top-tier candidates who may have otherwise pursued traditional PhDs, ensuring their expertise remains within the company.
• PhD students are actively involved in cutting-edge research mentorship and accelerating discoveries in aging biology.
• Students engage with industry conferences and publishing.
• Industry scientists mentoring PhD candidates find the experience rewarding, fostering a collaborative culture and intellectually stimulating environment.