Abstract: A vitrification assembly for cryopreserving a biological sample, including a frame, a pair of vertically oriented, horizontally opposed cold plates, a cold plate actuator coupled to the pair of cold plates configured to control a distance between the pair of cold plates, a lift assembly configured to retain and raise and lower the biological sample between the pair of cold plates, a liquid nitrogen reservoir disposed below and around a bottom portion each of the pair of cold plates for cooling the pair of cold plates and the biological sample, and a control system configured to operate the cold plate actuator and monitor a temperature of the pair of cold plates and the biological sample. In some embodiments, the vitrification assembly further includes a heater thermally coupled to the pair of cold plates and operable for warming the pair of cold plates and the biological sample during a rewarming process.