Abstract: An automated method for culturing stem cells using a robotic liquid handling system including a translatable bed and a movable multichannel pipette. The method includes the steps of: locating a first multi-well cell culture plate and a multi-trough plate on the bed; placing a suspension of stem cells in at least one trough of the multi-trough plate; using the multi-channel pipette, transferring a portion of the suspension of stem cells to each well of the first multi-well cell culture plate such that at least two of the wells of the first multi-well cell culture plate have different densities of stem cells; selecting a well of the first multi-well cell culture plate having a desired stem cell density; locating a second multi-well cell culture plate; and using the multi-channel pipette, transfer ring the cells of the selected well to a plurality of wells of the second multi-well cell culture plate.