Elanco

Associate R&D

Indianapolis, IN Full time

At Elanco (NYSE: ELAN) – it all starts with animals!

As a global leader in animal health, we are dedicated to innovation and delivering products and services to prevent and treat disease in farm animals and pets. At Elanco, we are driven by our vision of Food and Companionship Enriching Life and our purpose – all to Go Beyond for Animals, Customers, Society and Our People.

At Elanco, we pride ourselves on fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. We believe that diversity is the driving force behind innovation, creativity, and overall business success. Here, you’ll be part of a company that values and champions new ways of thinking, work with dynamic individuals, and acquire new skills and experiences that will propel your career to new heights.

Making animals’ lives better makes life better – join our team today!

Your Role: Associate Scientist - Upstream Bioprocess Development

As an Associate Scientist in Upstream Bioprocess Development, you will be a key contributor to Elanco's Biotherapeutic portfolio. In this lab-based role, you will support platform and project development by designing and executing critical experiments in our AMBR and 5L bioreactor systems, advancing the science of animal health.

Your Responsibilities:

  • Design and execute upstream bioprocess development experiments using shake flasks and bioreactor systems (AMBR, 5L).
  • Apply scientific and engineering principles to develop robust and consistent mammalian cell culture processes for Elanco's Biotherapeutic portfolio.
  • Collaborate with Downstream, Formulations, and Analytical scientists to advance portfolio projects and drive new platform innovations.
  • Organize, interpret, and present experimental data to peers and cross-functional teams to support project advancement.
  • Ensure high-quality data and documentation practices by authoring technical reports and contributing to the creation of SOPs.

What You Need to Succeed (minimum qualifications):

  • Education: Bachelor's Degree in Biology, Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Chemical Engineering, or a related scientific discipline.
  • Experience: Hands-on experience with aseptic technique and working with prokaryotic or eukaryotic cell lines.
  • Top 2 skills: Proven analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities; Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize and deliver results.

What will give you a competitive edge (preferred qualifications):

  • Previous experience in a process development role.
  • Hands-on experience with automated bioreactor systems (e.g., AMBR) or bench-top bioreactors.
  • Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a cross-functional, team-oriented environment.
  • Strong scientific/technical writing and presentation skills.
  • Self-motivated and able to work with minimal supervision.

Additional Information:

  • Travel: 0-10%
  • Location: Indianapolis, IN - On-Site Work Environment
  • This position requires the ability to lift up to 25 pounds and stand for long periods.
  • Qualified candidates must be legally authorized to be employed in the United States. Elanco does not anticipate providing sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H-1B or TN status) for this employment position.

Elanco Benefits and Perks: 

We offer a comprehensive benefits package focusing on financial, physical, and mental well-being while encouraging our employees to pursue our purpose! Some highlights include: 

  • 8-week parental leave
  • 9 Employee Resource Groups 
  • Annual bonus offering 
  • Up to 6% 401K matching

#LI-MNLC

Elanco is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status

Elanco may use automated tools, including AI, to support parts of our recruitment process, such as reviewing applications against job‑related criteria and/or transferrable skills. These tools help ensure a consistent, structured evaluation, but they do not make hiring decisions. All decisions involve a human reviewer. For more information on how we handle personal data, please see our Elanco Workforce Privacy Notice.

Elanco is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status

Elanco may use automated tools, including AI, to support parts of our recruitment process, such as reviewing applications against job‑related criteria and/or transferrable skills. These tools help ensure a consistent, structured evaluation, but they do not make hiring decisions. All decisions involve a human reviewer. For more information on how we handle personal data, please see our Elanco Workforce Privacy Notice.