Lilly

Biologist - In Vivo

US, Indianapolis IN Full time

At Lilly, we unite caring with discovery to make life better for people around the world. We are a global healthcare leader headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our employees around the world work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to our communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. We give our best effort to our work, and we put people first. We’re looking for people who are determined to make life better for people around the world.

Lilly Neuroscience is seeking an experienced in vivo scientist (Bachelors or Masters) to join the Neurodegeneration team to facilitate its mission of discovering novel medicines for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, ALS, and other related neurodegenerative conditions.

The individual will join a laboratory focused on in vivo pharmacology and pharmacokinetics to support our expanding neurodegeneration portfolio. They will leverage their technical expertise to design, execute, and analyze rodent studies assessing antibody pharmacokinetics, brain penetration, and target engagement in transgenic and knock-in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease. A key focus will be the execution of complex dosing paradigms and surgical procedures (e.g., CSF collection, intracerebroventricular injections, and tissue harvesting) to support therapeutic investigations.

Importantly, the scientist will collaborate with colleagues across the Neurodegeneration organization, including discovery biology, biomarker, and translational groups, to integrate in vivo data that inform target validation and therapeutic development. The ideal candidate will be highly motivated, detail-oriented, and adaptable, capable of independently running high-quality in vivo studies and maintaining excellent documentation practices. Lilly has a proud record of innovation and drug development for neurodegenerative diseases driven by a collaborative and diverse team of accomplished scientists.

Key Objectives/Responsibilities:

  • Design, lead, and conduct in vivo studies from initiation through data delivery, including dosing, tissue collection, and sample processing.
  • Perform all core in vivo dosing techniques, including intravenous, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, and intracerebroventricular routes.
  • Master and perform rodent surgical techniques for sample collection (e.g., CSF, brain, plasma) and delivery of therapeutics.
  • Execute study-specific workflows, including antibody administration, pharmacokinetic sampling, and brain dissection.
  • Perform supporting biochemical assays (ELISA, Western blot, etc.) for quantification and biomarker readouts.
  • Maintain accurate, organized records of experimental data, protocols, and sample inventories in electronic lab notebooks.
  • Communicate study progress and data clearly to project leads and cross-functional teams.
  • Ensure compliance with IACUC-approved animal protocols and uphold high standards of animal welfare and laboratory safety.

Basic Requirements:

  • Bachelors or Masters Degree in Biology, Pharmacology, Animal Sciences, Neuroscience, or a related scientific field.
  • 2+ years of post-degree academic or industry experience involving in vivo studies.

Additional Skills/Preferences:

  • Strong hands-on skills and significant experience with rodent handling, dosing, and tissue collection.
  • Proven ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary research team.
  • Excellent attention to detail, time management, and record-keeping skills.
  • Experience with CSF collection, ICV injections, or stereotaxic surgeries.
  • Familiarity with pharmacokinetic or biodistribution studies.
  • Working knowledge of neurodegenerative disease models (e.g., APP/PS1).
  • Experience with biochemical assays (ELISA, Western blotting, protein quantification).
  • Background in drug discovery or preclinical development.
  • Strong documentation, communication, and data presentation skills.
  • Qualified applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Lilly will not provide support for or sponsor work authorization and/or visas for this role.

Lilly is dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities to actively engage in the workforce, ensuring equal opportunities when vying for positions. If you require accommodation to submit a resume for a position at Lilly, please complete the accommodation request form (https://careers.lilly.com/us/en/workplace-accommodation) for further assistance. Please note this is for individuals to request an accommodation as part of the application process and any other correspondence will not receive a response.

Lilly is proud to be an EEO Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender identity, sex, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.


Our employee resource groups (ERGs) offer strong support networks for their members and are open to all employees. Our current groups include: Africa, Middle East, Central Asia Network, Black Employees at Lilly, Chinese Culture Network, Japanese International Leadership Network (JILN), Lilly India Network, Organization of Latinx at Lilly (OLA), PRIDE (LGBTQ+ Allies), Veterans Leadership Network (VLN), Women’s Initiative for Leading at Lilly (WILL), enAble (for people with disabilities). Learn more about all of our groups.

Actual compensation will depend on a candidate’s education, experience, skills, and geographic location.  The anticipated wage for this position is

$65,250 - $169,400

Full-time equivalent employees also will be eligible for a company bonus (depending, in part, on company and individual performance). In addition, Lilly offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees, including eligibility to participate in a company-sponsored 401(k); pension; vacation benefits; eligibility for medical, dental, vision and prescription drug benefits; flexible benefits (e.g., healthcare and/or dependent day care flexible spending accounts); life insurance and death benefits; certain time off and leave of absence benefits; and well-being benefits (e.g., employee assistance program, fitness benefits, and employee clubs and activities).Lilly reserves the right to amend, modify, or terminate its compensation and benefit programs in its sole discretion and Lilly’s compensation practices and guidelines will apply regarding the details of any promotion or transfer of Lilly employees.

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