Scientist, In vitro Assay and Method Development

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: Scientist, In vitro Assay and Method Development

As the In vitro Assay Development Scientist, you will be responsible for method transfer and the training of junior scientists in the design, development, optimization, and execution of cell-based and biochemical assays. You will work in a collaborative, cross-functional environment focusing on the characterization of small molecule compounds and the elucidation of their mechanism of action. This role offers an exciting opportunity to provide critical data to guide medicinal chemistry efforts and contribute directly to the advancement of our innovation pipeline.

Your Responsibilities

• Lead method transfer and training of junior scientists in cell-based and biochemical assay development and optimization
• Collaborate cross-functionally in the build-out of new Discovery Bioassay capabilities at our new Indianapolis HQ
• Design, develop, and validate novel and robust cell-based and enzymatic assays suitable for high-throughput screening (HTS).
• Characterize protein inhibitors by determining IC50 values, potency (Ki), and their mechanism of inhibition (e.g., competitive, non-competitive, reversible, irreversible).
• Implement and execute screening funnels to evaluate compound libraries, generating high-quality, reproducible data to drive structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis.
• Collaborate internally and externally with protein production to ensure the availability of high-quality, active protein preparations for use in assays.
• Proactively research and implement new assay technologies, detection methods (e.g., absorbance, fluorescence, luminescence), and instrumentation to increase assay quality and efficiency.
• Analyze, interpret, and present complex experimental data to colleagues within project teams.
• Troubleshoot assays to ensure high-quality, reproducible results.
• Stay current with scientific literature and proactively evaluate new technologies, instrumentation, and methodologies to improve assay performance and throughput.
• Maintain records of experimental designs, protocols, and results in electronic lab notebooks (ELN).

What You Need to Succeed (minimum qualifications):

• Education: B.S.
• Experience: Minimum 20 years relevant academic or industry experience in method transfer and training of junior scientists
• Tops skills include various assay detection technologies (e.g., absorbance, fluorescence, luminescence) and data analysis software.

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

• Experience with protein expression, purification, and characterization is a plus.
• An understanding of medicinal chemistry and drug discovery principles.
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously.
• Strong collaborative spirit and clear communication skills.

Additional Information:

• Travel: Minimal
• Location: Global Elanco Headquarters - Indianapolis, IN - Hybrid Work Environment

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown underrecognized groups are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Elanco we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive work environment. If you think you might be a good fit for a role but don't necessarily meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply. You may be the right candidate for this role or other roles!

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:

• Multiple relocation packages
• Two weeklong shutdowns (mid-summer and year-end) in the US (in addition to PTO)
• 8-week parental leave
• 9 Employee Resource Groups
• Annual bonus offering
• Flexible work arrangements
• Up to 6% 401K matching

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