Advanced in Vitro Models - Advisor/Sr. Advisor

Eli Lilly and Company; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 126,000 - 205,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

Pension

Health benefits

Paid time off

Job summary

Eli Lilly and Company is seeking an Advisor/Senior Advisor in Investigative Toxicology in Indianapolis, IN. The role focuses on discovering and applying advanced in vitro models to address mechanism-based safety questions across multiple organ systems.

You will develop/classify systems like iPS-derived models, organoids, and MPS platforms, contributing to translational data and early safety insights within a collaborative, matrixed team environment.

Qualifications

• PhD in Toxicology, Pharmacology, Cell Biology, Biomedical Engineering, or related field.
• 2+ years of postdoc or industry experience with hands-on work in advanced in vitro models.
• Senior Advisor: PhD with 5+ years of postdoctoral or industry research, leadership demonstrated.

Responsibilities

• Develop advanced human-relevant in vitro systems (iPS-derived cells, organoids, spheroids, co-culture platforms, organ-on-a-chip) for safety liabilities.
• Qualify assays and endpoints to improve sensitivity, throughput, and translational relevance.
• Troubleshoot, optimize, and innovate experimental approaches with scientific rigor.
• Evaluate NAMs and drive adoption of platforms strengthening human relevance in early safety screening.
• Investigate mechanisms of toxicity using functional assays, imaging, and omics.
• Coordinate with CROs and academics, ensuring data quality and rigor.

Skills

In vitro models

Organoids

3D co-culture

NAMs adoption

Scientific leadership

Education

PhD in Toxicology or related

Postdoctoral experience

Tools

High-content imaging

MEA electrophysiology

Transcriptomics

Metabolomics

Job description

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.

Advisor/Senior Advisor, Investigative Toxicology

Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

Position Overview

We are seeking a talented scientist to join the growing Investigative toxicology group. This individual contributor role is primarily focused on the discovery pipeline from hit identification through candidate selection, with primary responsibility for developing and applying advanced in vitro models (co-culture systems, iPS-derived cells, spheroids, organoids, organ-on-a-chip) or new approach methodologies (NAMs) to address mechanistic/investigative toxicology questions across liver, cardiac, gastrointestinal, kidney, or CNS. The ideal candidate brings direct, hands-on experience with advanced vitro systems gained through PhD training and postdoctoral or industry experience and the scientific depth to develop/qualify in vitro models that allow translational data generation.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, qualify, and apply advanced human-relevant in vitro systems such as iPS-derived cell models, organoids, spheroids, co-culture platforms, and MPS/organ-on-a-chip systems to assess safety liabilities with a focus on either liver, cardiac, GI, kidney, or CNS.
• Qualify novel assays and endpoints that improve the sensitivity/specificity, throughput, and translational relevance of early safety screening.
• Independently troubleshoot, optimize, and innovate experimental approaches; uphold a high standard of scientific rigor and reproducibility.
• Evaluate emerging NAMs and drive the adoption of platforms that meaningfully strengthen the human relevance of Lilly's early safety screening and mechanistic investigations.
• Investigate mechanisms of compound-induced toxicity in target organs using functional assays, high-content imaging, and transcriptomic or metabolomic profiling as appropriate.
• Serve as a scientific point of contact for CRO and academic partners, overseeing study design, data quality, and delivery; ensure external work meets Lilly's standards for rigor and reproducibility.
• Participate in pre-competitive consortia and industry working groups advancing NAMs and early safety science.

Minimum requirements

• PhD in Toxicology, Pharmacology, Cell Biology, Biomedical Engineering, or a scientific discipline. with 2+ years of postdoctoral or industry research experience with hands-on work in advanced in vitro model systems.
• Senior Advisor: PhD with 5+ years of postdoctoral or industry research experience, evidence of scientific contribution and leadership.
• Experience in vitro model systems, including experience either (1) developing and optimizing complex platforms such as iPS-derived cell models, organoids, 3D co-culture systems, or MPS/organ-on-a-chip systems, or (2) applying these advanced models to investigate mechanisms of toxicity or address organ-specific safety questions across liver, cardiac, GI, kidney, or CNS biology.

Additional Skills/Preferences

• Proven ability to independently design and execute rigorous experiments, manage multiple projects simultaneously, and prioritize effectively.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, demonstrated by peer-reviewed publications and/or conference presentations.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a matrixed team environment.
• Experience with complementary platforms such as high-content imaging, MEA electrophysiology, or omics-based approaches (transcriptomics, metabolomics) applied in a safety or mechanistic context as applicable.
• Experience with immune system is a plus.
• Experience mentoring junior scientists, graduate students, or postdoctoral researchers.

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.

The anticipated wage for this position is

$126,000 - $204,600

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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