Associate Biologist – Automated Protein Expression

Eli Lilly and Company; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 71,000 - 162,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company bonus

401(k) and benefits

Vacation benefits

Job summary

The Biologics Automation and High-throughput Technologies Group at the Lilly Biotechnology Center in San Diego is seeking a versatile Associate Scientist to accelerate early drug discovery through innovative protein expression and purification technologies. Join our dynamic team where you'll leverage state-of-the-art automated systems to drive breakthroughs from concept to reality.

In this role, you will be at the forefront of high-throughput biologics production, directly impacting the speed

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in biological sciences (biology, molecular biology, biochemistry or similar).
• Experience in tissue culture with aseptic technique required.
• Hands-on experience with automation equipment such as BioMek liquid handlers and reagent dispensers is advantageous.
• Experience with integrated liquid handling platforms and automation scheduling software is beneficial.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Strong data analysis and meticulous attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Mammalian cell line maintenance, including culture expansion, harvesting, and cryopreservation.
• Master complex liquid handling platforms to execute high-throughput transfections and plate-based purifications (protein A/G/HIS capture).
• Ensure scientific rigor through reagent preparation and validation, meticulous process documentation, QC execution, and expression performance monitoring.
• Serve as a technical liaison between automation teams, requestors, and collaborators to optimize biological outcomes and resolve process challenges.
• Drive improvement by identifying workflow bottlenecks, implementing innovative solutions, and expanding platform capabilities through independent initiative and collaborative partnerships.
• Partner with antibody discovery, protein engineering, and purification teams across sites to share insights, accelerate learning, and anticipate evolving business needs.

Skills

Tissue culture

Aseptic technique

Automation hardware experience

Protein expression

Protein purification

BioMek automation

Microsoft Excel

Programming with AI tools

Data analysis

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree in biological sciences

Tools

BioMek liquid handlers

Reagent dispensers

Integrated liquid handling platforms

Laboratory automation software

Job description

At Lilly, the work is demanding because patients are waiting. We unite caring with discovery to help make life better for people around the world, knowing that every decision, every detail, and every day matters. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, our over 50,000 employees around the globe take on complex challenges to discover and deliver life‑changing medicines, strengthen how health is understood and managed, and support the communities we serve. This is hard, urgent, selfless work—but it’s work worth doing. If you’re driven by purpose and ready to bring your best to work that truly matters for patients, we invite you to join us.

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.

Position

The Biologics Automation and High‑throughput Technologies Group at the Lilly Biotechnology Center in San Diego is seeking a versatile Associate Scientist to accelerate early drug discovery through innovative protein expression and purification technologies. Join our dynamic team where you'll leverage state‑of‑the‑art automated systems to drive breakthrough therapeutics from concept to reality.

In this role, you will be at the forefront of high‑throughput biologics production, directly impacting the speed and success of our drug discovery pipeline.

Key Objectives/Deliverables

• Mammalian cell line maintenance, including culture expansion, harvesting, and cryopreservation
• Master complex integrated liquid handling platforms to execute high‑throughput transfections and plate‑based purifications (protein A/G/HIS capture)
• Ensure scientific rigor through reagent preparation and validation, meticulous process documentation, QC execution, and expression performance monitoring
• Serve as a technical liaison between automation teams, requestors, and collaborators to optimize biological outcomes and resolve process challenges
• Drive improvement by identifying workflow bottlenecks, implementing innovative solutions, and expanding platform capabilities through independent initiative and collaborative partnerships
• Partner with antibody discovery, protein engineering, and purification teams across sites to share insights, accelerate learning, and anticipate evolving business needs

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in biological sciences (biology, molecular biology, biochemistry or similar disciplines)
• Experience in tissue culture (aseptic technique) required

Additional Skills/Preferences

Technical Excellence

• Understanding of protein expression and purification techniques preferred
• Hands‑on experience with automation equipment (e.g., BioMek liquid handlers, reagent dispensers) advantageous
• Experience with integrated liquid handling platforms and/or laboratory automation scheduling software not required but beneficial
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
• Programming skills, experience leveraging AI tools to enhance productivity and scientific workflows, and robust statistical background highly valued
• Strong data analysis capabilities with meticulous attention to detail

Professional Attributes

• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills with ability to translate complex technical concepts
• Proven ability to excel both independently and within collaborative team environments
• Demonstrated learning agility and adaptability in fast‑paced settings
• Strong organizational and work planning capabilities

Why This Role Matters

This position offers a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of biology and automation, where your contributions will directly accelerate the discovery of life‑changing medicines. You'll have access to industry‑leading technology, collaborate with world‑class scientists, and develop expertise that will define the future of automated drug discovery.

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 (AMECA), Black Employees at Lilly (BE@Lilly), Chinese Culture Network (CCN), EnAble, Evolve, Lilly Indian Network (LIN), Organization of Latinx at Lilly (OLA), Pride (LGBTQ+ Allies), Veterans Leadership Network (VLN) and Women’s Initiative for Leading at Lilly (WILL).

Actual compensation will depend on a candidate’s education, experience, skills, and geographic location. The anticipated wage for this position is
$71,250 - $161,700

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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