Associate Scientist - Bioanalysis

Lilly; Watertown (MA); On-site; USD 72,000 - 216,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) plan

Pension

Vacation benefits

Medical, dental, vision benefits

Flexible benefits

Job summary

Lilly is seeking an Associate Scientist to join the Discovery Bioanalysis team in Watertown, MA. You will develop, qualify, and run ligand binding and PCR‑based assays supporting PK/PD and biodistribution for novel modalities, including genetic medicines.

You will work with project teams to generate high‑quality data and maintain documentation, ensuring data integrity and robust results for discovery decisions.

Qualifications

• BS or MS with relevant biology/biochemistry experience.
• Experience in bioanalytical ligand binding or PCR assays is required.
• Familiarity with biological matrices and assay validation concepts.

Responsibilities

• Develop, optimize, and qualify ligand binding assays (ELISA, MSD, Luminex).
• Develop and run PCR‑based assays (qPCR, RT‑qPCR, ddPCR) for nucleic acids.
• Support PK/PD and biodistribution studies with data generation and interpretation.
• Maintain accurate electronic lab notebooks and ensure data integrity.
• Troubleshoot assay performance and propose improvements for throughput.
• Collaborate across biology, DMPK, formulation, and translational teams.

Skills

Ligand binding assays

PCR‑based assays

Biology fundamentals

Data analysis

Lab documentation

Troubleshooting

Team collaboration

Automation knowledge

Education

BS/MS in biology

Tools

ELISA

MSD

Luminex

qPCR

RT‑qPCR

ddPCR

SoftMax Pro

Watson LIMS

GraphPad Prism

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.

We are seeking an Associate Scientist to join our Discovery Bioanalysis team. You will develop, qualify, and run ligand binding and PCR‑based assays that support pharmacokinetic, biodistribution, and pharmacodynamic assessments of novel therapeutic modalities, including genetic medicines and LNP‑formulated drugs. You will work with project teams to generate high‑quality data that informs discovery decisions.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, optimize, and qualify ligand binding assays (e.g., ELISA, MSD, Luminex) for quantifying drugs in biological matrices
• Develop and run PCR‑based assays (qPCR, RT‑qPCR, ddPCR) for quantifying nucleic acids in biological matrices
• Implement assays and analyze samples from in vivo discovery studies in support of PK/PD and biodistribution
• Process, analyze, and interpret data, and prepare clear summaries for project teams
• Maintain accurate, prompt documentation in electronic lab notebooks in line with good scientific practices and data integrity standards
• Troubleshoot assay performance issues and propose improvements to increase throughput and robustness
• Collaborate with biology, DMPK, formulation, and translational colleagues, and coordinate with external partners as needed
• Contribute to method transfer, SOP preparation, and lab operations, including reagent and instrument management

Required Qualifications

B.S. with 5+ years, or M.S. with 3+ years, of relevant experience in biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, pharmaceutical sciences, or a related scientific field

Preferred Qualifications

• Hands‑on experience developing and running ligand binding assays in a bioanalytical setting
• Hands‑on experience with PCR‑based assays (qPCR/RT‑qPCR; ddPCR a plus)
• Experience working with biological matrices (plasma, serum, tissue homogenates)
• Working knowledge of assay validation or qualification concepts (precision, accuracy, sensitivity, selectivity, stability)
• Experience in biotech or pharma discovery bioanalysis
• Familiarity with oligonucleotides, biotherapeutics, mRNA/circular RNA, LNPs, or other genetic medicine modalities
• Experience with automated liquid handling and plate‑based assay platforms
• Familiarity with data analysis tools (e.g., SoftMax Pro, Watson LIMS, GraphPad Prism) and basic scripting or statistics

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.

$72,000 - $215,600

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).

• 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
• 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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