In Vitro Pharmacologist, CardioMetabolic Research

Eli Lilly and Company; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 189,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus eligibility

401(k) plan

Pension

Job summary

Eli Lilly and Company in Boston is seeking a skilled scientist to join the CardioMetabolic Research team. You will support discovery initiatives focusing on anti-obesity therapeutics, leveraging cell culture and robust assay development to advance pipelines.

The role requires strong experience in cell-based assays, molecular readouts, and collaboration across departments to meet project goals in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• B.S. in Biology, Pharmacology, Biochemistry, or related field.
• 5+ years laboratory experience in industry, academia or biotechnology.
• Experience with native cell lines, primary cells or iPSCs is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Perform aseptic cell culture using mammalian cells, including transfection and stable cell line generation.
• Develop, optimize, and execute cell-based, biochemical, and enzymatic assays (ADP-Glo, Kinase-Glo) in 96- and 384-well formats.
• Apply pharmacology concepts: concentration-response curves, binding affinity, potency, Hill slope, and in vitro efficacy.
• Operate plate readers, liquid-handling robotics, and assay automation platforms.
• Perform gene expression analysis via qPCR, western blot, and flow cytometry.

Skills

Cell culture

Transfection

Stable cell lines

Assay development

qPCR

Western blot

Flow cytometry

Kinase assays

Pharmacology concepts

Education

Bachelor's degree in Biology/related field

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

Plate readers

Liquid-handling robotics

Assay automation platforms

HTRF

ADP-Glo / Kinase-Glo

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.

Location

Boston, Massachusetts (onsite) Seaport location

Company Overview

At Eli Lilly and Company, 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 work to discover and deliver life-changing medicines, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to our communities through philanthropy and volunteerism.

Department Overview

The CardioMetabolic Research (CMR) organization at Eli Lilly and Company is responsible for the discovery of biologic, small-molecule, and genetic therapeutics for the treatment of diabetes, obesity, and associated complications.

Position Summary

Eli Lilly and Company is seeking a skilled and versatile scientist to join a collaborative drug discovery team within the CardioMetabolic Research organization in Boston. The successful candidate will possess a strong background in cell culture and cell-based functional assays and will play a central role in advancing discovery initiatives and pipeline projects focused on anti-obesity therapeutics. Responsibilities include supporting assay development, performing established assays to validate novel targets, characterizing the in vitro function of novel therapeutics, establishing essential laboratory capabilities, and collaborating with scientists across departments to meet project and organizational objectives.

Responsibilities

• Perform aseptic cell culture techniques using mammalian cells, including transient transfection and the generation of stable cell lines
• Develop, optimize, and execute cell-based functional, biochemical, and enzymatic assays (including ADP-Glo and Kinase-Glo assays) in 96- and 384-well formats, at single-concentration and concentration-response formats
• Apply fundamental principles of pharmacology, including the generation of concentration-response curves and determination of binding affinity, potency, Hill slope, and in vitro efficacy, as well as mechanism-of-action studies (e.g. biased agonism, effect on receptor internalization, kinetic signaling, Schild plots, etc.)
• Conduct assays utilizing colorimetric, luminescence, and fluorescence-based readouts, including Homogeneous Time-Resolved Fluorescence (HTRF); operate plate readers, liquid-handling robotics, and assay automation platforms
• Perform gene expression analysis via quantitative PCR, western blot, and flow cytometry (FACS)

Required Qualifications

• B.S. in Biology, Pharmacology, Biochemistry, or a related field
• 5 + years laboratory experience in industry, academia or biotechnology

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with native cell lines, primary cell cultures, and/or induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)
• Masters degree in biology, pharmacology, biochemistry or related field
• 8 + years of experience in industry or biotech
• Experience with multiple therapeutic target classes, including membrane receptors such as G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) ion channels, enzymes, and transporters
• Experience with multiple therapeutic modalities, including small molecules, peptides, antibodies, and siRNAs
• Experience with ELISA-based assays
• Working knowledge of cardiometabolic disease biology and experience with new target proposals
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Ability to work independently and collaborate effectively as part of a team
• Strong attention to detail, accurate record-keeping, and ability to analyze data independently
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects, timelines, and organizational objectives
• Willingness and ability to learn new technical skills and adapt to changing project requirements
• Willingness to complete all required training in accordance with Lilly Research Policies

Equal Opportunity Statement

Eli Lilly and Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.

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 $110,250 - $189,200.

Benefits & Compensation

• Full-time equivalent employees also will be eligible for a company bonus (depending, in part, on company and individual performance).
• 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)

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