Postdoc/Scientist - Psychiatry and Neuronal Health

100 Eli Lilly and Company; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 58,000 - 123,000; Full time

Job summary

The Psychiatry and Neuronal Health group at Eli Lilly is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join an active in vivo pharmacology program focused on reward, arousal, and stress-related neural circuitry.

The role involves designing and executing in vivo rodent experiments, including self-administration, extinction, cue reinstatement, and fiber photometry recordings, with strong emphasis on data integration and publication.

Qualifications

• PhD in Neuroscience, Pharmacology, Behavioral Neuroscience, or closely related field.
• Hands-on in vivo fiber photometry experience with calcium/neuropeptide sensors.
• Stereotaxic surgery, viral vectors, and fiber optic cannula implantation expertise.
• Experience with operant/behavioral pharmacology models (IV self-administration, extinction, cue reinstatement).
• Familiarity with microdialysis and downstream quantification (HPLC/LC-MS).
• Authorized to work in the United States full-time.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute in vivo experiments in rodent models relevant to CNS drug discovery.
• Perform rodent survival surgeries: stereotaxic viral injections and catheter implantation.
• Conduct fiber photometry recordings to characterize circuit dynamics during behavior.
• Measure neurotransmitter efflux using microdialysis and LC-MS.</br>
• Map projections and test causal role in behaviors; perform histology.
• Support processing of human brain tissue and coordinate with repositories.
• Analyze multimodal datasets and document data rigorously.
• Prepare manuscripts and present findings at meetings and conferences.

Skills

In vivo fiber photometry

Rodent stereotaxic surgery

Operant/behavioral pharmacology

Data analysis (MATLAB/Python/R)

Publication track record

Excellent communication

Education

PhD in Neuroscience or related field

Tools

Fiber photometry hardware

HPLC/LC-MS

Viral vectors & stereotaxic equipment

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.

Position Summary

The Psychiatry and Neuronal Health group at Eli Lilly is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join an active in vivo pharmacology program studying reward, arousal, and stress-related neural circuitry. The successful candidate will apply circuit-level tools, including fiber photometry, microdialysis, and behavioral pharmacology models, to characterize neuromodulatory signaling relevant to CNS drug discovery.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and execute in vivo experiments in rodent behavioral models relevant to CNS drug discovery, including chronic IV self-administration, extinction, and cue-induced reinstatement paradigms
• Perform rodent survival surgeries: stereotaxic viral injection, IV catheter implantation, and fiber optic cannula placement
• Perform single- and dual-site in vivo fiber photometry recordings (genetically encoded calcium and/or neuropeptide biosensors) to characterize real-time circuit dynamics during behavior, including during cue-triggered reinstatement testing
• Conduct in vivo microdialysis paired with LC/MS or immunoassay quantification to measure neurotransmitter/neuropeptide efflux across relevant brain nuclei
• Apply circuit-dissection techniques to map projections and test causal sufficiency/necessity in the behaviors under study
• Perform multiplex fluorescence and routine histological experiments
• Characterize sleep/arousal architecture (EEG/EMG) as relevant to project needs
• Support processing and molecular analysis of human postmortem brain tissue, including coordination with external tissue repositories
• Analyze and interpret multimodal datasets (behavioral, neurochemical, imaging, transcriptomic) using established computational pipelines
• Author manuscripts for peer-reviewed publication and present findings at internal reviews and external scientific conferences
• Maintain rigorous documentation, IACUC protocol compliance, and data integrity standards

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. (or equivalent) in Neuroscience, Pharmacology, Behavioral Neuroscience, or a closely related field, completed within the last 1–3 years (or near completion)
• Hands‑on experience with in vivo fiber photometry (calcium/neuropeptide sensor recording, signal processing, and analysis)
• Demonstrated expertise in rodent stereotaxic surgery, viral vector delivery, and fiber optic cannula implantation
• Experience with rodent operant/behavioral pharmacology models (IV self‑administration, extinction, and/or cue reinstatement paradigms strongly preferred; IV catheterization experience a plus)
• Familiarity with in vivo microdialysis and downstream analytical quantification (HPLC/LC-MS or similar)
• Qualified applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a full‑time basis. Lilly will not provide support for or sponsor work authorization or visas for this role, including but not limited to F-1 CPT, F-1 OPT, F-1 STEM OPT, J-1, H-1B, TN, O-1, E-3, H-1B1, or L-1

Preferred Qualifications

• Working knowledge of reward, arousal, and/or stress-related neurocircuitry
• Proficiency in behavioral pharmacology and rodent handling (rat and/or mouse)
• Strong quantitative/analytical skills (MATLAB, Python, or R for photometry/behavioral data analysis)
• Track record of first-author publications in peer-reviewed journals
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Experience with optogenetics and/or chemogenetics for circuit manipulation
• Experience with unbiased stereology
• Experience with multiplex fluorescence and in situ hybridization
• Experience with dual-site or multi-site simultaneous fiber photometry recording
• Experience with EEG/EMG sleep-wake scoring and vigilance state analysis
• Experience with genetically encoded biosensors

What We Offer

• A mentored postdoctoral appointment with a defined project, dedicated supervisor, and co‑supervisor support
• Access to Lilly's internal drug discovery infrastructure, compound libraries, and cross‑functional scientific expertise
• Strong publication support and encouragement to present at national/international conferences
• Competitive stipend and benefits per Lilly postdoctoral program guidelines
• Clear pathway for scientific development toward independent research or industry drug discovery careers
• 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 $58,000 - $123,200 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.

#WeAreLilly At Lilly we strive to ensure our employees are part of a team that cares about them and our shared purpose of making life better for those around the world. How do we do this? We continue to look for ways to include, innovate, accelerate and deliver while maintaining integrity, excellence and respect for people. We hope that you seek to join us on our journey as we create medicine and deliver improved outcomes for patients across the globe! #WeAreLilly