Principal Research Scientist - Medicinal Chemist

Elanco Tiergesundheit AG; Indianapolis (IN); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation packages

Two weeklong shutdowns

8‑week parental leave

Employee Resource Groups

Annual bonus

Flexible work arrangements

401K matching

Job summary

Elanco Animal Health Incorporated is seeking a Principal Research Scientist in Medicinal Chemistry to guide design and synthesis of innovative small molecules for animal health. You will partner with global teams to advance programs from lead generation to candidate selection, using cutting-edge tools like DEL, AI/ML, and computational chemistry.

The role emphasizes mentorship, data integrity, and collaboration across biology, pharmacology, DMPK, and toxicology, based in Indianapolis with a

Qualifications

• PhD in Medicinal Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, or a related scientific discipline.
• A minimum of 6 years of relevant industry experience in medicinal chemistry.
• Expertise in designing and multi-step synthesis of complex small molecules; strong SAR, pharmacology, and ADME/PK knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Design and optimize novel small molecules; integrate SAR with biological data.
• Collaborate with Biology, Pharmacology, DMPK, Toxicology, and Computational Sciences to advance discovery programs.
• Coordinate synthesis with CROs and internal partners to meet project goals and timelines.
• Leverage DEL, computational chemistry, and AI/ML tools to accelerate hit finding and lead optimization.
• Mentor junior scientists and promote data integrity and scientific excellence.

Skills

Modern medicinal chemistry

SAR (structure-activity relationships)

Pharmacology

ADME/PK

Cross-functional leadership

Education

PhD in Medicinal Chemistry or Organic Chemistry

Tools

DNA-Encoded Libraries

DEL

Computational chemistry

AI/ML-enabled molecular design

Job description

At Elanco (NYSE: ELAN) – it all starts with animals! As a global leader in animal health, we are dedicated to innovation and delivering products and services to prevent and treat disease in farm animals and pets. At Elanco, we are driven by our vision of Food and Companionship Enriching Life and our purpose – all to Go Beyond for Animals, Customers, Society and Our People. At Elanco, we pride ourselves on fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. We believe that diversity is the driving force behind innovation, creativity, and overall business success. Here, you’ll be part of a company that values and champions new ways of thinking, work with dynamic individuals, and acquire new skills and experiences that will propel your career to new heights. Making animals’ lives better makes life better – join our team today!

Your Role:

Principal Research Scientist - Medicinal Chemist. As a Principal Research Scientist in Medicinal Chemistry, you will be a key figure in our small molecule drug discovery engine, guiding the design and synthesis of innovative medicines that improve the health and well‑being of animals. You will apply your scientific expertise to advance multiple therapeutic programs, from lead generation to development candidate selection. Partnering with a global, cross‑functional team of scientists, you will leverage cutting‑edge technologies like AI/ML and DNA‑Encoded Libraries to solve complex chemical challenges. This is an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact on our discovery portfolio and help shape the future of our growing research team in Indianapolis.

Your Responsibilities:

• Guide the design and optimization of novel small molecules by applying advanced synthetic strategies and integrating biological, pharmacological, and ADME/PK data to manage Structure-Activity Relationship (SAR) campaigns.
• Serve as a key medicinal chemistry figure on multidisciplinary project teams, collaborating with partners in Biology, Pharmacology, DMPK, Toxicology, and Computational Sciences to strategically advance discovery programs.
• Manage and coordinate synthetic chemistry efforts with external Contract Research Organizations (CROs) and internal partners, ensuring the efficient execution of project goals and timelines.
• Leverage cutting‑edge drug discovery technologies, including DNA‑Encoded Libraries (DEL), computational chemistry, and AI/ML-enabled tools, to accelerate hit identification and lead optimization.
• Promote scientific excellence and data integrity while providing mentorship and technical guidance to junior scientists, fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration.

What You Need to Succeed (minimum qualifications):

• Education: PhD in Medicinal Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, or a related scientific discipline.
• Experience: A minimum of 6 years of relevant industry experience in medicinal chemistry within a pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or animal health research environment.
• Top Skills: Demonstrated expertise in modern medicinal chemistry, including the design and multi‑step synthesis of complex small molecules, and a strong understanding of Structure‑Activity Relationships (SAR), pharmacology, and ADME/PK principles. Proven ability to autonomously manage scientific initiatives within a cross‑functional team and manage external collaborations with CROs.

What will give you a strong candidate profile (preferred qualifications):

• Postdoctoral experience.
• Experience applying modern drug discovery technologies such as DNA-Encoded Libraries (DEL), computational chemistry, or AI/ML-enabled molecular design.
• A strong track record of advancing small‑molecule discovery programs toward preclinical development, evidenced by significant patent and/or publication contributions.
• Prior research experience in the animal health industry.
• Expertise in peptide chemistry, macrocycles, or related drug modalities.

Additional Information:

• Travel: Less than 10%
• Location: Global Elanco Headquarters - Indianapolis, IN - Hybrid Work Environment

Elanco Benefits and Perks:

We offer a comprehensive benefits package focusing on financial, physical, and mental well‑being while encouraging our employees to pursue our purpose! Some highlights include:

• Multiple relocation packages
• Two weeklong shutdowns (mid-summer and year-end) in the US (in addition to PTO)
• 8‑week parental leave
• 9 Employee Resource Groups
• Annual bonus offering
• Flexible work arrangements
• Up to 6% 401K matching

Elanco is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status.

Elanco may use automated tools, including AI, to support parts of our recruitment process, such as reviewing applications against job‑related criteria and/or transferrable skills. These tools help ensure a consistent, structured evaluation, but they do not make hiring decisions. All decisions involve a human reviewer.

For more information on how we handle personal data, please see our Elanco Workforce Privacy Notice.

Elanco Animal Health Incorporated (NYSE: ELAN) is a global leader in animal health dedicated to innovating and delivering products and services to prevent and treat disease in farm animals and pets, creating value for farmers, pet owners, veterinarians, stakeholders, and society as a whole. With nearly 70 years of animal health heritage, we are committed to helping our customers improve the health of animals in their care, while also making a meaningful impact on our local and global communities. At Elanco, we are driven by our vision of Food and Companionship Enriching life and our Elanco Healthy Purpose™ CSR framework – all to advance the health of animals, people and the planet.

Learn more at www.elanco.com.