Principal Research Scientist, Molecular Pharmacology

Elanco; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation packages

Shutdowns in US (mid-summer, year-end)

8‑week parental leave

Employee Resource Groups

Annual bonus offering

Flexible work arrangements

401K matching up to 6%

Job summary

Elanco seeks a Principal Research Scientist to lead the Molecular Pharmacology team, shaping assay design and execution across SMOL, Biologics, and Parasitology programs. You will build an organization focused on in vitro data informing project progression, partnering across discovery groups, and mentoring scientists.

You will drive MOA probing, potency characterization, and cellular readouts while delivering rapid pharmacology data to drug discovery teams, enabling robust go/no-go decisions.

Qualifications

• Deep technical proficiency in designing and optimizing biochemical and cell-based assays (signaling, enzymatic activity, target engagement, cytotoxicity).
• Proven track record of independent scientific leadership and cross‑functional collaboration in drug discovery.
• Experience mentoring scientists and leading a translational pharmacology team.

Responsibilities

• Lead assay strategies across SMOL, Biologics, and Parasitology programs to inform project decisions.
• Mentor a team of scientists and foster scientific rigor and collaboration.
• Design and implement in vitro strategies, MOA probes, potency assessments, and cellular readouts for diverse compounds.
• Support pharmacology-driven lead optimization and rapid data delivery to discovery partners.
• Provide expert scientific guidance to project teams to drive technical success.
• Champion diverse assay platforms, modalities, and instrumentation to meet project needs.
• Identify capability gaps and develop cross-portfolio solutions.
• Ensure high-quality, reproducible data to guide go/no-go decisions.

Skills

Assay Mastery

Leadership

Collaborative Mindset

Scientific Guidance

Education

Ph.D. in Cell Biology / Molecular Biology / Immunology or related, 12+ years experience

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!

Position Summary

We are seeking a highly collaborative and technically versatile Principal Research Scientist to lead our Molecular Pharmacology team. In this role, you will focus on strategic team leadership and scientific execution while building an organization that focuses on the design, development, and implementation of protein and cell-based assays that support our Small Molecule (SMOL), Large Molecule (Biologics), and Parasitology research pipelines. Success in this role requires a deep commitment to cross-functional partnership, ensuring that in vitro data effectively informs the progression of projects across multiple therapeutic modalities and disease areas.

What You’ll Do (Your Impact)

• Serve as the lead scientific liaison between the assay team and key internal discovery groups. You will collaborate closely with Small Molecule, Large Molecule, and Parasitology Discovery teams to ensure assay strategies are aligned with project‑specific biological requirements.
• Mentor and guide a team of scientists, elevating the group's technical capabilities and fostering a culture of scientific rigor, curiosity, and seamless internal collaboration.
• Collaborate with partners in the design and implementation of an in vitro strategy for a diverse set of projects. Examples include designing bespoke assays to probe mechanism‑of‑action (MOA), determine potency, and characterize cellular responses for compounds ranging from synthetic chemicals to complex proteins.
• Support pharmacology‑based lead optimization of small and large molecules by ensuring rapid delivery of pharmacology data to drug discovery team partners
• Provide expert scientific guidance on project teams to help drive technical success
• Champion the implementation of a wide array of assay platforms, modalities, and instrumentation along with strategies to support the unique needs of projects within our research portfolio.
• Identify in vitro pharmacology capability gaps and develop solutions that benefit across the portfolio
• Ensure the delivery of high‑quality, reproducible data that enables internal project teams to make confident go/no‑go decisions regarding lead progression and candidate selection.

Who You Are (Required Qualifications)

• Education: Ph.D. in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Immunology, or a related discipline with 12+ years of industry experience; OR M.S. with 15+ years of extensive industry experience.
• Collaborative Mindset: A proven track record of working effectively within matrixed, cross‑functional teams to advance drug discovery goals across different scientific disciplines.
• Assay Mastery: Deep technical proficiency in designing, characterizing, and optimizing a wide spectrum of biochemical and cell‑based assays (e.g., signaling, enzymatic activity, target engagement, and cytotoxicity).
• Leadership: A track record of independent scientific leadership, strategic thinking, and impactful contributions to drug discovery projects.

What Sets You Apart (Preferred Qualifications)

• People Leadership: Demonstrable success in building and managing highly performing technical teams in the in vitro pharmacology space
• Parasitology Expertise: Prior experience in the development of in vitro assays for parasitic targets or a strong understanding of parasite‑host biology.
• SMOL Support: Experience working alongside medicinal chemistry teams to provide the data necessary for compound characterization and lead optimization.
• Technical Savvy: Familiarity with laboratory automation and data management tools (e.g., ELNs) to ensure workflow integrity and rapid data reporting.

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 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.