Principal Research Scientist, Molecular Pharmacology

Elanco Tiergesundheit AG; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation packages

Shutdowns (mid-summer, year-end)

Parental leave (8 weeks)

Employee Resource Groups

Annual bonus

Job summary

Elanco seeks a Principal Research Scientist to lead the Molecular Pharmacology team, shaping assay strategies for SMOL, Biologics, and Parasitology pipelines. You will mentor scientists, ensure rapid, high-quality data delivery, and partner across discovery groups to advance candidate selection.

The role emphasizes leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and cutting-edge assay platforms to drive translational pharmacology across modalities.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or equivalent with extensive industry experience in relevant disciplines.
• Demonstrated ability to work in matrixed, cross-functional teams.
• Expertise in designing and optimizing biochemical and cell-based assays.

Responsibilities

• Lead the assay team and align strategies with discovery groups.
• Mentor and develop scientists to maintain scientific rigor.
• Design and implement in vitro strategies for diverse projects across modalities.
• Guide pharmacology data delivery to drug discovery partners and support lead optimization.

Skills

PhD in related field

Collaborative mindset

Assay mastery

Leadership

Education

PhD in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Immunology, or related

Tools

Biochemical assays

Cell-based assays

Laboratory automation

ELNs

Job description

About Elanco

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.

Benefits and Perks

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

Why Join Us

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown underrepresented groups are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Elanco we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive work environment. If you think you might be a good fit for a role but don't necessarily meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply. You may be the right candidate for this role or other roles!

EEO and Inclusion

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.

#LI‑RH1 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.

About Our Company (Additional)

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.