Scientific Director – Virtual Screening Applications Expert

Eli Lilly and Company; United States; Remote; USD 156,000 - 251,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is on the lookout for a Virtual Screening Applications Expert to join their innovative Early Molecule Discovery team. This role involves leading transformative virtual screening activities that enhance drug discovery efforts. The ideal candidate will leverage their expertise in computational and medicinal chemistry to drive cross-functional collaborations and introduce cutting-edge methodologies. With a commitment to diversity and inclusion, this forward-thinking company offers a dynamic environment where your contributions can significantly impact the development of life-changing medicines.

Benefits

401(k)

Pension

Health Insurance

Paid Time Off

Wellness Programs

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Computational Chemistry or related field required.
• 5+ years of experience with VS technologies in drug discovery.

Responsibilities

• Lead the VS platform to identify promising drug discovery starting points.
• Innovate methods to enhance Lilly's capabilities in drug discovery.

Skills

Virtual Screening Technologies

Computational Chemistry

Medicinal Chemistry

Molecular Design Software

Interpersonal Skills

Education

Ph.D. in Computational Chemistry

Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry

Tools

Cheminformatics Tools

Job description

At Lilly, 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 worldwide to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those in need, improve disease understanding and management, and give back through philanthropy and volunteerism. We prioritize our work efforts and put people first. We seek individuals committed to improving lives globally.

The Lilly Small Molecule Discovery group is dedicated to creating molecules that improve lives. We leverage cutting-edge science to develop new approaches for treating diseases with limited options. Our goal is to deliver molecules with breakthrough efficacy and safety, optimizing our mindset, technology, and processes for faster, agile execution. Our success stems from a culture that fosters innovative problem solving through open collaboration and individual accountability.

Position Summary:

The Lilly Small Molecule Discovery (LSMD) organization focuses on creating and discovering new molecules to target disease-relevant biological systems, testing clinical hypotheses, and advancing innovative medicines. To accelerate the delivery of impactful medicines and optimize research investments, computational tools are increasingly integral. The newly formed Early Molecule Discovery (EMD) team manages small molecule hit-to-lead progression using best-in-class and novel approaches for pre-portfolio targets.

We are seeking an internationally recognized Virtual Screening (VS) Applications Expert responsible for small molecule VS activities. The (Senior/Executive) Director will collaborate across computational, structural biology, and medicinal chemistry teams within EMD and beyond to drive the successful application of transformative VS approaches, enhancing Lilly’s ability to target difficult drug targets.

Responsibilities:

1. Lead the VS @Lilly platform within a matrix organization, engaging with project teams to leverage VS for rapid identification of promising starting points for drug discovery efforts.
2. Innovate by introducing transformative methods into the VS platform, aiming to make Lilly’s capabilities industry-leading.
3. Develop strategic and transformational thinking, focusing on future innovations rather than past precedents.
4. Build interdisciplinary teams and foster inclusive collaboration across teams, functions, and sites.
5. Communicate effectively with all levels of staff and leadership, promoting transparency and collaboration.
6. Establish and drive collaborations internally and externally to enhance VS capabilities.
7. Work with stakeholders to identify novel chemical starting points across various mechanisms and targets.
8. Leverage structural and biophysical data with structural biologists and modelers to optimize target readiness for VS campaigns.
9. Implement physics- and AI-based modeling workflows to improve hit rates, especially for challenging targets.
10. Champion cutting-edge methods, including ensemble and AI-based VS techniques.
11. Develop cheminformatics tools to maximize chemical and binding feature space coverage in hit selection.
12. Collaborate with medicinal chemists to triage VS hits for synthesis or purchase.
13. Streamline workflows in partnership with Tech @Lilly for timely impact and broader adoption.

Basic Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Computational Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, or related field.
• At least 5 years of successful experience applying VS technologies in drug discovery.
• Proven ability to champion new technologies and lead cross-functional teams.

Additional Skills/Preferences:

• Strong interpersonal skills and commitment to Diversity & Inclusion.
• Passion for coaching and developing team members.
• Expertise with molecular design software and medicinal chemistry concepts.
• Publication and patent experience.
• Experience in GPCR drug discovery preferred.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally.

Lilly values diversity and offers accommodations for applicants with disabilities. For assistance, complete the workplace accommodation request form.

We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to non-discrimination based on age, race, gender, disability, and other protected statuses.

Our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) support diverse communities within Lilly. Learn more about our groups and initiatives.

Compensation for this role ranges from $156,000 to $250,800, depending on experience and location. Benefits include a 401(k), pension, health insurance, paid time off, and wellness programs. Lilly reserves the right to modify compensation and benefits as needed.