Senior Associate Scientist - Analytical Development

Elanco; Fort Dodge (IA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation packages

Two weeklong shutdowns

8-week parental leave

Employee Resource Groups

Annual bonus offering

Flexible work arrangements

401K matching

Job summary

Elanco in Fort Dodge, IA is seeking a Senior Associate Scientist - Analytical Development to help design and execute studies supporting vaccine process development, license, and transfer. The role emphasizes ELISA, CFU and viral titration assays, and collaboration with Process Development, Clinical Development, QA, and Manufacturing to advance the biologics portfolio.

You will work in a fast-paced environment, train others, maintain safety, and contribute to successful licensure of vaccine

Qualifications

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficiency with micropipetting and the operation and maintenance of basic laboratory instrumentation.
• Qualified candidates must be legally authorized to be employed in the United States; Elanco does not anticipate visa sponsorship for this role.

Responsibilities

• Apply scientific knowledge to drive timely progress of Technical Development projects.
• Independently execute experimental methods and protocols involving bacterial counts, mammalian cell cultivation, virus titration assays, and ELISAs.
• Train others under the guidance of a lead scientist and educate self and others on complex issues.
• Propose initial interpretations of data to the lead scientist for evaluation and next steps.
• Demonstrate flexibility and high learning agility in a fast-paced environment.
• Collaborate across multi-functional teams including Process Development, Clinical Development, Quality Assurance, and Manufacturing.

Skills

Strong communication

Micropipetting

Lab instrumentation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Microbiology, Immunology, Molecular Biology, Bioprocessing

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:

Senior Associate Scientist - Analytical Development

The Associate Scientist in Vaccine Technical Development will assist in the design and execution of studies involving enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), colony forming unit (CFU) assays, viral titration assays, and mammalian cell culture. The goal of this work is to develop, license, and transfer vaccine processes. This role provides an opportunity to learn and apply both technical and practical principles supporting the full innovation cycle, contributing to the successful development, validation, and licensure of vaccine products. The position relies heavily on communication and collaboration across multi-functional project teams which include Process Development, Clinical Development, Quality Assurance, and Manufacturing. All work is focused on supporting Elanco’s biologics R&D portfolio for both U.S. and international markets.

Your Responsibilities:

• Apply scientific knowledge and skills to drive timely progress of Technical Development projects.
• Independently execute experimental methods and protocols involving bacterial counts, mammalian cell cultivation, virus titration assays, and quantitative/qualitative ELISAs. Generate methods for technical activities, under the guidance of a qualified scientist.
• Actively contribute to a safe, compliant, and productive work environment for all research associates.
• Train others under the guidance of a lead scientist and educate self and others on complex issues.
• Propose initial interpretations of data to the lead scientist for evaluation and suggests next steps within the method.
• Demonstrate flexibility and high learning agility to perform and adapt in a fast paced, rapidly changing environment.

What You Need to Succeed (minimum qualifications):

• Education: Bachelor's degree in a relevant scientific discipline (e.g., Chemical Engineering, Microbiology, Immunology, Molecular Biology, Bioprocessing) or equivalent combination of education and years of professional experience.
• Experience: Experience working in a laboratory environment.
• Skills:
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficiency with micropipetting and the operation and maintenance of basic laboratory instrumentation.
• Qualified candidates must be legally authorized to be employed in the United States. Elanco does not anticipate providing sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H-1B, or TN status) for this employment position.

What will give you a competitive edge (preferred qualifications):

• Experience with protein concentration and purification techniques and related equipment.
• Experience working with biohazardous organisms.
• Previous experience in developing animal health products.
• Familiarity with USDA regulatory requirements for animal health product development.

Additional Information:

• Travel: 10%
• Location: Fort Dodge, IA - On-site Work Environment – Relocation packages available!

Don't meet every single requirement? Studies have shown underrecognized 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!

Elanco Benefits and Perks:

• 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.