Senior Research Advisor / Research Advisor, Analytical Chemistry – TIDES, SMDD

Initial Therapeutics, Inc.; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 126,000 - 205,000; Full time

Job summary

Lilly, based in Indianapolis, IN, seeks an analytical lead for early‑phase TIDES programs. You will own the analytical package from preclinical through IND, partnering with CMOs/CMCs and Quality to enable GLP/GMP campaigns and regulatory documentation.

The role requires advanced degree in analytical chemistry with strong MS/LC‑MS expertise, experience in GMP environment, and cross‑functional collaboration to drive robust control strategies and regulatory submissions.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in analytical or bioanalytical chemistry (2+ years industry) or MS (5+ years) or BS (7+ years).
• Experience in analytical method development, qualification/validation, and transfer for peptides, oligonucleotides, or small molecules.
• Strong MS and chromatography knowledge; familiarity with ICH/USP/Ph. Eur. requirements.
• GMP environment experience and clear cross‑functional communication.

Responsibilities

• Serve as analytical lead for early‑phase TIDES molecules, owning the phase‑appropriate control strategy for drug substance and drug product.
• Provide direction to CMO/CRO partners: define deliverables, approve methods, oversee transfers, and resolve OOS/OOT results.
• Oversee GLP and GMP campaigns, including readiness, testing, reference standard qualification, and batch data review.
• Author/review CMC sections of INDs/CTAs — procedures, validation, specs, impurities and stability; support health authority responses.

Skills

Analytical method development

Method validation

Method transfer

Chromatography

Mass spectrometry

ICH/Ph. Eur./USP knowledge

Communication skills

Education

Ph.D. in analytical or bioanalytical chemistry

M.S. in analytical chemistry

B.S. in a related field

Tools

LC-MS

Job description

At Lilly, the work is demanding because patients are waiting. We unite caring with discovery to help make life better for people around the world, knowing that every decision, every detail, and every day matters. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, our over 50,000 employees around the globe take on complex challenges to discover and deliver life‑changing medicines, strengthen how health is understood and managed, and support the communities we serve. This is hard, urgent, selfless work-but it’s work worth doing. If you’re driven by purpose and ready to bring your best to work that truly matters for patients, we invite you to join us.

The Synthetic Molecule Design and Development (SMDD) organization is responsible for the development of synthetic drug substances and drug products from the pre‑clinical phase through commercialization. Our scientists and engineers develop innovative technical solutions to advance an exciting portfolio that includes small molecules, synthetic peptides, oligonucleotides, and other emerging therapeutic modalities. By fostering a hardworking, culturally diverse workforce that exhibits deep technical expertise, SMDD delivers on these responsibilities and helps bring the next generation of life‑changing medicines to patients.

The Senior Research Advisor / Research Advisor, Analytical Chemistry - TIDES, will serve as the analytical lead for early‑phase synthetic peptide and oligonucleotide (TIDES) programs, from pre‑clinical enabling studies through first‑in‑human clinical supply. This is an externally focused role: the successful candidate will provide the analytical leadership that enables GLP and GMP campaigns executed at contract manufacturing and testing organizations, and will translate that work into the control strategies and IND documentation that support Phase 1 entry. Working within a multidisciplinary team of chemists, formulation scientists, and engineers, and partnering closely with Quality and Regulatory CMC, this individual will own the analytical package for their molecules while accessing world‑class internal capabilities for peptide and oligonucleotide characterization.

Responsibilities:

• Serve as the analytical lead for early‑phase TIDES molecules, owning the phase‑appropriate control strategy for drug substance and drug product.
• Provide technical direction and oversight to CMO and CRO partners: define analytical deliverables, approve method development and qualification protocols and reports, oversee method transfer and verification, assess external data packages, and drive resolution of OOS/OOT results and analytical investigations.
• Oversee the analytical elements of GLP and GMP campaigns, including readiness assessment, release and in‑process testing, reference standard qualification, batch data review, and support of drug substance and drug product disposition with Quality.
• Author and review CMC sections of INDs and CTAs — analytical procedures, validation summaries, specification justification, batch analyses, impurity and stability sections — and support responses to health authority questions.
• Establish and justify phase‑appropriate specifications and stability programs, addressing related substances and process‑related impurities, residual solvents and reagents (ICH Q3C, M7), elemental impurities, water and counterion, potency, and microbiological quality and endotoxin.
• Collaborate with chemists, formulation scientists, engineers, Quality, and Regulatory CMC to integrate analytical strategy with program plans, managing multiple concurrent molecules.

Basic Requirements:

• Ph.D. inanalytical chemistry or bioanalytical chemistry, or a closely related scientific discipline with 2+ years of relevant industry experience; or M.S. with 5+ years; or B.S. with 7+ years of pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry experience in analytical development.
• Demonstrated experience in analytical method development, qualification or validation, and transfer for peptides, oligonucleotides, or small molecules.
• Deep working knowledge of chromatographic separations (e.g., reversed‑phase, size exclusion, ion exchange) and mass spectrometry, with a general understanding of other techniques used for synthetic molecules (e.g., UV, GC, KF, ICP, NMR).
• Understanding of method performance attributes (e.g., specificity, linearity, precision, accuracy, LOD/LOQ) and the ability to set fit‑for‑purpose expectations for early‑phase work.
• Experience in a GMP environment and familiarity with applicable ICH and compendial (USP/Ph. Eur.) requirements.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including technical documentation for cross‑functional and external audiences.

Additional Preferences:

• Direct experience with solid‑phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) and/or oligonucleotide synthesis and the characterization of the associated process‑related impurities.
• Experience authoring or contributing to regulatory CMC documentation (e.g., IND/CTA, NDA/MAA) for peptides or oligonucleotides.
• Demonstrated experience overseeing CMO/CRO analytical activities, including campaign support and technical governance of external testing.
• Familiarity with GLP expectations for test article characterization and with first‑in‑human parenteral drug product testing.
• Demonstrated scientific leadership, the ability to influence without direct authority, and comfort prioritizing across programs in ambiguity.

Additional Information:

• Level: This position is posted at the Senior Research Advisor level; depending on the qualifications and experience of the selected candidate, it may be filled at the Research Advisor or Senior Principal Scientist level.
• Travel: 0 to 10%.
• Position Location: On‑site, Indianapolis, IN; Lilly Technology Center‑North (LTC‑N).

Lilly is dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities to actively engage in the workforce, ensuring equal opportunities when vying for positions. If you require accommodation to submit a resume for a position at Lilly, please complete the accommodation request form (https://careers.lilly.com/us/en/workplace-accommodation) for further assistance. Please note this is for individuals to request an accommodation as part of the application process and any other correspondence will not receive a response.

Lilly is proud to be an EEO Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender identity, sex, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.

Our employee resource groups (ERGs) offer strong support networks for their members and are open to all employees. Our current groups include: Africa, Middle East, Central Asia (AMECA), Black Employees at Lilly (BE@Lilly), Chinese Culture Network (CCN), EnAble, Evolve, Lilly Indian Network (LIN), Organization of Latinx at Lilly (OLA), Pride (LGBTQ+ Allies), Veterans Leadership Network (VLN) and Women's Initiative for Leading at Lilly (WILL).

Actual compensation will depend on a candidate's education, experience, skills, and geographic location. The anticipated wage for this position is $126,000 - $204,600. Full‑time equivalent employees will be eligible for a company bonus (depending, in part, on company and individual performance). In addition, Lilly offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees, including eligibility to participate in a company‑sponsored 401(k); pension; vacation benefits; eligibility for medical, dental, vision and prescription drug benefits; flexible benefits (e.g., healthcare and/or dependent day care flexible spending accounts); life insurance and death benefits; certain time off and leave of absence benefits; and well‑being benefits (e.g., employee assistance program, fitness benefits, and employee clubs and activities). Lilly reserves the right to amend, modify, or terminate its compensation and benefit programs in its sole discretion and Lilly's compensation practices and guidelines will apply regarding the details of any promotion or transfer of Lilly employees.

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