Senior Research Scientist - Medicinal Chemist

Indianaagconnection; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus offering

Flexible work arrangements

401K matching up to 6%

Job summary

Elanco in Indianapolis, IN, is seeking a Senior Research Scientist - Medicinal Chemist to contribute to small molecule drug discovery for animal health. The role includes the design, synthesis, and optimization of novel medicines while leveraging advanced technologies like AI/ML.

Ideal candidates should hold a PhD in Medicinal Chemistry or related field, with at least 3 years of industry experience. Benefits include flexible work arrangements, annual bonuses, and a comprehensive health package.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of industry experience in medicinal chemistry.
• Strong understanding of pharmacology and pharmacokinetics.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Guide design of novel small molecules and SAR studies.
• Manage synthesis, purification, and characterization of compounds.
• Collaborate with project teams across various scientific disciplines.

Skills

Complex multi-step organic synthesis

Medicinal chemistry

Pharmacology

Pharmacokinetics

Education

PhD in Medicinal Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, or related discipline

Tools

DNA-Encoded Libraries (DEL)

AI/ML technologies

Job description

### Job Details#### Job Title:Senior Research Scientist - Medicinal Chemist#### Location:,, ,#### Company:#### Industry Sector:#### Industry Type:#### Career Type:#### Job Type:Full Time#### Minimum Years Experience Required:N/A#### Salary:### Get Job Alerts**Career Type:****Country:** USAI agree to receive alerts from and to the .Your alert was created successfully.x## General Alert Saved* The listings below are jobs matching the criteria you've selected for your General Alert on.Criteria selected was:* General alert saved for .* General alert notifications will be sent weekly on Monday.* Please note that you can only have one general alert active at any given time. Creating a new general alert will override an existing general alert.* Visit the to manage your alerts# Senior Research Scientist - Medicinal Chemist| Number of Years Experience: | Minimum Education Completed: | || Education Major / Discipline Category: | Most Recent / Current Occupation: | |**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 Research Scientist - Medicinal Chemist**As a Senior Research Scientist in Medicinal Chemistry, you will be an integral member of our small molecule drug discovery engine, contributing to the design, synthesis, and optimization of novel medicines for animal health. You will apply your expertise to advance therapeutic programs by guiding Structure-Activity Relationship (SAR) studies and collaborating closely with a global, cross-functional team of scientists. Leveraging modern technologies like AI/ML and DNA-Encoded Libraries, you will help solve complex chemical challenges and make a meaningful impact on our discovery portfolio. This role offers a significant opportunity for growth as part of a dynamic and expanding research team.**Your Responsibilities:*** Guide the design of novel small molecules and propel Structure-Activity Relationship (SAR) studies by integrating biological, pharmacological, and ADME/PK data into iterative design strategies.* Manage and coordinate the synthesis, purification, and characterization of compounds with external Contract Research Organizations (CROs) and internal partners to ensure timely project delivery.* Apply advanced drug discovery technologies, including DNA-Encoded Libraries (DEL) and AI/ML-enabled molecular design tools, to accelerate hit identification and lead optimization.* Collaborate as a key member of multidisciplinary project teams, partnering with scientists in Biology, Pharmacology, DMPK, Toxicology, and Computational Sciences to advance discovery programs.* Maintain high standards of experimental design, data integrity, and scientific documentation to support data-driven judgments across the discovery portfolio.**What You Need to Succeed (minimum qualifications):*** **Education:** PhD in Medicinal Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, or a related discipline.* **Experience:** A minimum of 3 years of industry experience in medicinal chemistry within a pharmaceutical, animal health, or crop science research environment.* **Top Skills:** Demonstrated expertise in complex multi-step organic synthesis and modern medicinal chemistry, with a strong understanding of pharmacology and pharmacokinetics. Proven ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and manage external CRO partnerships to advance discovery projects.**What will give you a competitive edge (preferred qualifications):*** Postdoctoral experience.* Experience with, or a strong interest in learning, advanced discovery technologies such as DNA-Encoded Libraries (DEL) and AI/ML applications.* A track record of contributing to small-molecule programs that have advanced into preclinical development.* Prior experience in the animal health industry.* Expertise in peptide chemistry and optimization.**Additional Information:*** **Travel:** Less than 10%* **Location:** Global Elanco Headquarters - Indianapolis, IN - Hybrid Work Environment**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 matchingElanco 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 statusElanco 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.To apply please click on APPLY TO THIS POSITIONJob Post Date: 06/23/26Here are some other jobs you may be interested in applying for.| | || - | - || Elanco Indianapolis, Indiana | Elanco Indianapolis, Indiana || Elanco Indianapolis, Indiana | |1 person is interested in this job.