Senior Research Scientist - Product Development

Elanco; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation packages

Shutdowns mid-summer and year-end

Parental leave

Employee Resource Groups

Annual bonus

Flexible work arrangements

401K matching

LI-RH1

Job summary

Elanco is seeking a Senior Scientist in the Transitional and Early Development team in Indianapolis to lead early-formulation work and drive biophysical characterization of lead molecules toward pre-clinical study material.

You will manage a small characterization team, applying protein chemistry expertise, and collaborate across discovery, process development, and analytical groups to select optimal formulations for monoclonal antibodies and other biologics.

Qualifications

• PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry or related field.
• 3+ years in biopharmaceutical industry focusing on protein formulation and characterization.
• Experience leading formulation projects from concept to execution.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Pre-Formulation: Lead formulation programs for lead molecules with high solubility, stability, and freeze-thaw potential.
• Team Leadership: Direct and mentor a small characterization team; establish robust analytical workflows and criteria.
• Risk Mitigation: Identify and mitigate formulation-related risks such as aggregation and viscosity at high concentrations.
• Technical Innovation: Evaluate and implement novel formulation technologies and high-throughput screening platforms.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Serve as the technical formulation lead on concurrent project teams across functions.
• Data Excellence: Maintain ELN documentation and provide data-driven recommendations for development transitions.

Skills

Protein chemistry

Thermodynamics

Biophysical characterization

Formulation development

Team leadership

Biochemical assays

Data integrity

Scientific communication

Education

PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences

Biochemistry

Chemical Engineering

Chemistry

Tools

DLS/Zetasizer

DSC

DSF

SEC

Spectroscopy

Job description

Introduction

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

As a Senior Scientist in the Transitional and Early Development team, you will be a strategic and technical leader focused on the critical transition from early research to development. In this role, you will lead early-formulation work to identify optimal formulations for physical stability of lead molecules in support of pre-clinical study material generation. In this laboratory-based leadership role, you will drive the biophysical characterization and formulation selection process for diverse biopharmaceutical modalities, including monoclonal antibodies and other complex biologics. You will be responsible for leading a small characterization team that performs the biophysical and functional assays used to evaluate and de-risk lead candidates before they enter full development as well as designing and conducting the formulation selection studies.

Your Responsibilities

• Strategic Pre-Formulation: Lead formulation programs for lead molecules, applying deep expertise in protein chemistry and thermodynamics to identify formulations for each lead with superior solubility, stability, and freeze-thaw potential.
• Team Leadership: Direct and mentor a small characterization team; establish robust analytical workflows and acceptance criteria for biophysical and functional assays.
• Risk Mitigation: Identify and mitigate formulation-related risks such as aggregation, precipitation, and viscosity at high concentrations using first-principles understanding of solution behavior.
• Technical Innovation: Evaluate and implement novel formulation technologies and high-throughput screening platforms to accelerate the lead selection process.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Serve as the technical formulation lead on concurrent project teams, interfacing with Discovery Research, Process Development, Analytical Development, and Formulation Development.
• Data Excellence: Maintain exemplary ELN documentation, author technical reports, and provide data-driven recommendations to enable the successful transition of molecules into the development pipeline.

What You Need to Succeed (Minimum Qualifications)

Education: PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or a related scientific discipline.

Experience: 3+ years of biopharmaceutical industry experience with a specific focus on protein formulation and characterization. Proven experience leading formulation projects from concept through execution.

Technical Skills: Deep expertise in protein chemistry, physical biochemistry, and colloidal science. Hands-on mastery of protein characterization techniques (e.g., DLS/Zetasizer, DSC, DSF, SEC, and spectroscopy). Demonstrated ability to thrive in fast-paced environments with evolving priorities. Excellent scientific communication skills and a strong foundation in data integrity practices.

What Will Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)

Formulation Platforms: Experience developing advanced or high-concentration formulation platforms for monoclonal antibodies.

Process Insight: Understanding of how early formulation choices impact future unit operations like lyophilization or technology transfer.

Digital Tools: Experience using Design of Experiments (DoE) and statistical analysis (e.g., JMP) to optimize formulation behavior.

Leadership Track Record: Experience mentoring junior scientists and building analytical capabilities within a research or development setting.

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.

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
• #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.

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.