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:

As the Principal Research Scientist for In Vitro Assay Development, you will be the ‘Architect of the Lab Test’ for Elanco’s research portfolio. You will serve as the scientific hub for a team dedicated to answering a critical question: does a new drug work in the lab before we ever test it in an animal? By designing and implementing the complex experiments that demonstrate a drug’s potency and mechanism of action, you will directly shape the scientific direction of projects and serve as the bridge between our discovery and development teams.

Your Responsibilities:

• Serve as the intellectual leader for the design and development of all critical protein and cell-based assays, providing strategic and technical guidance to project teams.

• Architect the end-to-end in vitro screening strategy for diverse projects, designing bespoke assays to probe mechanism-of-action (MOA), determine potency, and characterize cellular responses.

• Define and manage the strategic balance of assay development and execution between internal teams and external Contract Research Organizations (CROs).

• Drive scientific innovation by evaluating and implementing cutting-edge technologies and new methodologies (e.g., AI/ML applications) to advance our screening cascades.

• Lead, mentor, and guide a team of 3-5 scientists, fostering their career development and building a culture of scientific rigor, curiosity, and collaboration.

• Act as a key scientific liaison, collaborating closely with leaders in medicinal chemistry, protein engineering, immunology, and virology to drive projects forward.

What You Need to Succeed (Minimum Qualifications):

• Education & Experience:Ph.D. in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Immunology, or a related discipline with 8+ years of relevant industry experience; OR an M.S. with 12+ years of extensive, relevant industry experience.

• Technical Expertise:Demonstrated expertise in developing a wide array of cell-based assays (e.g., signaling, reporter, cytotoxicity, proliferation, target engagement).

• Modality Experience:Proven experience with small moleculedrug discovery, plus expertise in at least one other modality (large molecules/biologics or vaccines).

• Scientific Leadership:A track record of identifying critical scientific problems and independently driving the development of solutions that advance portfolio projects, consistent with an R3 level scientist.

What will give you a competitive edge (Preferred Qualifications):

• Experience working across all three modalities: small molecules, large molecules, and vaccines.

• Experience translating novel technologies or methodologies (e.g., AI/ML, high-throughput screening) from human health or other fields into an animal health research environment.

• Direct experience with the transfer of methods and data between internal teams and external collaborators or CROs.

• Demonstrated ability to influence cross-functional teams and manage competing priorities through clear communication and strong collaborative skills.

• A deep understanding of pharmacology, immunology, and/or virology principles.

Additional Information:

• Travel:5-10%

• Location:Global Elanco Headquarters - Indianapolis, IN - Hybrid Work Environment

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:

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

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.