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!

Senior Scientist (R2)- Target Validation and Early Project Lead

As a Senior Scientist in the Mechanistic Biology team, you will lead novel target identification and validation across multiple animal diseases to build the drug discovery pipeline. This is a non-lab role focused on guiding cross-functional teams through early-stage drug discovery by leveraging advanced in vitro techniques, functional genomics, and AI/ML data analysis.

Your Responsibilities:

• Lead the identification and prioritization of novel targets using in-vitro/vivo experiments, literature reviews, biological assays, bioinformatics, functional genomics, AI/ML and novel approaches.

• Guide cross-functional teams through the first stage of drug discovery, from initial concept to target validation.

• Develop strategies to de-risk targets and enhance commercial viability by integrating Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC) considerations.

• Manage external CRO partnerships and foster strategic collaborations across research teams, including, technical development, preclinical development, discovery, medicinal chemistry and computational biology.

• Develop and integrate biomarker strategies and translational in vitro disease models to accelerate early-stage discovery.

• Lead the building of new indications areas identified as important in animal health.

• Assess on-target, off-target, and safety risks of pipeline assets, while providing expert physiological support on disease and drug effects.

• Develop and integrate biomarker strategies (biological, AI-enabled, imaging) from early validation through registrational studies.

• Continuously enhance expertise in study design/model development.

• Ensure compliance with regulatory standards (e.g., GLP/GxP), accurate budget tracking, scientific integrity, and animal welfare principles.

What You Need to Succeed (minimum qualifications):

• Education: Ph.D. in Cell/Molecular Biology or a related field with several years of postdoctoral training.

• Experience: Professional experience in industry research and early-stage biotech/drug discovery, including CRO management.

• Top 2 skills: Expert in target identification and validation (including approaches such as cell line development, biological assay development, for both small and large molecule drugs, etc). Expertise in New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) such as organoids/iPSCs with proficiency in using AI/ML for target identification and validation.

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

• DVM with aforementioned Ph.D and training.

• 3 years of experience in a pharmaceutical company.

• Demonstrated success identifying novel targets and a proven publication record.

• Demonstrated ability to lead projects.

• Working knowledge of applicable statistical principles and data analysis techniques.

• Experience with compound library screening and biomolecular training (RNA-seq, omics, flow cytometry).

• Ability to collaborate and influence cross functionally. Ability to work in a fast paced, agile environment.

• Experience in animal health industry.

Additional Information:

Travel: up to 25 %

Location: Indianapolis, IN , Hybrid Environment

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

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