Scientist - Biotechnology Discovery Research

Job ID: R-109124Company: LillyLocation: Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of AmericaJob Type: Full TimeCategory: Research & DevelopmentPosted Date: 2026-07-29At 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. Organization Overview: Eli Lilly’s Biotechnology Discovery Research (BioTDR) organization has a track record of discovering, optimizing, and delivering novel biotherapeutic medicines to the clinic for the treatment of unmet medical needs in diabetes, oncology, immunology, and neuroscience. This position is within the BioTDR Lead Optimization Group, and we seek a motivated scientist to join our team. The successful candidate will drive innovation within the Lead Optimization Group and work across the discovery and development interface to deliver Lilly’s early phase portfolio. Are you eager to drive innovation in a fast-paced, collaborative environment to develop life-changing medicines for patients? Our commitment to our employees, patients, and communities is unmatched, and we want you to be a part of our team.Responsibilities:Deliver LC-mass spectrometry-based data for the characterization of a diverse and growing large-molecule portfolio, including monoclonal antibodies, bispecific antibodies, fusion proteins, antibody-drug conjugates, peptides, oligonucleotides, viral (e.g. AAV, lentivirus) and non-viral (e.g. LNP, liposome) genetic medicines, etc.Leverage extensive knowledge of and experience with a broad range of characterization methods to inform developability assessment and lead optimization (e.g., intact mass analysis, identification of post-translational modifications, profiling molecule assembly and structural variants including disulfide mapping, identifying glycosylation patterns, etc.) Basic Requirements:Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Analytical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Chemistry, or a related scientific field.Minimum of 0-2 years of academic, research institute, or industry experience.Qualified applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Lilly will not provide support for or sponsor work authorization or visas for this role, including but not limited to F-1 CPT, F-1 OPT, F-1 STEM OPT, J-1, H-1B, TN, O-1, E-3, H-1B1, or L-1.Additional Skills/Preferences:Working knowledge of the large-molecule drug discovery and development process, including developability assessment.Proficiency with various mass spectrometry platforms (e.g., Orbitrap, Q-TOF) and diverse software for data processing and analysis (e.g., Genedata Expressionist).Experience with automated high-throughput liquid handling systems for automated sample preparation.Experience working with biological samples (e.g., serum, tissue).Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including protein engineers, chemists, and biologists, to support lead selection and optimization efforts through advanced analytical characterization.Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to share learnings across team boundaries.Excellent time management and organizational skills with the ability to adapt to changing priorities and deadlines and thrive in ambiguity.Experience with note booking and data analytics using Benchling.Promote a culture of safety and inclusion in the workplace, including coaching and mentoring peers and other scientists.Experience with chromatographic (LC, GC, IC) method development or validation in pharmaceutical, chemical, or a regulated industry setting.Additional Information:Location: Indianapolis, IndianaTravel: 0-10%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 () 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 (View email address on click.appcast.io), 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$65,250 - $169,400Full-time equivalent employees also 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.#WeAreLillySkillslc-mass spectrometrydevelopability assessmentmass spectrometry platforms (orbitrap, q-tof)genedata expressionistautomated high-throughput liquid handling systemsbiological sample analysischromatographic method developmentchromatographic method validationdata processing and analysiscross-functional collaborationproteomicsbenchlinglead optimizationnote bookingorganizational skillsverbal communicationwritten communication