Senior Research Scientist - DMPK

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!

As a Senior Research Scientist – DMPK, you will serve as a subject matter expert in drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics for discovery and pre-clinical research projects. In this role, you will be responsible for designing and implementing DMPK and PK/PD strategies that guide compound optimization, de-risking and accelerating early R&D programs through candidate selection and progression into the development pipeline.

Your Responsibilities:

• Serve as the PK/DMPK scientific lead across multidisciplinary discovery and pre-clinical research teams, establishing strategies to guide small and large molecule candidates toward nomination.
• Design, execute, and monitor in vitro DMPK/ADME and in vivo PK/PD profiling studies to evaluate target exposure, bioavailability, metabolism, and drug interaction risks.
• Integrate DMPK findings with pharmacology and toxicology data to build robust lead profiles, perform IVIVC or mechanistic modeling, and drive go/no-go progression decisions.
• Collaborate cross-functionally across global R&D and partner with external CROs and academic collaborators to access specialized technologies and advance early pipeline packages.
• Prepare and deliver clear scientific summaries, reports, and presentations on DMPK findings to enable evidence-based governance decisions.

What You Need to Succeed (minimum qualifications):

• Education: Advanced scientific degree (PhD, PharmD, DVM, or Master's/Bachelor's degree with equivalent level of experience) in Pharmacology, Chemistry, Veterinary/Medical Sciences, or related scientific discipline.
• Required Experience: A minimum of 4 years of experience in pharmaceutical industry or academia in discovery and pre-clinical DMPK research, with demonstrated experience in both small and large molecule drug development.
• Strong foundational expertise in early-phase DMPK/ADME characterization, PK/PD data interpretation, and proficiency in PK software tools (such as Phoenix WinNonlin, Monolix, or equivalent).

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

• Experience with mechanistic PK modeling and/or physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling.
• Strong chemistry background with understanding of compound structures, classes, and in vitro profiling.
• Familiarity with veterinary drug development and species-specific considerations in animal metabolism and pharmacokinetics.
• Demonstrated experience managing and collaborating with external contract research organizations (CROs) and academic partners.
• Proven track record of cross-functional collaboration and delivering clear scientific presentations to diverse technical and non-technical audiences.

Additional Information:

• Travel: Up to 10% of domestic and international travel
• Location: Global Elanco Headquarters - Indianapolis, IN - Hybrid Work Environment

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown underrepresented 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. #LI-MW1 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