Associate Scientist - Cell Line Development

Elanco • Indianapolis, IN

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

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: Senior Associate Scientist, Cell Line Development As a Senior Associate Scientist, Cell Line Development, you will be a pivotal member of our Transitional and Early Development (TED) team, directly contributing to the advancement of Elanco’s biotherapeutic and vaccine pipeline. You will leverage your deep expertise in mammalian cell culture, molecular biology, and biochemistry to develop and industrialize next-generation cell lines. This is a hands-on laboratory role where you will take ownership of projects, collaborate with a diverse group of scientists, and see your work translate from research to development, making a tangible impact on animal health.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant scientific discipline (e.g., Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology) with at least 6 years of industry experience, OR a Master's degree with at least 3 years of industry experience.
• Deep technical expertise in mammalian suspension cell culture (specifically CHO and 293 cells), including aseptic technique, media preparation, and cell banking.
• Proven ability to independently troubleshoot complex technical issues, interpret complex data to influence project direction, and effectively manage multiple projects in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrable hands-on experience in the end-to-end development of stable cell lines, including transfection, single-cell cloning, and characterization of clonality and stability.
• Proven project management experience with the ability to guide technical strategy and mentor junior scientists.
• Hands-on experience with high-throughput cell line development platforms (e.g., Beacon, VIPS) and flow cytometry.
• A strong understanding of upstream bioprocess techniques, including the use of shake flasks, ambr®, and bench-scale bioreactors.
• Familiarity with cGMP principles and the regulatory requirements for cell line development and characterization for IND/BLA submissions.

Responsibilities

• Guide the development, optimization, and implementation of robust workflows for mammalian cell culture and high-performance cell line generation.
• Take ownership of the end-to-end creation of stable and clonal cell lines for biotherapeutic and vaccine candidates, utilizing advanced platforms such as Beacon and VIPS.
• Serve as a key technical matter expert on cell line development, providing critical scientific input and fostering seamless collaboration with Discovery, Upstream Process Development, and Analytical teams.
• Manage the evaluation and implementation of new technologies and methodologies to enhance the speed, quality, and efficiency of our cell line development engine.
• Ensure meticulous data integrity and knowledge transfer by authoring detailed technical protocols, analyzing complex datasets, and clearly presenting scientific findings to guide project progression.

Benefits

• 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
• Company-matching 401(k)
• 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
• Well-being benefits (e.g., employee assistance program, fitness benefits, and employee clubs and activities)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level