Advisor - Biophysical/Analytical Scientist, Molecular Insights

Eli Lilly and Company • Us, IN

3d

About The Position

Eli Lilly and Company's Biotechnology Discovery Research (BioTDR) organization discovers and optimizes novel biotherapeutic medicines for advancement into clinical research. The Lead Optimization group is seeking a Biophysical/Analytical Scientist to join its interdisciplinary Molecular Insights team. The role supports the generation and selection of drug candidates with biopharmaceutical properties that enable successful manufacturing, formulation, and delivery. The scientist brings deep expertise in biophysical and analytical characterization of biotherapeutics and applies it flexibly across complex and emerging modalities, partnering with Research and Development stakeholders.

The successful candidate serves as the primary biophysical and analytical contact for assigned programs, independently driving strategic decisions and advising project and platform teams on developability, characterization, and formulation-related questions. The role uses characterization data to inform structure-activity relationships and risk assessments, performs and interprets a range of orthogonal analytical methods, and communicates findings through presentations, reports, and electronic notebooks.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in biochemistry, biotechnology, analytical chemistry, chemical engineering, pharmaceutical sciences, or a related field, with at least 2 years of relevant industry experience; or an M.S. with at least 7 years of relevant industry experience.
• Deep expertise in biophysical characterization methods, including light scattering, spectroscopic, chromatographic, calorimetric, and binding kinetics methods, to enable drug candidate selection and development.
• Strong analytical capabilities applied to biotherapeutic candidates.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with complex modalities such as antibody-drug conjugates, bispecific monoclonal antibodies, antibody-peptide conjugates, or other bioconjugates.
• Hands-on experience with Biacore/SPR, Octet/BLI, or other binding kinetics platforms.
• Familiarity with laboratory automation and high-throughput characterization platforms.
• Demonstrated ability to use generative AI to enhance personal and/or team productivity.
• Experience with computational or structure-based modeling methods such as Schrödinger, MOE, or molecular dynamics.
• Experience using JMP or Prism for statistical analysis.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary biophysical and analytical point of contact for assigned programs, independently driving strategic decisions and partnering with project and platform teams on developability, characterization, and formulation-related questions.
• Collaborate with protein engineers, medicinal chemists, preclinical biologists, ADME scientists, and other stakeholders to use characterization data to inform SAR and risk assessment.
• Apply biophysical and analytical expertise across diverse and complex modalities as project and platform needs evolve.
• Execute and interpret orthogonal biophysical and analytical characterization methods to support developability and candidate selection decisions.
• Apply computational or structure-based modeling methods, where applicable, to complement biophysical data and inform candidate selection decisions.
• Apply statistical analysis using software such as JMP or Prism to evaluate experimental data and support data-driven decisions.
• Search and review scientific literature and the broader external environment to identify innovation opportunities and best practices for biophysical and analytical characterization.
• Accurately document experimental procedures and communicate results through presentations, written reports, and electronic notebooks following established procedures.

Benefits

• Company bonus, depending in part on company and individual performance.
• Eligibility to participate in a company-sponsored 401(k).
• Pension.
• Vacation benefits.
• Eligibility for medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug benefits.
• Flexible benefits, including 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, including an employee assistance program, fitness benefits, and employee clubs and activities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree