Postdoctoral Scientist – Synthetic & Medicinal Chemistry

Lilly • Louisville, CO

11d • $58,000 - $123,200 • Onsite

About The Position

This Postdoctoral Scientist position offers the opportunity to work at the interface of medicinal and process chemistry within a multidisciplinary team of chemists, analytical scientists, and engineers. The scientist will design and synthesize novel chemical targets, develop and apply new synthetic methodologies, and build deep insights into structure-function relationships that rapidly advance discovery and development efforts. We are especially interested in candidates who can pair a strong foundation in modern synthetic chemistry with emerging enabling technologies — in particular single-electron chemistry (photochemistry and/or electrochemistry) and a strong engineering mindset for reaction scale-up, continuous processing, and laboratory automation. This role enables the researcher to conduct innovative chemistry relevant to our pipeline while generating data that can be published externally, creating value for both Eli Lilly and the scientist.

Requirements

• PhD in synthetic chemistry, organic chemistry, chemistry, biochemistry, chemical engineering, or a closely related field.
• 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 and 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.
• Strong background in modern synthetic and/or medicinal chemistry with hands-on bench expertise.
• Proficiency with standard analytical and purification techniques, including NMR, HPLC, and LC–MS.

Nice To Haves

• Single-electron chemistry: demonstrated experience in photochemistry and/or electrochemistry, including reaction setup, optimization, and mechanistic understanding.
• Engineering skills: strong engineering aptitude applied to chemistry — e.g., continuous/flow chemistry, reaction engineering and scale-up, process development, or design and integration of automated/instrumented systems.
• Experience or familiarity with parallel reaction design, design of experiments (DoE), or high-throughput synthesis and screening.
• Experience or familiarity with data science, and with Python, R, or other coding languages.
• Strong interest in creating and advancing new technologies in predictive and data-driven chemistry.
• Demonstrated self-initiative, appropriate risk-taking, and a continual-learner mindset.
• Demonstrated proficiency in scientific writing and publication in peer-reviewed journals, along with strong scientific presentation skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, analytical, documentation, and multitasking skills, with the ability to prioritize and manage ambiguity in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated track record of creative, mechanism-based problem solving and effective teamwork.

Responsibilities

• Working within a scientific team, conceptualize and execute new synthetic methodologies to rapidly screen and optimize relevant reactions.
• Purify starting materials, intermediates, and final compounds using modern separation techniques (e.g., flash chromatography, crystallization, preparative HPLC).
• Characterize reaction components, starting materials, and products by modern analytical techniques including NMR, HPLC, LC–MS, and related methods.
• Apply and develop single-electron chemistry approaches — photochemistry and/or electrochemistry — to enable new bond disconnections and methodology.
• Conduct chemical development using modern technologies such as continuous (flow) processing, automated/high-throughput reaction screening, and computational chemistry.
• Build, maintain, and troubleshoot laboratory instrumentation and equipment, contributing engineering insight to experimental design and scale-up.
• Review assay and analytical data, communicate results, and discuss the project impact of new findings.
• Author peer-reviewed external publications as a primary work output and present work in team and scientific meetings.
• Uphold laboratory safety standards and safe chemical-handling practices, and generate accurate, descriptive lab records to industry standards in a timely manner.

Benefits

• company bonus (depending, in part, on company and individual performance)
• company-sponsored 401(k)
• pension
• vacation benefits
• 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: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree