Postdoctoral Scientist

Lilly • San Diego, CA

28d • $58,000 - $123,200 • Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a highly motivated and creative post-doctoral scientist to join the cross-functional Chemistry + Mass Spectrometry team within BioTDR (biologic discovery) at our San Diego site. This role sits at the intersection of analytical chemistry, bioconjugation, and AI/ML-driven discovery, supporting a high-impact research program to develop a next-generation bioconjugation platform for antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), antibody-oligonucleotide conjugates (AOCs), and peptide conjugates.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in analytical chemistry, chemical biology, biochemistry, bioconjugation chemistry, or a closely related field (degree conferred or expected by June 2026).
• Demonstrated hands-on experience with mass spectrometry for protein or biotherapeutic characterization (intact LC-MS and/or peptide mapping LC-MS/MS).
• Experience with or strong understanding of bioconjugation chemistry and quantitative analysis of DAR.
• Strong scientific communication skills and a record of peer-reviewed publication.
• 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.

Nice To Haves

• Proficiency with Thermo and Agilent LC/MS systems and their software tools for protein MS data analysis.
• Experience with high-throughput screening workflows and laboratory automation platforms.
• Familiarity with structural biology methods
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work effectively in cross-functional, interdisciplinary teams.
• Self-motivated and adaptable, with a track record of creative problem-solving and intellectual initiative.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize high-throughput mass spectrometry workflows for analytical characterization of protein bioconjugates, including intact mass analysis, drug-to-antibody ratio (DAR) determination, and site-specific modification profiling by peptide mapping.
• Execute large-scale compound screening campaigns using automated LC-MS and other mass spec platforms to evaluate novel bioconjugation chemistries.
• Generate high-quality structured analytical datasets to support computational modeling and AI/ML-driven prediction of bioconjugation outcomes.
• Work with medicinal chemists to characterize and advance lead conjugation chemistries into functional biotherapeutic constructs across relevant modalities.
• Partner with computational, automation, and data science teams to build integrated, scalable workflows for high-throughput data acquisition and analysis.
• Present research findings at internal and external scientific forums and contribute to peer-reviewed publications and intellectual property filings.
• Maintain rigorous electronic laboratory records and uphold Lilly safety and compliance standards.

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