Senior Associate Scientist, Protein Purification & Development

Elanco•Indianapolis, IN

1d•Onsite

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! Are you a protein purification expert ready to make a significant impact on animal health? Elanco is seeking a Senior Associate Scientist to serve as a technical leader in our Biopharma Technical Development group. You will drive the discovery and optimization of novel biopharmaceuticals and vaccines by independently managing the entire protein purification and characterization workflow. This is a key laboratory-based role where you will solve complex scientific challenges and mentor a team of talented scientists. About the Role As a Senior Associate Scientist, you will be a high-level technical lead responsible for advancing Elanco’s mission to develop innovative animal health therapies. You will own the protein purification pipeline for multiple complex biologics, from initial method development through final characterization and data delivery. In this role, you will partner closely with scientists across our discovery and core research laboratories, providing technical mentorship and leveraging your expertise to influence project direction and success.

Requirements

BS degree in Biochemistry, Chemistry, Biotechnology, Biology, or a related scientific discipline.
8+ years (with BS) or 5+ years (with MS) of hands-on experience in the Biotech/Biopharmaceutical industry.
A proven track record of independent method development and technical leadership in protein purification and chromatography.
Demonstrated ability to influence technical outcomes and work productively in a matrixed, interdisciplinary team environment.
Exceptional ability to present complex scientific data clearly and concisely to senior research leadership.

Nice To Haves

MS degree with subject matter expertise in monoclonal antibody (mAb) purification.
Experience with Design of Experiments (DoE) for process optimization.
Proven project leadership skills and experience managing laboratory resource allocation.

Responsibilities

Own the end-to-end protein purification and characterization pipeline for multiple high-priority projects, independently optimizing methods using AKTA, FPLC, and automated HF/TFF systems.
Serve as the site expert for downstream processing hardware, leading troubleshooting, maintenance, and the strategic selection of chromatography resins and modalities (IEX, SEC, affinity).
Generate and interpret critical characterization data (SDS-PAGE, endotoxin testing) to provide actionable insights that guide project direction and key decisions.
Build team capabilities by training and mentoring junior Associate Scientists on advanced laboratory protocols, safety, and technical best practices.
Drive documentation excellence by authoring and reviewing complex protocols, technical reports, and raw data to ensure the highest standards of quality and compliance.