Senior Research Scientist – Farm Animal Clinical Development, Vaccines and Infectious Diseases

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! As the Senior Research Scientist – Farm Animal Clinical Development, Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, you will play a pivotal role in advancing Elanco’s farm animal innovation pipeline by designing, coordinating, and executing global host animal safety and efficacy study programs. In this role, you will formulate clinical development plans from inception through approval to deliver next-generation vaccines and therapeutic products to our customers. You will partner closely with cross-functional R&D teams, Regulatory Affairs, and external research partners to translate scientific strategy into high-impact regulatory submissions.

Requirements

Master’s Degree in Animal Science, Veterinary Sciences, Microbiology, Immunology, or related scientific discipline (or Bachelor's Degree with equivalent level of relevant industry experience); DVM or Ph.D. warmly welcomed.
A minimum of 3 years of experience in veterinary clinical study design, animal health research, or vaccine/biologics product development.
Proven proficiency in designing host animal safety/efficacy protocols under GxP/VICH-GCP guidelines, combined with strong project organization and cross-functional communication abilities.

Nice To Haves

DVM and/or Ph.D. in Veterinary Medicine, Animal Science, Immunology, Virology, or Infectious Diseases.
5+ years of direct experience leading farm animal vaccine or therapeutic clinical development programs.
Demonstrated experience interacting with regulatory agencies (e.g., USDA-CVB, FDA-CVM, EMA) and authoring regulatory dossier sections.
Hands-on expertise evaluating, selecting, and overseeing external contract research organizations (CROs) and university research facilities.
Strong strategic mindset with demonstrated ability to translate complex scientific data into regulatory and commercial solutions.

Responsibilities

Design, author, and execute robust host animal safety and efficacy study protocols and comprehensive clinical development plans in compliance with USDA, GLP, vGCP, and VICH standards.
Partner with Clinical Development Sciences (CDS) to evaluate, select, and monitor qualified external research facilities, investigators, and contract research organizations (CROs).
Collaborate cross-functionally with Biostatistics, Regulatory Affairs, Medical Writing, and Quality Assurance to analyze, interpret, and report clinical trial data for global regulatory submissions.
Serve as a clinical and technical subject matter expert during regulatory agency interactions and scientific conferences, effectively communicating study data and strategy.
Drive continuous improvement and technical excellence by updating functional procedures, mentoring less experienced colleagues, and staying current with advances in veterinary vaccines and infectious diseases.