Scientist - Protein Biochemistry

Company: Eli Lilly and Company
Location: Indianapolis
Posted on: March 15, 2026

Job Description:

At Lilly, we unite caring with discovery to make life better for people around the world. We are a global healthcare leader headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our employees around the world work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to our communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. We give our best effort to our work, and we put people first. We’re looking for people who are determined to make life better for people around the world. Position Summary: The Scientist in the BioTDR-Lead Optimization, will be joining a dynamic group focused on driving experiments on the cutting edge of biotech. This scientist will work closely with the local core groups to optimize processes, implement analyses, and interpret data to support the broader project teams, with a focus on delivering novel medicines to patients. The successful candidate is expected to demonstrate expertise with various innovative, protein production platforms, and profiling techniques. Knowledge of basic protein chemistry, molecular biology, protein characterization, and kinetic binding studies will be essential for the role. This scientist will drive breakthrough research using modern protein platforms leading small, and large, scale protein production/characterization efforts, conjugation optimization, and protein-protein interaction analysis. In this role, the incumbent will also be encouraged to develop their own ideas and contribute these to the broader group. They are expected to be a dynamic and motivated scientist who can drive their own experiments and research activities, while collaborating extensively with the entire organization to execute on various research programs. This role offers the opportunity to build industry-leading workflows that generate ground-breaking molecules supporting both foundational research and translational medicine. Responsibilities: Interact and collaborate with various discovery and lead optimization functional teams to develop and implement optimized protein production work flows, processes, and analyses Develop scalable production and purification workflows for therapeutic and targeting proteins across diverse protein architectures such as mAbs, heteromabs, scFv’s, Fabs, and VHH’s Design and carry out protein kinetic binding studies using biochemical techniques such as SPR, BLI, ELISA, MSD, ITC and free thiol assays Stay current on groundbreaking technologies and work collaboratively with local core teams to validate and implement novel processes, protein designs, and analysis assays Maintain, operate, and optimize platform instrumentation while ensuring peak performance and data quality Innovate sample preparation protocols tailored to platform-specific chemistry and biological matrix requirements Maintain thorough standards for laboratory safety, regulatory compliance, and data integrity Responsible for establishing and updating lab SOPs and training lab scientists as needed Aggregate, organize, and present data to local, and broader, teams to foster collaborations and get feedback for further improvements Proper documentation and archiving of data and analyses Basic Requirements: Master's degree (with 3 years’) or Bachelor's degree (with 5 years’) experience in Biotechnology, Engineering, Biochemistry, Immunology, Biology, or related STEM field Additional Preferences: Hands-on expertise with a variety of protein purification and analysis platforms, including AKTA purification systems with a variety of chromatography techniques Broad experience with multiple protein analysis platforms including SDS-PAGE, analytical SEC/HIC/IEX, SLS/DLS, Mass spectrometry, Biacore, Octet, and MSD ELISA Knowledge of electronic notebooks, databases, Microsoft Teams, and software including Excel, GraphPad Prism, BiaEvaluation, Biacore Insight Evaluation, AKTA, OpenLab, or other analysis tools Experience working aseptically in a protein production environment, with familiarity preventing endotoxin contamination, and methods for removal Track record of scientific interest, and communication of data through publications, poster sessions, and/or internal/external presentations Demonstrated experience in working collaboratively across various scientific fields to meet project goals and timelines Proven track record in interpreting complex biological data and translating findings into actionable research directions Exceptional analytical and problem-solving capabilities with meticulous attention to experimental detail Demonstrated ability to be highly functioning in team-focused environments Hands-on experience and thorough understanding of thiol-based protein conjugations and click chemistry reactions Demonstrated experience developing and validating novel processes and/or analysis techniques to drive projects Machine learning experience protein design and optimizations Strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals featuring protein biochemistry and/or thiol-based conjugation applications Lilly is dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities to actively engage in the workforce, ensuring equal opportunities when vying for positions. If you require accommodation to submit a resume for a position at Lilly, please complete the accommodation request form ( https://careers.lilly.com/us/en/workplace-accommodation ) for further assistance. Please note this is for individuals to request an accommodation as part of the application process and any other correspondence will not receive a response. Lilly is proud to be an EEO Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender identity, sex, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. Our employee resource groups (ERGs) offer strong support networks for their members and are open to all employees. Our current groups include: Africa, Middle East, Central Asia Network, Black Employees at Lilly, Chinese Culture Network, Japanese International Leadership Network (JILN), Lilly India Network, Organization of Latinx at Lilly (OLA), PRIDE (LGBTQ Allies), Veterans Leadership Network (VLN), Women’s Initiative for Leading at Lilly (WILL), enAble (for people with disabilities). Learn more about all of our groups. Actual compensation will depend on a candidate’s education, experience, skills, and geographic location. The anticipated wage for this position is $79,500 - $169,400 Full-time equivalent employees also will be eligible for a company bonus (depending, in part, on company and individual performance). In addition, Lilly offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees, including eligibility to participate in a company-sponsored 401(k); pension; vacation benefits; eligibility for 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; and well-being benefits (e.g., employee assistance program, fitness benefits, and employee clubs and activities).Lilly reserves the right to amend, modify, or terminate its compensation and benefit programs in its sole discretion and Lilly’s compensation practices and guidelines will apply regarding the details of any promotion or transfer of Lilly employees. WeAreLilly

Keywords: Eli Lilly and Company, Bloomington , Scientist - Protein Biochemistry, Science, Research & Development , Indianapolis, Indiana