Postdoctoral Scientist - Gene Therapy Biodistribution & Molecular Biology; CNS

Position: Postdoctoral Scientist - Gene Therapy Biodistribution & Molecular Biology (CNS)
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 Overview:

Eli Lilly and Company is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Scientist to join the Drug Delivery and Connected Systems (DDCS) organization, with a primary focus on CNS gene therapy biodistribution and molecular bioanalysis. This role will support the optimization and translational advancement of gene therapy platforms, both viral and non-viral, for neurological and neurodegenerative diseases.

The successful candidate will bring deep expertise in biodistribution assay development, molecular biology, and quantitative bioanalysis, and will work at the interface of in vivo CNS pharmacology, vector biology, and translational science. This position offers hands-on involvement in preclinical CNS gene therapy programs, collaboration with internal cross-functional teams, and scientific oversight of external CRO-led studies.

This postdoctoral role offers a unique opportunity to contribute directly to cutting-edge CNS gene therapy programs within a leading pharmaceutical research organization. The position provides high-impact scientific exposure, cross-functional collaboration, and skill development at the intersection of gene therapy biology, biodistribution science, and translational CNS drug delivery. There will be opportunity to publish in peer reviewed journals.

Key Responsibilities:

Biodistribution & Molecular Bioanalysis

+ Lead the design, development, optimization, and execution of biodistribution assays to assess AAVs, LNPs, siRNA distribution, transgene expression, and persistence across CNS and peripheral tissues.

+ In depth knowledge of vector biology, and AAV serotype-specific biodistribution knowledge (eg: AAV9, AAVrh
10, PHP.eB) is a must- CNS tropism and off-target profiles are serotype-dependent and fundamental to interpreting results.

+ Apply a broad toolkit of molecular and bioanalytical techniques, including:

PCR-based approaches (PCR, qPCR, ddPCR, stem-loop PCR, vg/dg dose quantification) for vector genome and transcript quantification;

ELISA and immunoassays for protein expression and biomarker analysis;

LC-MS-based quantitative bioanalysis where applicable;

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and tissue-based spatial analyses to enable regional CNS characterization;

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) methods to support vector tracking, expression profiling, or integration-related analyses

+ Ensure assays are fit-for-purpose, sensitive, reproducible, and aligned with translational gene therapy objectives.

+ Off-target analysis and DRG toxicology assay development.

Experimental Design, Troubleshooting, and Scientific Rigor

+ Independently design and execute CNS gene therapy-focused biodistribution studies, applying sound experimental design and Design of Experiments (DoE/DOR) principles.

+ Diagnose and troubleshoot complex technical challenges related to vector detection, tissue processing, assay performance, or data variability.

+ Maintain meticulous experimental documentation, ensuring clear traceability, data integrity, and compliance with DDCS best practices.

CNS Gene Therapy & Translational Insight

+ Apply strong foundational knowledge of CNS biology, molecular biology, and biochemistry to interpret biodistribution and expression data in a therapeutic context.

+ Integrate biodistribution results with an understanding of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) to inform dose selection, delivery route optimization, and therapeutic index assessment for viral and non-viral gene therapies.

+ Contribute to translational strategy discussions by linking molecular readouts to functional, anatomical, and disease-relevant endpoints.

In Vivo Study Oversight & External Collaboration

+ Independently interface with external CROs to design, execute, and oversee in vivo gene therapy biodistribution studies, including work in higher vertebrate CNS models.

+ Provide scientific oversight for tissue collection, sample processing, and downstream molecular analyses conducted internally or externally.

+ Ensure CRO outputs meet DDCS scientific standards, timelines, and data-quality expectations.

Data Analysis, Visualization, and Team Communication

+ Apply best practices for managing and analyzing large, multi-dimensional biodistribution datasets generated from CNS gene therapy studies.

+ Perform statistical analysis and generate clear, insightful data visualizations to support project teams and decision-making forums.

+ Communicate findings effectively through presentations, written…