Postdoctoral Scientist – CNS Neuroimaging & Quantitative Data Science

Overview

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 in CNS Neuroimaging to join the Drug Delivery and Connected Systems (DDCS) group. This role will support CNS therapeutic development by applying multimodal neuroimaging and quantitative data analytics across discovery and translational research programs.

The successful candidate will play a critical role in enabling data‑driven decision making for CNS drug delivery strategies through the management, analysis, and interpretation of complex neuroimaging datasets derived from preclinical and in vivo studies. Imaging modalities may include MRI, CT, PET, optical imaging, and other emerging techniques relevant to CNS exposure, biodistribution, target engagement, and neurobiological response.

This scientist will work closely with internal experts in neuroscience, drug delivery, genomics, and biodistribution, as well as with external CRO partners, to optimize imaging strategies, ensure data quality, and translate imaging outputs into actionable biological and therapeutic insights.

This postdoctoral position offers the opportunity to work at the intersection of CNS therapeutics, multimodal neuroimaging, and quantitative data science within a leading pharmaceutical research organization. The role provides direct exposure to translational decision‑making, complex CNS drug delivery challenges, and cross‑functional scientific collaboration. There will be strong opportunities to publish high‑impact research in peer‑reviewed journals while developing deep expertise in neuroimaging‑driven therapeutic evaluation.

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities:

• CNS Neuroimaging Data Management & Analysis

  • Receive, organize, curate, and analyze multimodal CNS neuroimaging datasets, including but not limited to MRI, CT, and complementary imaging approaches used in CNS drug delivery research.

  • Apply advanced quantitative analysis methods across neuroimaging modalities relevant to regional CNS exposure, delivery efficiency, anatomical specificity, tissue response, and longitudinal change.

  • Perform standard preprocessing and analysis workflows, including registration, segmentation, artifact assessment, and region‑based quantification.

  • Implement atlas‑based registration and segmentation using established CNS atlases (e.g., Allen Brain Atlas, Paxinos, and higher‑vertebrate atlases) as a required skill for regional exposure and biodistribution analysis.

  • Manage large, multi‑study imaging datasets with strong attention to data integrity, reproducibility, and documentation aligned with CNS research and regulatory expectations.

• Neuroimaging Software & Computational Expertise

  • Demonstrate deep working knowledge of neuroimaging software platforms such as FSL, ANTs, ITK‑SNAP, and 3D Slicer; these are considered table‑stakes tools for the role.

  • Develop and maintain custom Python‑based image analysis workflows and scalable pipelines tailored to CNS drug delivery research.

  • Apply modern data analytics and visualization techniques to extract and communicate CNS‑relevant insights.

• Multimodal Integration & Biological Interpretation

  • Lead co‑registration and integration of neuroimaging data with histology, IHC, and molecular biodistribution readouts.

  • Serve as a scientific bridge between imaging and biodistribution teams, enabling coherent interpretation across spatial, anatomical, and molecular scales.

  • Translate complex neuroimaging datasets into clear, interpretable visualizations and summaries for project teams and leadership audiences.

• Cross‑Functional & External Collaboration

  • Act as a scientific interface between DDCS,…