Senior Biologist

At Lilly, the work is demanding because patients are waiting. We unite caring with discovery to help make life better for people around the world, knowing that every decision, every detail, and every day matters. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, our over 50,000 employees around the globe take on complex challenges to discover and deliver life‑changing medicines, strengthen how health is understood and managed, and support the communities we serve.

This is hard, urgent, selfless work—but it’s work worth doing. If you’re driven by purpose and ready to bring your best to work that truly matters for patients, we invite you to join us.

The Bioproduct Research and Development (BR&D) organization delivers innovative medicines through the development and commercialization of insulins, peptides, oligonucleotides, monoclonal antibodies, antibody‑drug conjugates (ADCs), novel therapeutic proteins, and gene therapy systems.  &D is a multidisciplinary group with deep scientific expertise that collaborates closely with discovery and manufacturing partners. Located in Indianapolis, IN, our scientists have access to world‑class pharmaceutical development and engineering capabilities.

In this role, you will join a collaborative team of scientists dedicated to advancing bioassay science in support of Lilly's growing portfolio of biotherapeutics and next‑generation modalities.

You will play a critical role in ensuring that the potency and biologi­cal activity of Lilly's medicines are accurately characterized from early development through commercialization, directly supporting patient access to safe and effective therapies. This is an opportunity to work hands‑on with cutting‑edge technologies — including cell and gene therapy platforms, engineered cell lines, and genome editing tools — while building deep technical expertise in bioassay development, a discipline central to both product quality and regulatory success.

You will partner closely with colleagues across Analytical Development, Quality Control, Manufacturing, and Regulatory Affairs, gaining broad visibility into the end‑to‑end product lifecycle and the chance to shape how new assay technologies are evaluated and adopted across the organization.

For scientists looking to grow their careers in bioanalytical and cell‑based assay science within a fast‑paced, innovation‑driven environment, this role offers meaningful technical challenges alongside strong mentorship and cross‑functional exposure.

• Support the development, optimization, and implementation of assays to assess the biological activity of therapeutic proteins, peptides, and new modalities, including gene and cell therapies, in the laboratory.

• Support the transfer of potency assays for QC release and stability testing to meet product and corresponding regulatory requirements.

• Execute experiments, review and analyze data, author technical documents, and contribute to sections of regulatory submissions.

• Support bioassay lab operations, including cell culturing, reagent acquisition and qualification, and instrument purchase and qualification.

• Coordinate and collaborate with internal and external partners as part of cross‑functional teams.

• Evaluate and assess emerging technologies suitable for bioassay development.

• MS in Molecular Biology, Immunology, Biochemistry, Bioanalytical Chemistry or a related field with a minimum of 0–2 years of experience in the pharma/biotech industry; or

• BS in Molecular Biology, Immunology, Biochemistry, Bioanalytical Chemistry, or a related field with a minimum of 2–3 years of experience in the pharma/biotech industry

• Hands‑on experience executing potency assays, such as binding assays (e.g., ELISA, SPR) and/or cell‑based assays (e.g., luciferase reporter assays)

• Proficiency in mammalian cell culture techniques, including maintenance of adherent and suspension cell lines, passaging, and cryopreservation

• Experience working with engineered cell lines (e.g., stable reporter lines, knockout or knock‑in lines) commonly used in bioassay development and qualification

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to…