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Job Summary
We are looking for an in vitro pharmacologist with deep experience in molecular biology, cell biology, biochemistry, and pharmacology, and broad expertise across multiple therapeutic modalities and therapeutic areas. This individual will be responsible for the critical evaluation of scientific and business opportunities — assessing the scientific merit, technical feasibility, and assay readiness of potential partnerships and programs to enable high-quality decision-making. They will also serve as a key ExploR&D scientific expert and consultant to biotechs, designing and executing fit-for-purpose in vitro pharmacology models to support hit selection, lead optimization, and candidate progression in partnership with biotechs, and will evaluate and build CRO networks to support and extend these capabilities.
A distinguishing feature of this role is the rigorous, critical assessment of biotech partner assay readiness and fit-for-purpose hit identification, hit selection, and lead optimization. This leader will serve as the primary pharmacology interface collaborating across multiple modalities bringing scientific rigor, innovative thinking, demonstrated learning agility, and collaborative leadership to advance molecule innovation from concept to candidate, and to deliver clear, evidence-based go/no-go recommendations at key milestones.
Key Responsibilities
Scientific Evaluation & Biotech Partner Assay Assessment
- Critically evaluate and provide expert opinions on the readiness, robustness, and translational relevance of biotech partner assays — including biochemical, cellular, and ex vivo systems — for hit selection and lead optimization; advise partners on gaps and improvements needed to meet Lilly standards.
- Assess key assay quality parameters: reproducibility, sensitivity, selectivity, dynamic range, and human biological relevance and statistical qualification; identify gaps and provide clear, actionable recommendations.
- Partner with modality leads and biotech collaborators to define project workflows with robust experimental design, fit-for-purpose methodologies, and clear success criteria — serving as a scientific advisor and recommending go/no-go decisions at key milestones.
- Provide expert scientific judgment and recommendations on candidate screening strategies, hit identification, and lead optimization — drawing on deep knowledge of cellular and molecular biology methodologies to advise on the most rigorous and efficient approaches (e.g. mammalian cell culture, in vitro screening, cell-based assays, relevant biochemical, binding, enzymatic and protein/protein interaction methods and biophysical assessments.)
- Oversee in vitro to in vivo drug candidate testing with ADME, tox and PK/PD partners, including experimental design for animal studies, dose planning, and sample analysis.
Cross-Modality Collaboration
- Serve as the primary pharmacology and biology interface connecting with Lilly discovery teams.
- Ensure consistency, translatability, and rigor of in vitro pharmacology strategies across modalities and therapeutic areas.
- Contribute scientific expertise and decision making to multi-disciplinary teams including medicinal chemists, structural biologists, computational scientists, ADME scientists, and translational pharmacologists.
Strategic Alignment & Portfolio Management
- Work with leadership to translate scientific and portfolio needs into best practices, rigorous standards, and joint initiatives across molecule discovery programs.
- Prioritize pilots and evaluation of biological methods that impact molecule quality, cycle time, and probability of technical success.
- In collaboration with the Technology Lead, scan internal and external landscapes for emerging pharmacology platforms, assay technologies, and CRO capabilities; build scientific cases for licensing, adoption, or partnership to advance ExploR&D programs.
- Provide leadership on and oversee pilot design and execution across internal and external partners, ensuring fit-for-purpose experimental design, appropriate controls, and robust success criteria.
- Recommend transition pathways for successful pilots into routine capabilities, advising discovery operations, digital/IT, procurement, and finance on requirements and integration approach.
Due Diligence & Partnership Management
- Lead and participate in due diligence of early-stage partners, including scientific assessments of assay platforms, pilot plans, and integration pathways.
- Select and manage CRO partners through clear scope definition, experimental oversight, quality review, and performance accountability to ensure scientific rigor and on-time delivery.
- Synthesize scientific, operational, and strategic findings from partnerships and programs to deliver clear, evidence-based recommendations to internal leadership and governance forums for decisions on partnerships, CRO selection, technology licensing, and program progression.
External Representation
- Represent Lilly and serve as scientific ambassador for ExploR&D at external meetings, conferences, and industry events — showcasing pharmacology and molecule discovery capabilities, scouting new opportunities, and building the external scientific network.
Minimum Requirements
Required Education:
- PhD, MS, or BS in Pharmacology, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, or a closely related STEM field.
Required Experience:
- 10+ years of drug discovery experience in a pharmaceutical or biotech setting
- 7+ years of post doctoral and hands-on in vitro pharmacology, including cell-based assay development, molecular biology techniques, and hit-to-lead pharmacology
Additional Skills & Preferences
- Advanced degree preferred
- Demonstrated experience applying pharmacology expertise across at least two therapeutic modalities (e.g., small molecules, biologics, RNAi, antibody-based therapeutics)
- Demonstrated experience across at least two therapeutic areas (e.g., oncology, immunology, neuroscience, metabolic disease)
- **Assay Expertise: **Proven track record of critically evaluating assay quality, translational relevance, and fitness-for-purpose — including assay readiness for hit identification and lead optimization — in a drug discovery context. Broad in vitro toolkit including biochemical assays, cellular pharmacology, target engagement technologies (SPR, HTRF, NanoBRET, TR-FRET), ex vivo models, and human-relevant primary cell systems.
- **Translational Thinking: **Strong in vitro → in vivo → clinical translation mindset; understanding of PK/PD principles and biomarker strategies.
- **Learning Agility: **Entrepreneurial mindset; adapts rapidly to new science, modalities, and therapeutic areas; comfortable with ambiguity.
- **Publications & IP: **First-author peer-reviewed publications and/or named inventor on issued patents demonstrating scientific leadership.
- **Cross-functional Leadership: **Proven track record managing cross-functional teams; ability to influence without authority in matrixed environments.
- **CRO & Partner Management: **Experience designing, outsourcing, and managing studies at CROs and academic partners.
- **Collaboration Models: **Experience in early-stage biotech or biotech and academic partnership models.
- **Communication: **Excellent scientific communication skills; ability to synthesize complex data for diverse audiences including senior leadership.
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.
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Actual compensation will depend on a candidate’s education, experience, skills, and geographic location. The anticipated wage for this position is
$163,500 - $281,600
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.
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