Post-doctoral Scientist or Engineer - Tsms

Eli Lilly Eli Lilly · Pharma · Indianapolis, IN

This role focuses on developing technical solutions for spray drying in pharmaceutical particle manufacturing. It involves operating pilot scale equipment, designing and executing experiments to understand the impact of parameters on particle size and morphology, developing analytical techniques for measurement, and refining models for atomization and drying. The goal is to identify and solve manufacturing needs, present findings, and publish research.

What you'd actually do

  1. Start up and operate new pilot scale spray drying and secondary drying equipment.
  2. Design, develop, and execute pilot scale experiments to investigate the impact of equipment and parameter selections on the size and morphology of spray dried particles.
  3. Develop analytical techniques for the measurement of droplet size and velocity, such as phase doppler anemometry (PDA) and laser doppler velocimetry (LDV) and investigate the impacts of nozzle selection and operating parameters on both.
  4. Develop and help to refine models for atomization and single droplet drying to help predict particle size and morphology.
  5. Identify areas of key need across manufacturing and champion creative solutions to address those needs. Maintain external awareness and share learning to benefit the organizations.

Skills

Required

  • PhD in chemical engineering, pharmaceutical science, or similar
  • Ability to identify and exploit new scientific concepts, employ strong problem-solving skills, and be self-motivated and adaptable
  • Knowledge of momentum, heat, and mass transfer and their application in the engineering of particles with desired physical properties
  • Proficient in data analysis and reporting
  • Experience maintaining detailed records of experiments, observations, and results in electronic lab notebooks (ELNs) and authoring technical reports and peer-reviewed journal articles
  • Experience in presenting data and findings in team meetings and contributing to scientific discussions

Nice to have

  • Strong background in solid dosage formulation
  • Design and execution of laboratory and/or pilot scale experiments for particle synthesis to investigate the impact of equipment and parameter selection on particle physical properties
  • Optimization of equipment and process parameters to improve yield, selectivity, and scalability
  • Expertise in various analytical methods for measuring solid particle physical properties
  • Current with the latest advancements in particle engineering and relevant literature
  • Strong oral and written communicator with presentation experience, along with a strong publication record
  • Experience with modeling tools such as Matlab, gPROMS Formulated Products, or similar
  • Strong interpersonal skills and experience in collaborative, multidisciplinary team environments
  • Track record of ensuring compliance with safety protocols and contributing to a culture of pilot plant and/or laboratory safety

What the JD emphasized

  • PhD in chemical engineering, pharmaceutical science, or similar. PhD degree expected before May 2026