Principal Scientist/sr. Principal Scientist - Bioconjugation Process Development

Eli Lilly Eli Lilly · Pharma · Indianapolis, IN

This role focuses on bioconjugation process development for new bioconjugate medicines, including ADCs, APCs, and AOCs. The scientist will establish laboratory programs, design and execute research plans, analyze results, and propose next steps. Responsibilities include learning and applying bioconjugation techniques, purification screening, experimental design, and analytical sample analysis. The role involves collaboration across disciplines, performing fundamental studies of process steps, scale-up demonstrations, and proposing new methods. Documentation, report authoring, and contributing to commercial manufacturing strategy are also key. The role requires a BS or MS in a relevant scientific field with several years of experience in synthetic organic chemistry or biochemistry.

What you'd actually do

  1. Establish a productive laboratory program by directly designing and executing internal research plans, collaborate with teammates to analyze the results, form conclusions, propose logical next steps, and report findings to a larger team.
  2. Learn and apply new skills such as bioconjugation, purification screening, OFAT and Design of Experiment methodology, and analytical sample analysis.
  3. Perform fundamental and detailed studies of each process step for bioconjugation development.
  4. Propose and test new methods to achieve bioconjugation and bioconjugate development. Collaborate and share findings with partners.
  5. Help formulate commercial manufacturing strategy and collaborate with manufacturing partners to deliver robust processes that are ultimately suitable for large-scale production.

Skills

Required

  • BS with 6+ years of relevant experience or Master’s degree with 3+ years of relevant experience in synthetic organic chemistry, biochemistry, chemical biology, chemical engineering or related field.
  • Experience with synthetic organic chemistry or biochemistry
  • Ability to learn bioconjugation principles

Nice to have

  • Experience with small molecule organic synthesis
  • Knowledge of reaction mechanisms
  • Design of reactions
  • Performing bioconjugation reactions at small-scale
  • Knowledge of basic antibody class, structure, and function
  • Knowledge of and hands-on experience with analytical methods used for small molecules and biomolecules (RP-HPLC, SEC, IEX, HIC, LC-MS, CE-SDS)
  • Hands-on experience with liquid chromatography: bioconjugate purification and familiarity with chromatography systems