Sr. Scientist (r1-r2)

Eli Lilly Eli Lilly · Pharma · Boston, MA

This role focuses on designing, executing, and analyzing in vitro screening assays for oligonucleotide therapeutics in early-phase drug discovery. It involves developing and troubleshooting assays, applying bioinformatics and statistical methods for data analysis, and potentially implementing semi-automated workflows. The position requires a Bachelor's degree and experience in pharmaceutical research, including cell culture, assay development, data analysis, and documentation.

What you'd actually do

  1. design, execute, and analyze high-throughput in vitro screening and evaluation of oligonucleotide therapeutics, supporting early-phase drug discovery programs.
  2. Develop, optimize, and troubleshoot qPCR, cell-based, and biochemical assays to evaluate siRNA and other RNA therapeutics.
  3. Apply bioinformatics and statistical methods to analyze experimental data and contribute to compound progression decisions.
  4. Help with design and implementation of semi-automated and automated workflows using liquid handling systems and plate-based assays to enhance laboratory efficiency.
  5. Maintain accurate electronic laboratory notebooks and prepare data summaries for cross-functional teams.

Skills

Required

  • Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Molecular Biology, Biomedical Engineering, or a related STEM field
  • 2 years of academic or employment experience in pharmaceutical or biotechnology research
  • Mammalian cell culture techniques
  • Assay development and troubleshooting
  • Statistical and data analysis software
  • Documenting experimental procedures
  • Maintaining electronic laboratory notebooks
  • Working in cross-functional teams
  • Presenting scientific data
  • In vitro/vivo endpoint development and analysis
  • Semi-automated or automated workflows
  • Liquid handling systems
  • Plate-based assays

Nice to have

  • qPCR
  • cell-based assays
  • biochemical assays
  • siRNA
  • RNA therapeutics
  • bioinformatics

What the JD emphasized

  • minimum of: 1 year of experience with mammalian cell culture techniques
  • 1 year of experience with assay development and troubleshooting
  • 1 year of experience using statistical and data analysis software
  • 1 year of experience in documenting experimental procedures and maintaining electronic laboratory notebooks
  • 1 year of experience working in cross-functional teams and presenting scientific data
  • 6 months of experience with in vitro/vivo endpoint development and analysis
  • 6 months of experience with semi-automated or automated workflows