About this Senior Research Scientist - Medicinal Chemist role at Elanco
At Elanco (NYSE: ELAN) – it all starts with animals!
As a global leader in animal health, we are dedicated to innovation and delivering products and services to prevent and treat disease in farm animals and pets. At Elanco, we are driven by our vision of Food and Companionship Enriching Life and our purpose – all to Go Beyond for Animals, Customers, Society and Our People.
At Elanco, we pride ourselves on fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. We believe that diversity is the driving force behind innovation, creativity, and overall business success. Here, you’ll be part of a company that values and champions new ways of thinking, work with dynamic individuals, and acquire new skills and experiences that will propel your career to new heights.
Making animals’ lives better makes life better – join our team today!
Your Role:
Senior Research Scientist - Medicinal Chemist
As a Senior Research Scientist in Medicinal Chemistry, you will be an integral member of our small molecule drug discovery engine, contributing to the design, synthesis, and optimization of novel medicines for animal health. You will apply your expertise to advance therapeutic programs by guiding Structure-Activity Relationship (SAR) studies and collaborating closely with a global, cross-functional team of scientists. Leveraging modern technologies like AI/ML and DNA-Encoded Libraries, you will help solve complex chemical challenges and make a meaningful impact on our discovery portfolio. This role offers a significant opportunity for growth as part of a dynamic and expanding research team.
Your Responsibilities:
Guide the design of novel small molecules and propel Structure-Activity Relationship (SAR) studies by integrating biological, pharmacological, and ADME/PK data into iterative design strategies.
Manage and coordinate the synthesis, purification, and characterization of compounds with external Contract Research Organizations (CROs) and internal partners to ensure timely project delivery.
Apply advanced drug discovery technologies, including DNA-Encoded Libraries (DEL) and AI/ML-enabled molecular design tools, to accelerate hit identification and lead optimization.
Collaborate as a key member of multidisciplinary project teams, partnering with scientists in Biology, Pharmacology, DMPK, Toxicology, and Computational Sciences to advance discovery programs.
Maintain high standards of experimental design, data integrity, and scientific documentation to support data-driven judgments across the discovery portfolio.
What You Need to Succeed (minimum qualifications):
Education: PhD in Medicinal Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, or a related discipline.
Experience: A minimum of 3 years of industry experience in medicinal chemistry within a pharmaceutical, animal health, or crop science research environment.
Top Skills: Demonstrated expertise in complex multi-step organic synthesis and modern medicinal chemistry, with a strong understanding of pharmacology and pharmacokinetics. Proven ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and manage external CRO partnerships to advance discovery projects.
What will give you a competitive edge (preferred qualifications):
Postdoctoral experience.
Experience with, or a strong interest in learning, advanced discovery technologies such as DNA-Encoded Libraries (DEL) and AI/ML applications.
A track record of contributing to small-molecule programs that have advanced into preclinical development.
Prior experience in the animal health industry.
Expertise in peptide chemistry and optimization.
Additional Information:
Travel: Less than 10%
Location: Global Elanco Headquarters - Indianapolis, IN - Hybrid Work Environment
Don't meet every single requirement? Studies have shown underrecognized groups are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Elanco we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive work environment. If you think you might be a good fit for a role but don't necessarily meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply. You may be the right candidate for this role or other roles!
Elanco Benefits and Perks: We offer a comprehensive benefits package focusing on financial, physical, and mental well-being while encouraging our employees to pursue our purpose! Some highlights include:
Multiple relocation packages
Two weeklong shutdowns (mid-summer and year-end) in the US (in addition to PTO)
8-week parental leave
9 Employee Resource Groups
Annual bonus offering
Flexible work arrangements
Up to 6% 401K matching
Elanco is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status
Elanco may use automated tools, including AI, to support parts of our recruitment process, such as reviewing applications against job‑related criteria and/or transferrable skills. These tools help ensure a consistent, structured evaluation, but they do not make hiring decisions. All decisions involve a human reviewer. For more information on how we handle personal data, please see our Elanco Workforce Privacy Notice.
