Senior Scientist, Upstream Technical Development (Large Molecules) at Elanco in greenfield, Indiana

Job Description:

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. We’re driven by our vision of ‘Food and Companionship Enriching Life’ and our approach to sustainability – the Elanco Healthy Purpose™ – to advance the health of animals, people, the planet and our enterprise.

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 Scientist, Upstream Technical Development (Large Molecules)

The Senior Scientist, Upstream Technical Development (Large Molecules) directly supports Elanco’s Technical Development (TD) organization in its mission to develop and deliver Innovation, Characterization, and Process Control. The primary responsibilities of this role are to support the upstream (mammalian cell culture) scientific team by developing, optimizing, and characterizing cell culture processes that produce recombinant vaccines, proteins, and antibodies. This role supports upstream lab activities within the broad scope of Elanco’s large molecule portfolio with initial emphasis on delivering Elanco’s therapeutic monoclonal antibody platforms.  

Your Responsibilities:   

• Lead a small team (1-3 scientists), fostering their scientific and professional growth through direct and indirect mentorship.




• Provide technical program leadership, ensuring safety and quality are integrated into process development.




• Utilize DoE-based approaches in the design and analysis of cell culture experiments.




• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, including manufacturing partners, to ensure successful technology transfer.




• Author, review, and execute protocols, batch records, and technical reports.




• Offer subject matter expertise in mammalian cell culture processes and seed train expansion, optimizing protein production through your knowledge and experience.




• Introduce innovative techniques and technologies to the organization, staying ahead of industry advancements.




• Oversee capacity and program planning, managing resources effectively. 

What You Need to Succeed (minimum qualifications):  

• Education:  PhD in engineering, biochemistry or other biotechnology related degree 




• Experience: A minimum of 5 years of experience in working with mammalian cell culture of large molecule product streams (Monoclonal Antibodies, Proteins, Antigens, and etc.) Experience in cell culture scale-up and technology transfer, as well as familiarity with working in regulated environments, including cGMP, USDA, and BSL 1 & 2 settings. Strong interpersonal skills are essential, along with the ability to collaborate and influence teams effectively, and expertise in experimental design using statistical approaches applied to biological systems.




• Top 2 skills: Experience with fed-batch cell culture and leading other scientists. 

Additional Information:   

• Travel: 10% 




• Location: Global Elanco Headquarters – Greenfield/Indianapolis, IN

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