Indianapolis, Indiana, United States · Hybrid
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 Elan…
Skills: Medicinal Chemistry, Small Molecule Synthesis, Structure-Activity Relationship (SAR), Pharmacology, ADME/PK
Indianapolis, Indiana, United States · Hybrid
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 Elan…
Skills: Medicinal Chemistry, Organic Synthesis, Structure-Activity Relationship (SAR), Pharmacology, Pharmacokinetics
United States · On-site
$69k–$115k/yr
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 Elan…
Skills: Territory Planning, Account Management, Dairy Industry Knowledge, Sales Strategy, Cross-functional Collaboration
Elwood, Kansas, United States · On-site
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 Elan…
Skills: Strategic Asset Management, Capital Portfolio Leadership, Reliability Excellence, Total Productive Maintenance, SAP PM/MM
Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium · Hybrid
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 Elan…
Skills: Regulatory Strategy, Technical Documentation, Agency Engagement, Risk Management, Cross-Functional Collaboration
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India · On-site
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 Elan…
Skills: Financial Analysis, Monthly Close, Forecasting, Annual Business Planning, Product Costing
Hook, England, United Kingdom · Hybrid
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 Elan…
Skills: Digital Product Management, Marketing Operations, SaaS Portfolio Management, MarTech Strategy, API Integration
Special capital Region of Jakarta, Java, Indonesia · On-site
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 Elan…
Skills: Strategic Account Management, Sales Management, Consultative Value Selling, Relationship Management, Cross-functional Leadership
Cuxhaven, Lower Saxony, Germany · On-site
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 Elan…
Skills: Maintenance Management, Personnel Leadership, Budget Planning, Process Engineering, Industrial Engineering
United States · Remote OK
$111k–$184k/yr
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 Elan…
Skills: Technical Consultancy, Beef Industry Expertise, Animal Health, Research Execution, Account Planning
Indianapolis, Indiana, United States · Remote OK
$118k–$197k/yr
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 Elan…
Skills: Regulatory Strategy, CVM/FDA Submissions, Agency Negotiations, Clinical Trial Planning, Risk Assessment
Indianapolis, Indiana, United States · Remote OK
$118k–$197k/yr
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 Elan…
Skills: Regulatory Strategy, CVM/FDA Submissions, Agency Negotiation, Cross-functional Leadership, Clinical Trial Planning
Indianapolis, Indiana, United States · Hybrid
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 Elan…
Skills: Product Management, Headless CMS, React, Agile, Scrum
Guadalajara, Sonora, Mexico · Hybrid
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 Elan…
Skills: Marketing Strategy, Market Analysis, KPI Tracking, Budget Management, Cross-functional Coordination
Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia · On-site
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 Elan…
Skills: Order Management, Team Leadership, Order-to-Cash, SAP, Stakeholder Management
Hook, England, United Kingdom · Hybrid
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 Elan…
Skills: Digital Product Management, Headless CMS, Stakeholder Management, Agile/Scrum, JAMstack Architecture
Winslow, Maine, United States · On-site
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 Elan…
Skills: Problem-solving, Root cause analysis, Cross-functional collaboration, Process improvement, Data analysis
Cuxhaven, Lower Saxony, Germany · On-site
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 Elan…
Skills: GMP Guidelines, Aseptic Working, Cleanroom Operations, Production Equipment Operation, MS Office
Elwood, Kansas, United States · On-site
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 Elan…
Skills: GMP, Training Coordination, Documentation Lifecycle Management, Curricula Development, KPI Tracking
Monheim, Bavaria, Germany · On-site
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 Elan…
Skills: Analytical Method Development, Dissolution Control Strategy, HPLC/UPLC, UV/VIS Spectroscopy, USP Apparatus II
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Lead the design and synthesis of innovative small molecule medicines to improve animal health. Collaborate with cross-functional teams and manage external CROs to advance discovery programs from lead generation to candidate selection.
Requires a PhD in Medicinal Chemistry or Organic Chemistry with at least 6 years of industry experience. Candidates should demonstrate expertise in multi-step synthesis, SAR, and the use of modern drug discovery technologies.
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.
Your Role:
Principal Research Scientist - Medicinal Chemist
As a Principal Research Scientist in Medicinal Chemistry, you will be a key figure in our small molecule drug discovery engine, guiding the design and synthesis of innovative medicines that improve the health and well-being of animals. You will apply your scientific expertise to advance multiple therapeutic programs, from lead generation to development candidate selection. Partnering with a global, cross-functional team of scientists, you will leverage cutting-edge technologies like AI/ML and DNA-Encoded Libraries to solve complex chemical challenges. This is an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact on our discovery portfolio and help shape the future of our growing research team in Indianapolis.
Your Responsibilities:
Guide the design and optimization of novel small molecules by applying advanced synthetic strategies and integrating biological, pharmacological, and ADME/PK data to manage Structure-Activity Relationship (SAR) campaigns.
Serve as a key medicinal chemistry figure on multidisciplinary project teams, collaborating with partners in Biology, Pharmacology, DMPK, Toxicology, and Computational Sciences to strategically advance discovery programs.
Manage and coordinate synthetic chemistry efforts with external Contract Research Organizations (CROs) and internal partners, ensuring the efficient execution of project goals and timelines.
Leverage cutting-edge drug discovery technologies, including DNA-Encoded Libraries (DEL), computational chemistry, and AI/ML-enabled tools, to accelerate hit identification and lead optimization.
Promote scientific excellence and data integrity while providing mentorship and technical guidance to junior scientists, fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration.
What You Need to Succeed (minimum qualifications):
Education: PhD in Medicinal Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, or a related scientific discipline.
Experience: A minimum of 6 years of relevant industry experience in medicinal chemistry within a pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or animal health research environment.
Top Skills: Demonstrated expertise in modern medicinal chemistry, including the design and multi-step synthesis of complex small molecules, and a strong understanding of Structure-Activity Relationships (SAR), pharmacology, and ADME/PK principles. Proven ability to autonomously manage scientific initiatives within a cross-functional team and manage external collaborations with CROs.
What will give you a strong candidate profile (preferred qualifications):
Postdoctoral experience.
Experience applying modern drug discovery technologies such as DNA-Encoded Libraries (DEL), computational chemistry, or AI/ML-enabled molecular design.
A strong track record of advancing small-molecule discovery programs toward preclinical development, evidenced by significant patent and/or publication contributions.
Prior research experience in the animal health industry.
Expertise in peptide chemistry, macrocycles, or related drug modalities.
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.
Making life better for animals, makes life better.
At Elanco, we are united by a genuine love and care for animals. Our purpose - making life better for animals, makes life better - fuels us to break boundaries and inspires us to push further, transforming animal care, going beyond to improve outcomes for animals, customers, and society to create a better, more sustainable world. We are veterinarians, pet owners, farmer’s kids and animal lovers. Our team doesn’t just work in the animal health industry - we live it. By putting customers’ needs at the center of everything we do, our comprehensive portfolios of trusted brands and focused pipeline are transforming the future of animal care. From developing the first treatment for one of the deadliest diseases in puppies to removing needles from diabetes care to pioneering new sustainable market spaces for farmers, we're raising the bar and making a difference - for animals, for our customers and their business.
Offices: 450 Elanco Circle, Indianapolis, IN 46221, US
Making life better for animals, makes life better.
At Elanco, we are united by a genuine love and care for animals. Our purpose - making life better for animals, makes life better - fuels us to break boundaries and inspires us to push further, transforming animal care, going beyond to improve outcomes for animals, customers, and society to create a better, more sustainable world. We are veterinarians, pet owners, farmer’s kids and animal lovers. Our team doesn’t just work in the animal health industry - we live it. By putting customers’ needs at the center of everything we do, our comprehensive portfolios of trusted brands and focused pipeline are transforming the future of animal care. From developing the first treatment for one of the deadliest diseases in puppies to removing needles from diabetes care to pioneering new sustainable market spaces for farmers, we're raising the bar and making a difference - for animals, for our customers and their business.
Offices: 450 Elanco Circle, Indianapolis, IN 46221, US
