About this role
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!
Position Description
The Upstream Senior Research Scientist (Technical Development) 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.
Functions, Duties, and Tasks
Lead a small group (1–3) scientists and ensure team members are growing scientifically and professionally through direct and indirect coaching and mentorship
Technical program leadership
Incorporate safety and quality into process development
Incorporate DoE-based approaches into design and analysis of cell culture experiments
Collaborate with internal and external partners and technology transfer with manufacturing partners
Author, review, and execute protocols, batch records, and technical reports
Provide subject matter expertise to mammalian cell culture processes and seed train expansion, leveraging knowledge and experience to accelerate and optimize protein production
Introduce new techniques and technologies to the TD organization and maintain awareness of advancements in the field and competitive landscape
Conduct prospective capacity planning and program planning for resources under supervision
Minimum Qualifications
Education
PhD in Engineering, Biochemistry, or other biotechnology-related degree
Experience
Minimum of 5 years of experience working with mammalian cell culture of large molecule product streams (monoclonal antibodies, proteins, antigens)
Experience with fed-batch cell culture and leading other scientists
Experience with cell culture scale-up and technology transfer
Experience working in regulated environments (e.g., cGMP, USDA) and BSL-1 and BSL-2 laboratories
Strong interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to collaborate with and influence teams
Experience designing experiments using statistical approaches involving biological systems
Additional Preferences
Experience with fed-batch, perfusion, and/or intensified fed-batch cell culture
Experience with cell culture scale-up and technology transfer
Experience working in regulated environments (e.g., cGMP, USDA) and BSL-1 and BSL-2 laboratories
Strong problem-solving skills, including strategic and creative thinking
Understanding of or experience with multiple technology platforms (e.g., fermentation, analytical method development, purification, formulations)
Strong interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to collaborate with and influence teams
Strongly preferred: experience within the Animal Health industry
Experience interacting with applicable regulatory agencies (FDA, USDA, EMA)
Experience with quality standards such as GMP
Additional Information
Travel: Approximately 10%
Work Location: Global Elanco Headquarters – Indianapolis, IN
Work Arrangement: Hybrid
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
Other facts
About Elanco
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.
What you'll do
- The Distinguished Research Scientist will lead a small team to develop, optimize, and characterize cell culture processes for producing recombinant vaccines, proteins, and antibodies. This role involves technical program leadership and collaboration with internal and external partners.
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