About the position 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: 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.

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.

Requirements

• PhD in Medicinal Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, or a related scientific discipline.
• A minimum of 6 years of relevant industry experience in medicinal chemistry within a pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or animal health research environment.
• 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.

Nice-to-haves

• 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.

Benefits

• 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