Advisor/Sr Advisor, Molecular Pharmacology

At Lilly, the work is demanding because patients are waiting. We unite caring with discovery to help make life better for people around the world, knowing that every decision, every detail, and every day matters. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, our over 50,000 employees around the globe take on complex challenges to discover and deliver life-changing medicines, strengthen how health is understood and managed, and support the communities we serve. This is hard, urgent, selfless work—but it’s work worth doing. If you’re driven by purpose and ready to bring your best to work that truly matters for patients, we invite you to join us. Position: Advisor/Sr Advisor, Molecular Pharmacology Reports to: Molecular Pharmacology Manager, Lilly Research Laboratories Band: Independent Impact & Emerging Leadership Overview At Lilly, we serve an extraordinary purpose. We make a difference for people around the globe by discovering, developing and delivering medicines that help them live longer, healthier, more active lives. Not only do we deliver breakthrough medications, but you also can count on us to develop creative solutions to support communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. The Lilly Small Molecule Design group is an organization purpose-built to create molecules that make life better for people. We focus on using cutting-edge science to unlock new approaches that can treat people suffering from diseases with poor treatment options. We continually challenge ourselves to deliver molecules that can provide breakthrough efficacy with the highest possible safety margins. We are dedicated to optimizing our mindset, technology, and processes for faster, more nimble execution. Our success is built on a culture that empowers innovative problem-solving through open collaboration and individual accountability. Position Summary The Advanced Molecule Design team's mission is to optimize lead molecules to strong drug candidates that become breakthrough medicines. The primary measure of success in this role is the quality and impact of the pharmacology science you design and deliver — assay cascades that resolve key project questions, mechanistic investigations that sharpen compound optimization, and data that drives confident program decisions. Scientific Leads are independent scientific contributors and emerging leaders who drive SAR and compound optimization through thoughtfully designed and executed screening cascade assays grounded in molecular pharmacology principles. You will build expertise in GPCR pharmacology, receptor signaling mechanisms, and advanced assay technologies that characterize compound behavior at the molecular level. Every aspect of the role — collaboration, technology adoption, mentorship — exists to maximize your ability to move programs forward. Senior Advisors (R6) additionally represent the group cross-functionally, integrate AI/ML and automation tools, and actively mentor and/or supervise junior colleagues. Key Responsibilities Technical / Scientific Contributions: Impact Projects Through Pharmacology Excellence and Cascade Design Design and implement screening cascade assays to drive SAR and compound optimization, leveraging molecular pharmacology principles including receptor affinity, selectivity, and functional activity assessment. Develop and execute assays that characterize ligand-receptor interactions, including competitive and saturation radioligand binding experiments, kinetic profiling (Kon/Koff), and functional assays that measure G protein signaling, arrestin recruitment, and receptor desensitization. Design imaging-based assays employing confocal microscopy and high-content screening (HCS) platforms to investigate cellular mechanisms including GPCR internalization, receptor trafficking, endosomal localization, and subcellular colocalization patterns. Independently investigate mechanistic behavior of molecules — including time on target, receptor occupancy, internalization kinetics, biomarker responses, and downstream signaling pathways — to inform compound optimization and target product profiles (TPPs). Serve as the go-to scientific resource for assigned projects; act as a technical point of contact across functions and provide expert guidance on molecular pharmacology strategy. Represent Molecular Pharmacology on cross-functional project teams; build partnerships that translate into better-informed experimental design and mechanistic insights. Define clear hypotheses, success criteria, and timelines for experimental programs grounded in established pharmacology principles. Anticipate technical challenges and proactively propose solutions before they impact delivery; troubleshoot complex assay systems and optimize protocols for reliability and reproducibility. Maintain data quality and integrity so that every experiment delivers confident, actionable information on compound pharmacology and mechanism of action. Integrate cross-functional data to support data-driven, go/no-go decision-making and advance program strategy. Enabling: Partnerships, Tools, and Assay Innovation That Accelerate Impact Develop and validate novel assay approaches that advance scientific understanding and program capabilities, including optimization of cell line systems, assay platforms, and analytical methods. Integrate AI, machine learning, and laboratory automation to accelerate workflows and improve assay throughput. Stay current with emerging technologies and methodologies in molecular pharmacology and assay science; champion adoption of innovative approaches within the team. Supporting: Team Development and Culture Begin mentoring junior scientists; provide constructive, actionable feedback to support their development in molecular pharmacology and assay design. Foster a collaborative environment where colleagues can contribute ideas and thrive; champion scientific rigor and open dialogue. Build productive relationships with project teams and cross-functional partners; enhance probability of technical success through better-informed experimental strategy. Proactively own and execute a personal development plan; build expertise in GPCR pharmacology, emerging assay modalities, and advanced technologies. Lead or contribute to continuous improvement initiatives that increase the team's ability to advance programs and deliver quality science. Safety & Compliance — Model Safety Leadership Through Personal Practice Demonstrate an unwavering commitment to safety-first laboratory practice: complete required safety training, conduct risk assessments before experiments, and escalate concerns immediately. Follow all site safety, environmental, and regulatory compliance requirements; actively reinforce a safety-first team culture. Basic Requirements PhD in Biochemistry, Biology, Biophysics, Molecular Biology, Pharmacology, or a related field; or B.S./M.S. with 5+ years of relevant experience. Additional Preferences Demonstrated expertise designing and executing complex assay cascades across biochemical, cellular, and/or in vivo settings, with emphasis on G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) binding and functional assays. Strong foundation in molecular pharmacology principles including pharmacologic data analysis, receptor theory, ligand-receptor interactions, binding kinetics, and functional