Advisor – In Vitro Biology, Atherosclerosis, Lipid Biology, Inflammation and Kidney Diseases

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. About the Team At Lilly, we unite caring with discovery to make life better for people around the world. The Cardiovascular and Renal Research (CVR) group discovers and advances biologic, small-molecule, nucleic-acid and gene-editing therapeutics for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), dyslipidemia, heart failure and chronic kidney disease. Starting from an idea, we work with partners across Lilly to understand the biology underlying disease and to develop breakthrough therapies that address its root cause. The Opportunity We are seeking an Advisor, In Vitro Biology, to lead assay development and target validation for our ASCVD, lipid, inflammation, and kidney disease portfolio. This is a hands on role. The successful candidate will build the biochemical and cell-based screening assays our programs depend on. Implement them so they run reliably at the scale the project needs. Use them to validate or invalidate targets, and deliver decision-enabling data against agreed timelines. They will lead projects, supervise and develop associate scientists. They will partner closely with in vivo pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, biotherapeutics, genetic medicines, translational science and clinical colleagues, and they will help shape development of targets. Key Responsibilities Build screening assays. Design, develop and optimize cell-based, biochemical, enzymatic and binding assays for ASCVD, lipid, inflammation, and kidney disease targets — e.g., enzyme kinetics and inhibitor characterization (IC50/Ki, mechanism of inhibition), protein–protein and ligand–receptor binding (SPR, BLI, FP, TR-FRET, AlphaScreen, ELISA-based), and cell-based functional assays (lipoprotein uptake/secretion, lipid handling, hepatocyte and macrophage foam-cell models, endothelial and vascular smooth-muscle assays, reporter and target-engagement assays). Implement assays to progress projects. Transfer assays from concept to routine operation: define acceptance criteria and controls, qualify reagents and cell systems, establish plate-based workflows on automated liquid-handling and multi-mode detection platforms, and document methods so others can run them. Validate targets. Lead in vitro target-validation studies using pharmacological tools, siRNA/ASO, CRISPR and over-expression to establish target biology, mechanism of action and translatability; integrate human genetic, transcriptomic and clinical evidence to make clear recommendations. Lead projects. Serve as project lead for one or more discovery programs: define the scientific plan, coordinate contributions across in vivo, chemistry, biotherapeutics and translational partners. Reliably meet timelines. Own the workplan for assigned programs; set realistic milestones, track progress, anticipate and mitigate risks, escalate early when dates are at risk, and consistently deliver quality timely. Communicate effectively. Present data, interpretation and recommendations clearly and concisely to project teams, CVR leadership and governance committees; write well-organized study summaries and program updates; keep partners and management informed. Supervise associate scientists. Directly supervise and develop associate scientists: set priorities and expectations, train on assays and data analysis, review work for quality and compliance, give regular feedback, and support their growth. Perform molecular and biochemical readouts on cell and tissue samples (qPCR/ddPCR, western blot, ELISA/MSD, lipid quantitation, flow cytometry, high-content imaging) and analyze data independently. Basic Qualifications Ph.D. in cell biology, biochemistry, pharmacology, vascular biology, lipid metabolism or a related scientific discipline Preferred Qualifications 5+ years of relevant post-doctoral and/or industry drug-discovery experience. Demonstrated track record independently developing, validating and implementing in vitro screening assays (cell-based functional, biochemical, enzymatic and binding assays) used to drive decisions, including assay design, optimization, statistical validation and data analysis. Experience with enzyme kinetics, mechanism-of-inhibition studies, and biophysical binding methods (SPR, BLI, ITC, FP, TR-FRET) for small molecules and biologics. Demonstrated experience leading a research project or workstream end-to-end (planning, execution, decision) in a matrixed team. Strong written and oral scientific communication, including presenting data and recommendations to leadership or governance audiences. Demonstrated people-leadership experience: supervising, training or mentoring associate-level scientists or technicians, ideally with formal project-management or people-leadership training and experience in performance management and career development. Highly organized, able to manage several projects and direct reports simultaneously. Deep knowledge of atherosclerosis, lipoprotein metabolism and dyslipidemia biology. Familiarity with current and emerging ASCVD and kidney disease therapeutics. Hands-on experience with laboratory automation (acoustic/liquid handlers), assay miniaturization and screening informatics. Experience with primary human hepatocytes, macrophages, endothelial cells, iPSC-derived cells or organoid/co-culture models. Working familiarity with bioinformatics, human-genetics resources and AI/computational tools applied to target identification and validation Lilly is dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities to actively engage in the workforce, ensuring equal opportunities when vying for positions. If you require accommodation to submit a resume for a position at Lilly, please complete the accommodation request form ( https://careers.lilly.com/us/en/workplace-accommodation ) for further assistance. Please note this is for individuals to request an accommodation as part of the application process and any other correspondence will not receive a response. Lilly is proud to be an EEO Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender identity, sex, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. Our employee resource groups (ERGs) offer strong support networks for their members and are open to all employees. Our current groups include: Africa, Middle East, Central Asia (AMECA), Black Employees at Lilly (BE@Lilly), Chinese Culture Network (CCN), EnAble, Evolve, Lilly Indian Network (LIN), Organization of Latinx at Lilly (OLA), Pride (LGBTQ+ Allies), Veterans Leade