Imaging Clinical Research Scientist

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.

About the role

This role is a key member of the medical development team, leading the clinical development of diagnostic radiopharmaceutical imaging programs, with a focus on oncology, immunology, and cardiovascular disease. It spans both diagnostic and therapeutic applications and contributes across the full clinical development life cycle, from early phase studies through registration trials. The successful candidate will be a translational scientist whose research background and expertise bridges disease biology, biomarker science, and clinical trial execution. The candidate will also serve as an internal scientific expert in molecular imaging, partnering closely with cross-functional teams and external collaborators to advance innovative imaging strategies.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and execution of integrated clinical development programs for diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals in oncology, immunology, and cardiovascular diseases across early and late-phase development.
• Define clinical strategies, endpoints, patient populations, and imaging criteria for each phase of development.
• Design studies to evaluate diagnostic accuracy, optimal imaging timing, patient selection biomarkers, and comparative performance versus standard-of-care imaging.
• Serve as a scientific expert in molecular imaging modalities, including PET, SPECT, CT, and MRI (e.g., imaging of vascular and myocardial inflammation, autoimmune disease activity, atherosclerotic plaque, and cardiac amyloidosis), with applicability to oncology and emerging theranostic platforms a plus.
• Analyze and interpret molecular imaging data (e.g., PET/CT, SPECT/CT), including tumor localization, tracer biodistribution, dosimetry considerations, and longitudinal response assessment. Evaluate and interpret imaging biomarkers for patient stratification, disease activity assessment, and disease monitoring across immune-mediated and cardiovascular conditions.
• Evaluate imaging performance metrics such as sensitivity, specificity, standardized uptake values (SUVs), and tumor-to-background ratios.
• Provide strategic input into the development, validation, and quantitative evaluation of advanced image analysis methods.
• Apply knowledge of oncology, immune-mediated, cardiovascular, and/or metabolic disease biology to guide the scientific strategy of diagnostic imaging programs.
• Collaborate internally with physicians, scientists, medical physicists, as well as with imaging operations and advanced image analysis teams.
• Lead cross-functional projects and coordinate with external partners, including CROs, academic institutions, software developers, and scanner manufacturers, to support imaging method validation and implementation.
• Evaluate emerging scientific and technological advances in imaging, including modeling approaches and artificial intelligence, and drive their application in clinical programs.
• Author and review key clinical and regulatory documents, including Investigator’s Brochures, protocols, protocol amendments, clinical study reports, and regulatory briefing documents.
• Contribute to the development of technical manuals and imaging-related trial documentation.
• Communicate scientific findings through internal presentations, conference abstracts, and peer-reviewed publications.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• PhD in a relevant field.
• Minimum 5 years of clinical development experience; minimum 3 years of industry experience.

Skills

• Tracer development experience and experience in oncology, immunology, and/or cardiology is highly preferred.
• Strong problem-solving skills; able to anticipate and recognize systemic problems, diagnose root causes, and take corrective actions to prevent reoccurrence.
• Familiarity with Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and regulatory requirements.
• Strong ability to balance scientific and business priorities.
• Demonstrated communication, collaboration, organizational, and influencing skills.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Travel estimated at 10-15%.

Benefits

• Eligibility to participate in a company-sponsored 401(k) and pension.
• Vacation benefits.
• Eligibility for medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug benefits.
• Flexible benefits (e.g., healthcare and/or dependent day care flexible spending accounts).
• Life insurance and death benefits.
• Certain time off and leave of absence benefits.
• Well-being benefits (e.g., employee assistance program, fitness benefits, and employee clubs and activities).
• Company bonus (depending, in part, on company and individual performance).

Pay

The anticipated wage for this position is $177,000 - $338,800.

Schedule

Full-time equivalent.