In Vitro Biologist — Cardiovascular & Renal Research

About The Team

The Cardiovascular and Renal Research (CVR) therapeutic area at Eli Lilly and Company is dedicated to discovering and developing innovative therapeutics for heart failure, cardiometabolic disease, chronic kidney disease, and related cardiovascular conditions. We integrate innovative in vitro science with translational biology to advance a robust pipeline of biologics, small molecules, and genetic medicines.

The Opportunity

We are seeking a skilled, motivated in vitro biologist to join our highly collaborative, multidisciplinary drug discovery team in Indianapolis. This is a hands-on, bench-focused role for a seasoned scientist who will bring deep molecular and cellular laboratory expertise to both initiate new research efforts and advance established pipeline projects targeting cardiovascular and renal disease. You will design and validate disease-relevant cellular assays, establish critical new laboratory capabilities, and partner with scientists across departments to move programs forward. Success in this role means thriving on ownership, moving quickly as data evolves, and being willing to conduct hands-on in vivo pharmacology experiments as programs require.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and independently implement in vitro and cell-based experiments to support preclinical characterization of cardiovascular and renal targets and pathways, using pharmacological agents, DNA/RNA tool molecules, and/or CRISPR technologies.
• Develop, optimize, and validate disease-relevant cellular assay systems to assess target engagement, pathway modulation, and compound efficacy.
• Perform molecular and biochemical assessments on tissue and cell samples, including RNA/DNA isolation and analysis, and gene and protein expression (qPCR, ddPCR, western blot, ELISA, MSD).
• Implement multiple assay detection technologies (fluorescence, luminescence, FRET, AlphaScreen, radiometric) and introduce and validate new technologies relevant to our research programs.
• Apply broad cell biology capabilities, including cell culture, transfection, FACS/flow cytometry, and cell-based functional assays (e.g., inflammation and metabolic readouts) to portfolio projects.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional project teams — including in vivo pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, structural biology, and translational sciences — to advance drug discovery programs.
• Establish new techniques and disease-biology capabilities, and pivot quickly based on emerging data in a fast-paced, data-driven environment.
• Maintain accurate laboratory records, analyze data independently, and present results in written and oral formats.
• Perform all work in full compliance with Lilly Research Policies and complete required training within specified timeframes.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with a minimum of 1 year experience in cell biology, biochemistry, pharmacology, physiology, or a related field.
• Qualified applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Lilly will not provide support for or sponsor work authorization or visas for this role, including but not limited to F-1 CPT, F-1 OPT, F-1 STEM OPT, J-1, H-1B, TN, O-1, E-3, H-1B1, or L-1.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in a relevant field (preferred).
• Demonstrated track record of independently developing, optimizing, and validating disease-relevant cellular and biochemical assays.
• Hands-on proficiency with core molecular and biochemical techniques, including qPCR, western blot, ELISA/MSD, and RNA/DNA isolation.
• Background in cardiometabolic disease (strongly preferred).
• Experience with surface plasmon resonance (SPR).
• Experience using size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) to determine lipoprotein profiles.
• Experience automating routine assays and applying AI to preclinical drug discovery.
• Familiarity with computational or bioinformatics tools.
• Prior hands-on in vivo pharmacology experience.
• Proven success working on cross-functional teams in a matrixed research environment.
• Strong scientific communication skills and experience presenting data in a team setting.
• Highly organized, with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

Additional Information

• This position is located onsite, full-time, in Indianapolis, IN.
• Occasional evening and/or weekend work is required.