Research Jobs in Indianapolis, IN
Research jobs in Indianapolis are concentrated in the life sciences corridor anchored near the Indiana University Health campuses, Meridian-Kessler, and the Wholesale District, with strong demand from pharmaceutical, biomedical, and policy sectors. Elanco, Indiana University, and Eli Lilly are among the employers actively hiring right now. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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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:
As a Senior Scientist in the Transitional and Early Development team, you will be a strategic and technical leader focused on the critical transition from early research to development. In this role, you will lead early-formulation work to identify optimal formulations for physical stability of lead molecules in support of pre-clinical study material generation.
In this laboratory-based leadership role, you will drive the biophysical characterization and formulation selection process for diverse biopharmaceutical modalities, including monoclonal antibodies and other complex biologics. You will be responsible for leading a small characterization team that performs the biophysical and functional assays used to evaluate and de-risk lead candidates before they enter full development as well as designing and conducting the formulation selection studies.
Your Responsibilities
Strategic Pre-Formulation: Lead formulation programs for lead molecules, applying deep expertise in protein chemistry and thermodynamics to identify formulations for each lead with superior solubility, stability, and freeze-thaw potential.
Team Leadership: Direct and mentor a small characterization team; establish robust analytical workflows and acceptance criteria for biophysical and functional assays.
Risk Mitigation: Identify and mitigate formulation-related risks such as aggregation, precipitation, and viscosity at high concentrations using first-principles understanding of solution behavior.
Technical Innovation: Evaluate and implement novel formulation technologies and high-throughput screening platforms to accelerate the lead selection process.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Serve as the technical formulation lead on concurrent project teams, interfacing with Discovery Research, Process Development, Analytical Development, and Formulation Development.
Data Excellence: Maintain exemplary ELN documentation, author technical reports, and provide data-driven recommendations to enable the successful transition of molecules into the development pipeline.
What You Need to Succeed (Minimum Qualifications)
Education:
PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or a related scientific discipline.
Experience:
3+ years of biopharmaceutical industry experience with a specific focus on protein formulation and characterization.
Proven experience leading formulation projects from concept through execution.
Technical Skills:
Deep expertise in protein chemistry, physical biochemistry, and colloidal science.
Hands-on mastery of protein characterization techniques (e.g., DLS/Zetasizer, DSC, DSF, SEC, and spectroscopy).
Demonstrated ability to thrive in fast-paced environments with evolving priorities.
Excellent scientific communication skills and a strong foundation in data integrity practices.
What Will Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)
Formulation Platforms: Experience developing advanced or high-concentration formulation platforms for monoclonal antibodies.
Process Insight: Understanding of how early formulation choices impact future unit operations like lyophilization or technology transfer.
Digital Tools: Experience using Design of Experiments (DoE) and statistical analysis (e.g., JMP) to optimize formulation behavior.
Leadership Track Record: Experience mentoring junior scientists and building analytical capabilities within a research or development setting.
Don't meet every single requirement? Studies have shown underrecognized groups are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Elanco we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive work environment. If you think you might be a good fit for a role but don't necessarily meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply. You may be the right candidate for this role or other roles!
Elanco Benefits and Perks:
We offer a comprehensive benefits package focusing on financial, physical, and mental well-being while encouraging our employees to pursue our purpose! Some highlights include:
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
#LI-RH1
Elanco is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status
Elanco may use automated tools, including AI, to support parts of our recruitment process, such as reviewing applications against job‑related criteria and/or transferrable skills. These tools help ensure a consistent, structured evaluation, but they do not make hiring decisions. All decisions involve a human reviewer. For more information on how we handle personal data, please see our Elanco Workforce Privacy Notice.
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:
As a Senior Scientist in the Transitional and Early Development team, you will be a strategic and technical leader focused on the critical transition from early research to development. In this role, you will lead early-formulation work to identify optimal formulations for physical stability of lead molecules in support of pre-clinical study material generation.
In this laboratory-based leadership role, you will drive the biophysical characterization and formulation selection process for diverse biopharmaceutical modalities, including monoclonal antibodies and other complex biologics. You will be responsible for leading a small characterization team that performs the biophysical and functional assays used to evaluate and de-risk lead candidates before they enter full development as well as designing and conducting the formulation selection studies.
Your Responsibilities
Strategic Pre-Formulation: Lead formulation programs for lead molecules, applying deep expertise in protein chemistry and thermodynamics to identify formulations for each lead with superior solubility, stability, and freeze-thaw potential.
Team Leadership: Direct and mentor a small characterization team; establish robust analytical workflows and acceptance criteria for biophysical and functional assays.
Risk Mitigation: Identify and mitigate formulation-related risks such as aggregation, precipitation, and viscosity at high concentrations using first-principles understanding of solution behavior.
Technical Innovation: Evaluate and implement novel formulation technologies and high-throughput screening platforms to accelerate the lead selection process.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Serve as the technical formulation lead on concurrent project teams, interfacing with Discovery Research, Process Development, Analytical Development, and Formulation Development.
Data Excellence: Maintain exemplary ELN documentation, author technical reports, and provide data-driven recommendations to enable the successful transition of molecules into the development pipeline.
What You Need to Succeed (Minimum Qualifications)
Education:
PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or a related scientific discipline.
Experience:
3+ years of biopharmaceutical industry experience with a specific focus on protein formulation and characterization.
Proven experience leading formulation projects from concept through execution.
Technical Skills:
Deep expertise in protein chemistry, physical biochemistry, and colloidal science.
Hands-on mastery of protein characterization techniques (e.g., DLS/Zetasizer, DSC, DSF, SEC, and spectroscopy).
Demonstrated ability to thrive in fast-paced environments with evolving priorities.
Excellent scientific communication skills and a strong foundation in data integrity practices.
What Will Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)
Formulation Platforms: Experience developing advanced or high-concentration formulation platforms for monoclonal antibodies.
Process Insight: Understanding of how early formulation choices impact future unit operations like lyophilization or technology transfer.
Digital Tools: Experience using Design of Experiments (DoE) and statistical analysis (e.g., JMP) to optimize formulation behavior.
Leadership Track Record: Experience mentoring junior scientists and building analytical capabilities within a research or development setting.
Don't meet every single requirement? Studies have shown underrecognized groups are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Elanco we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive work environment. If you think you might be a good fit for a role but don't necessarily meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply. You may be the right candidate for this role or other roles!
Elanco Benefits and Perks:
We offer a comprehensive benefits package focusing on financial, physical, and mental well-being while encouraging our employees to pursue our purpose! Some highlights include:
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
#LI-RH1
Elanco is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status
Elanco may use automated tools, including AI, to support parts of our recruitment process, such as reviewing applications against job‑related criteria and/or transferrable skills. These tools help ensure a consistent, structured evaluation, but they do not make hiring decisions. All decisions involve a human reviewer. For more information on how we handle personal data, please see our Elanco Workforce Privacy Notice.
See All 66 Research Jobs in Indianapolis
Find roles in Indianapolis that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Research JobsResearch Job Market in Indianapolis
Who's Hiring
- Elanco19
- Indiana University15
- Eli Lilly9
- The Heritage4
- OrthoIndy2
Top Industries Hiring
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals
- Science & Research
Research Jobs in Indianapolis: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a research job in Indianapolis?
Focus your search on Indianapolis's life sciences cluster, which includes pharmaceutical companies, hospital systems, and contract research organizations concentrated near the IUPUI campus and the north side medical corridor. Candidates with hands-on lab, clinical data, or policy analysis experience stand out here. Networking through the Indiana Bioscience Research Institute and local university job fairs gives you a real edge over remote applicants.
Which companies hire researchs in Indianapolis?
Companies currently hiring researchs in Indianapolis include Elanco, Indiana University, and Eli Lilly, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Indianapolis draws a mix of large pharmaceutical employers, academic medical centers, and think tanks, making it one of the Midwest's more active research hiring markets.
Are there remote research jobs in Indianapolis?
Yes, though availability depends heavily on role type: hands-on lab and clinical research positions are almost always on-site, while policy, data, and literature-review roles are far more remote-friendly. About 70% of research openings tied to Indianapolis are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with the highest remote share in health economics and survey research roles.
How can I get a research job in Indianapolis with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path in Indianapolis is a research coordinator or research assistant role at one of the city's hospital systems or IUPUI-affiliated programs, where entry-level candidates are regularly recruited. Internships through Indiana University's research offices and volunteer positions with local nonprofits conducting community health studies also open doors. Familiarity with IRB protocols or basic statistical software gives entry-level candidates a concrete advantage with Indianapolis employers.
Which industries hire the most researchs in Indianapolis?
Most research openings in Indianapolis sit in Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals and Science & Research, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Indianapolis's identity as a pharmaceutical and healthcare hub, anchored by decades of life sciences investment in the city, drives outsized demand for research roles compared to peer Midwestern metros.
See All 66 Research Jobs in Indianapolis
Find roles in Indianapolis that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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