Scientist Jobs in Indianapolis, IN
Scientist jobs in Indianapolis draw from the city's established life sciences corridor, pharmaceutical research hubs, and growing agri-biotech sector, with demand concentrated in the Meridian-Kessler research district, the Indiana Biosciences Research Institute area near downtown, and the Plainfield and Zionsville corridors. Employers hiring right now include Elanco, Eli Lilly, and IQVIA. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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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 70 Scientist Jobs in Indianapolis
Find roles in Indianapolis that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Scientist JobsScientist Job Market in Indianapolis
Who's Hiring
- Elanco25
- Eli Lilly12
- IQVIA5
- Alverno Clinical Laboratories5
- Indiana University Health3
Top Industries Hiring
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals11
- Science & Research9
- Medical Devices2
- Distribution & Wholesale2
- Healthcare & Medical Services2
Scientist Jobs in Indianapolis: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a scientist job in Indianapolis?
Focus your search on Indianapolis's life sciences and pharmaceutical employers, which are the city's heaviest hirers of scientists across research, quality, and regulatory functions. The Indiana Biosciences Research Institute and the Corteva Agriscience presence in the metro give candidates with agricultural or biotech backgrounds a distinct edge. Networking through the Indiana Life Sciences Summit and targeting contract research organizations concentrated on the northwest side can open doors faster than applying cold.
Which companies hire scientists in Indianapolis?
Employers hiring scientists in Indianapolis right now include Elanco, Eli Lilly, and IQVIA, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Indianapolis's hiring landscape is anchored by pharmaceutical manufacturers, contract research and testing labs, agriscience firms, and hospital-affiliated research institutes that collectively sustain steady year-round demand.
Are there remote scientist jobs in Indianapolis?
Yes, though remote availability depends heavily on the type of scientist role, lab-based, analytical, and compliance-focused positions differ significantly. About 67% of scientist openings tied to Indianapolis are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting how the local market skews toward hands-on research and quality roles. Regulatory affairs scientists, data analysts, and scientific writers working with Indianapolis employers tend to have the most remote flexibility.
How can I get a scientist job in Indianapolis with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path in Indianapolis is through contract and temp-to-hire roles at the city's numerous contract research organizations and pharmaceutical manufacturers, which regularly hire associate scientists and lab technicians at the entry level. Eli Lilly's campus and the Indiana University Health research network offer internship and co-op pipelines that convert to full-time roles. Candidates who hold relevant certifications in Good Laboratory Practices or have completed co-ops with Purdue's Indianapolis programs stand out in the local market.
Which industries hire the most scientists in Indianapolis?
Indianapolis scientist roles concentrate in Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals, Science & Research, and Medical Devices, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Indianapolis's deep roots in pharmaceutical manufacturing, its expanding biosciences research infrastructure, and its strong agriscience presence through the broader metro corridor make those sectors the consistent drivers of local scientist hiring.
See All 70 Scientist Jobs in Indianapolis
Find roles in Indianapolis that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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