Senior Researcher Jobs in Indiana
Senior Researcher jobs in Indiana are actively posted across the state's pharmaceutical, life sciences, and university research sectors, with demand ranging from mid-career specialists to principal-level investigators. Indianapolis, Bloomington, and West Lafayette see the heaviest hiring, anchored by employers like Eli Lilly, Indiana University, and Purdue University. The most consistently sought specializations include clinical research, biomedical science, and policy or social science research. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Showing 5 of 17+ Senior Researcher jobs
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 17 Senior Researcher Jobs in Indiana
Find roles in Indiana that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Senior Researcher JobsSenior Researcher Jobs by City in Indiana
Where Indiana roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Senior Researcher Job Market in Indiana
A snapshot from current Indiana openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Science & Research
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals
What Indiana Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in senior researcher jobs across Indiana.
- Master's or doctoral degree in a relevant scientific or social science field
- Minimum five years of experience designing and leading independent research projects
- Demonstrated publication record or equivalent technical reporting in peer-reviewed contexts
- Proficiency with statistical software such as SAS, R, or SPSS for data analysis
- Experience managing research teams, budgets, and cross-functional project timelines
- Strong written communication skills for grant writing and stakeholder presentations
Senior Researcher Jobs in Indiana: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a senior researcher in Indiana?
Most senior researcher roles in Indiana require at least a master's degree, and many pharmaceutical or clinical positions expect a doctorate. Indiana does not issue a general state research license, but clinical researchers conducting trials at Indiana institutions must comply with IRB registration requirements through their sponsoring organization. Candidates who build publication records, complete postdoctoral fellowships at Indiana University or Purdue, and gain project leadership experience move most readily into senior roles.
Which companies hire senior researchers in Indiana?
Indiana senior researcher roles are posted by Elanco, Purdue University, and Cook and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Indiana's concentration of pharmaceutical headquarters and Big Ten research universities means a steady, year-round pipeline of openings across both industry and academic settings.
Which Indiana cities have the most senior researcher jobs?
Indianapolis, West Lafayette, and Bloomington have the most senior researcher openings in Indiana. Indianapolis dominates because of Eli Lilly's global headquarters and a cluster of hospital systems running clinical research programs, while Bloomington and West Lafayette draw on the research infrastructure of Indiana University and Purdue University respectively, sustaining demand for senior-level investigators across disciplines.
Are there remote senior researcher jobs in Indiana?
Yes, and more than many fields, because analytical and policy research work is well suited to remote arrangements. About 80% of senior researcher openings tied to Indiana are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the desk-based nature of much of the work. Roles focused on data analysis, health policy, or social science research tend to be the most remote-eligible, while laboratory and clinical positions require consistent on-site presence.
How can I get hired as a senior researcher in Indiana with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a research assistant or associate role at an Indiana university or hospital system, where you build the independent project experience needed to advance. Indiana University, Purdue University, and Indiana University Health all run structured research training programs and hire entry-level research coordinators. Completing an IRB certification course, gaining authorship on even a single publication, and moving laterally from adjacent roles like data analyst or clinical trial coordinator gives candidates a meaningful edge with Indiana hiring managers.
Where can I find and apply to senior researcher jobs in Indiana?
You can find and apply to senior researcher jobs in Indiana on Migrate Mate, which lists current Indiana openings updated in real time. Search the available roles, find the ones that match your background and location preference, and apply directly to each position that fits.
See All 17 Senior Researcher Jobs in Indiana
Find roles in Indiana that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Senior Researcher Jobs