Senior Research Scientist- Internal Medicine Physiologist and Early Project Lead

As a Senior Scientist in the Mechanistic Biology team, you will help advance innovative therapies for companion and farm animals by applying expertise in disease biology, physiology, and translational research. This role is ideal for a scientifically curious and collaborative researcher who enjoys integrating clinical insight, experimental biology, and emerging technologies to better understand disease mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities.

In this non-lab-based role, you will work closely with cross-functional scientists to design and interpret studies that inform therapeutic target selection, translational strategy, safety assessment, biomarker development, and early therapeutic development. You will help identify and prioritize biologically meaningful therapeutic targets, refine therapeutic approaches using biological, pharmacologic, and translational evidence, and improve confidence in therapeutic safety and biological relevance before clinical development.

We welcome candidates from academia, translational research, clinical specialty training programs, and industry. Scientists with experience leading independent research programs, clinical trials, comparative medicine studies, or translational biology initiatives are strongly encouraged to apply.

Many successful scientists in this type of role have backgrounds in academic medicine, veterinary specialty training, translational research, physiology, comparative medicine, or biomedical research environments. We value scientific rigor, curiosity, collaboration, and the ability to integrate complex biological information across disciplines.

Your Responsibilities:

• Lead or contribute to translational research strategies aimed at understanding disease biology and advancing novel therapeutic approaches in companion and farm animal medicine.
• Identify and prioritize biologically meaningful therapeutic targets using physiological, clinical, mechanistic, and translational evidence.
• Apply mechanistic and translational thinking to evaluate therapeutic opportunities, biological risks, and potential safety considerations.
• Develop and apply biomarker, diagnostic, and translational research approaches that improve understanding of disease progression and therapeutic response.
• Serve as a scientific subject matter expert in physiology, disease mechanisms, and translational interpretation of animal studies.
• Collaborate across research disciplines to advance early-stage therapeutic programs from biological concept through translational evaluation.
• Partner with internal teams and external collaborators to support study design, interpretation of results, scientific documentation, and progression recommendations.
• Support high-quality scientific execution while ensuring appropriate documentation, animal welfare principles, and compliance with applicable regulatory expectations, including GLP/GxP where relevant.

What You Need to Succeed (minimum qualifications):

• Education: DVM with advanced specialty training in internal medicine and/or PhD in veterinary physiology, comparative medicine, translational biology, biomedical sciences, or a related field.
• Experience studying naturally occurring or experimental disease biology in veterinary or biomedical research settings. Candidates with expertise in companion animal medicine, comparative medicine, translational physiology, internal medicine, or related fields are encouraged to apply.
• Demonstrated ability to design, lead, or interpret hypothesis-driven research in a collaborative scientific environment.
• Ability to integrate complex biological, physiological, clinical, and experimental data to inform scientific decisions.
• Experience with biomolecular, translational, or mechanistic research approaches, such as flow cytometry, transcriptomics, proteomics, biomarker development, diagnostic strategies, or related methods.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to explain complex scientific concepts to cross-functional partners.

What will give you a competitive edge (preferred qualifications):

• DVM boarded in internal medicine with a PhD in physiology, comparative medicine, translational biology, or a related field.
• Experience in pharmaceutical or biotechnology research, or a strong record of independent academic or translational research productivity.
• Previous fellowship, post-doctoral, clinical specialty, or comparative medicine research experience.
• Experience designing, leading, or contributing to clinical trials, translational research studies, animal model studies, or naturally occurring disease investigations.
• Interest in translational therapeutic development and willingness to learn drug development principles in a collaborative environment.
• Working knowledge of statistical principles, biomarker strategy, diagnostic development, or emerging technologies such as AI and New Approach Methodologies.
• Demonstrated proficiency in immunology, physiology, internal medicine, or disease mechanism research.
• Experience collaborating across disciplines, influencing without direct authority, and contributing to scientific strategy in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong scientific curiosity, drive, and ability to execute efficiently while balancing rigor, quality, and practical decision-making.

Additional Information:

Travel: up to 25%

Location: Indianapolis, IN - Hybrid Work Environment

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

Full-time equivalent employees also will be eligible for a company bonus (depending partly on company and individual performance). Additionally, Elanco offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees that includes a company-matching 401(k); 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; and well-being benefits (e.g., employee assistance program, fitness benefits, and employee clubs and activities).

Elanco reserves the right to amend, modify, or terminate its compensation and benefit programs in its sole discretion, and Elanco's compensation practices and guidelines will apply regarding the details of any promotion or transfer of Elanco employees.

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 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.