Principal/Sr. Principal Biologist - Mobility and Aging
Eli Lilly and Company
Summary
The Principal/Sr. Principal Biologist will be a key member of Lilly's Mobility and Healthy Aging discovery team, conducting and leading in vivo studies that evaluate novel targets and therapeutic candidates in preclinical models of age-related musculoskeletal decline, with a primary emphasis on bone. The successful candidate will generate rigorous, decision-enabling data on bone density, strength, and microarchitecture to support target validation and program advancement, and will perform in vitro studies in bone cell systems to build mechanistic understanding and help complement in vivo efforts. This role also offers the opportunity to help expand the team's preclinical capabilities into muscle function and joint health.
Job description
Position Summary
The Principal/Sr. Principal Biologist will be a key member of Lilly's Mobility and Healthy Aging discovery team, conducting and leading in vivo studies that evaluate novel targets and therapeutic candidates in preclinical models of age-related musculoskeletal decline, with a primary emphasis on bone. The successful candidate will generate rigorous, decision-enabling data on bone density, strength, and microarchitecture to support target validation and program advancement, and will perform in vitro studies in bone cell systems to build mechanistic understanding and help complement in vivo efforts. This role also offers the opportunity to help expand the team's preclinical capabilities into muscle function and joint health.
Key Responsibilities
In Vivo Studies
- Design, execute, and analyze in vivo studies in rodent models relevant to mobility and healthy aging (e.g., ovariectomy-induced bone loss, aged animals, and other models of age-related or disuse-associated skeletal decline) to evaluate novel targets and candidate therapeutics
- Apply rigorous experimental design, including appropriate controls, power analysis and group sizing, randomization, and blinding, to ensure reproducible, decision-quality data
- Perform in-life procedures, including dosing by multiple routes, blood and tissue collection, and terminal harvest
- Prepare, submit, and maintain IACUC protocols and amendments, including scientific justification for models and animal numbers, description of procedures, anesthesia and analgesia plans, and humane endpoints
- Serve as a scientific point of contact for the IACUC, veterinary staff, and animal facility personnel
- Collaborate with colleagues in PK/PD, pharmacology, and translational science to support dose selection, study design, and interpretation of exposure–response relationships
Bone Imaging and Biomechanics
- Acquire and analyze microCT data to quantify trabecular (e.g., BV/TV, trabecular number, thickness, and separation) and cortical (e.g., cortical thickness, area, and porosity) bone parameters at relevant skeletal sites
- Perform biomechanical testing (e.g., three-point bending of long bones, vertebral compression) and derive structural properties such as ultimate load, stiffness, and energy to failure to assess bone strength
- Contribute to histological and histomorphometric analyses of bone remodeling, including dynamic (fluorochrome-labeling) and static measures of bone formation and resorption, as needed
In Vitro and Mechanistic Studies
- Conduct cell-based assays in relevant bone cell systems to support target validation and mechanism of action, including osteoblast differentiation and mineralization (e.g., primary osteoblasts or bone marrow stromal cells; alkaline phosphatase activity and Alizarin Red staining)
- Assess osteoclast formation and function (e.g., bone marrow–derived macrophage or RAW 264.7 cultures; TRAP staining and resorption pit assays) and evaluate osteocyte-like cell models and co-culture systems to study osteocyte-derived signals and cell–cell crosstalk
- Evaluate target engagement and pathway modulation (e.g., Wnt/β-catenin and RANKL/OPG signaling) using qPCR, ELISAs, reporter assays, and other standard molecular and biochemical methods
- Measure circulating bone turnover biomarkers (e.g., P1NP, CTX-I, osteocalcin) to connect in vitro mechanism with in vivo pharmacodynamic response
- Develop, optimize, and qualify new assays with appropriate controls, documentation, and reproducibility
Data and Scientific Communication
- Maintain accurate records, analyze and interpret data, and present results to the team and cross-functional partners
- Contribute to the development of new methods, models, and capabilities that strengthen the Mobility and Healthy Aging discovery platform
- Support collaborations with CROs and academic partners as needed
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in biology, physiology, or a related field with a minimum of 3 years of relevant laboratory experience AND/OR Master's degree in biology, physiology, or a related field
- Must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis
- No visa sponsorship provided (including F-1 CPT, F-1 OPT, F-1 STEM OPT, J-1, H-1B, TN, O-1, E-3, H-1B1, L-1)
- PhD level is overqualified for this position
- Experience in drug discovery or pharmaceutical/biotech research (preferred)
- Master's degree with 3 years of relevant lab experience (preferred)
- Foundational laboratory skills including aseptic technique, cell culture, qPCR, and ELISAs (preferred)
- Minimum 2 years experience in bone biology (preferred)
- Experience with in vivo rodent models, animal handling, dosing, necropsy, and husbandry (preferred)
- Experience with preclinical models of osteoporosis, bone loss, and aging (preferred)
- Experience preparing IACUC protocols and amendments and working directly with IACUC and veterinary staff (preferred)
- Experience with microCT-based preclinical imaging and analysis (preferred)
- Experience with bone biomechanical testing systems (preferred)
- Experience with in vitro bone cell systems, including osteoblast, osteoclast, and osteocyte assays (preferred)
- Familiarity with bone histology or histomorphometry (preferred)
- Experience assessing muscle function in preclinical models (preferred)
- Familiarity with preclinical models of age-related muscle loss and weakness, with measures of muscle mass and body composition (preferred)
- Experience with preclinical models of joint disease and degeneration (preferred)
- Familiarity with functional assessments of mobility and joint health in rodents (preferred)
- Strong organizational, communication, and collaboration skills, with the ability to work independently and as part of a cross-functional team (preferred)
- Passion for advancing innovative therapies that address unmet needs in mobility and healthy aging (preferred)
Benefits
- 401(k) Matching
- Pension
- Vacation Benefits
- Medical, Dental & Vision
- Prescription Drug Benefits
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Life Insurance
- Death Benefits
- Employee Assistance Program
- Fitness Benefits
- Employee Clubs & Activities
- Company Bonus
Company overview
Eli Lilly and Company, commonly known as Lilly, is a leading American multinational pharmaceutical corporation headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in 1876 by Colonel Eli Lilly, the company has grown into one of the world's most valuable pharmaceutical enterprises, with operations in approximately 125 countries. Lilly specializes in developing and manufacturing innovative medicines across multiple therapeutic areas, including diabetes, oncology, neuroscience, immunology, and cardiometabolic diseases. The company is renowned for its groundbreaking work in insulin production, having been the first to mass-produce insulin and later developing the first commercially available insulin product in the U.S. Lilly's current portfolio includes blockbuster medications such as Mounjaro and Zepbound (tirzepatide) for diabetes and obesity, Trulicity (dulaglutide) for type 2 diabetes, Verzenio (abemaciclib) for breast cancer, and Taltz (ixekizumab) for autoimmune conditions. With approximately 47,000 employees worldwide, Lilly maintains a strong commitment to research and development, investing heavily in scientific innovation to address some of the world's most significant health challenges. The company operates with a mission to make life better for people around the world through the discovery and delivery of innovative medicines.