Senior Associate Scientist – Plate-Based Analytical Assays – Transitional and Early Development

About the Role

Senior Associate Scientist in the Transitional and Early Development team, you will play a critical role in bridging early discovery and clinical development for Elanco’s biotherapeutics pipeline. This laboratory-based position focuses on the design, execution, and optimization of research-stage plate-based analytical assays to support the screening and characterization of hit monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and other complex biomolecules. You will be responsible for building customized screening assays (including receptor blocking ELISAs, AC-SINS, and PEG assays) and designing the necessary tool reagents to evaluate early-stage molecules. Furthermore, you will develop robust quantitative ELISAs for lead molecules, ensuring these methods are phase-appropriate and ready for seamless tech transfer to Analytical Development once projects approach Pipeline Entry.

Your Responsibilities

• Perform routine and customized research-stage plate assays, including receptor blocking ELISAs, quantitative ELISAs, AC-SINS, and PEG precipitation assays to screen hit mAbs and other biomolecules.
• Develop, optimize, and qualify quantitative ELISAs for lead candidate molecules.
• Ensure these assays meet early robustness criteria for successful technology transfer to the Analytical Development team at Pipeline Entry.
• Proactively design, source, and evaluate critical tool reagents (e.g., capture/detection antibodies, recombinant target proteins) required for customized ligand-binding assays.
• Analyze large datasets using appropriate statistical and graphing software (e.g., GraphPad Prism, JMP).
• Document all experimental work meticulously in electronic lab notebooks (ELN) and author technical reports.
• Interface daily with scientists across Discovery Research and Analytical Development to ensure assay strategies align with project milestones and molecule characterization needs.
• Evaluate and implement new plate-based technologies and high-throughput automation strategies to improve screening efficiency and data quality.

What You Need to Succeed (Minimum Qualifications)

• Education: B.S. or M.S. in Immunology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, or a closely related scientific discipline.
• Experience: B.S. with 4+ years, or M.S. with 2+ years of relevant biopharmaceutical industry experience focusing on assay development and/or early research screening.
• Technical Skills: Extensive, hands-on expertise in developing, optimizing, and troubleshooting ligand-binding assays (especially ELISAs).
• Demonstrated ability to design and evaluate tool reagents for novel assay development.
• Strong analytical problem-solving skills with the ability to learn quickly and assimilate new laboratory techniques.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a track record of effective collaboration in a matrixed team environment.

What Will Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)

• Direct experience with biophysical/colloidal stability screening assays such as AC-SINS and PEG precipitation assays.
• Understanding of the analytical requirements for transitioning early research assays into validate-able methods for late-stage Analytical Development and Quality Control.
• Experience with automated liquid handlers or high-throughput plate reading platforms to scale early screening efforts.
• Strong background in protein biochemistry and structural understanding of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and multi-specific biologics.
• Experience utilizing Design of Experiments (DoE) for assay optimization.