At Lilly, we unite caring with discovery to make life better for people around the world. We are a global healthcare leader headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our employees around the world work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to our communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. We give our best effort to our work, and we put people first. We’re looking for people who are determined to make life better for people around the world.

Delivery, Device, and Connected Solutions (DDCS) is an organization within the Molecular Innovation Hub (MIH) at Eli Lilly and Company.  DDCS is a diverse group of chemists, material scientists, and engineers with the critical responsibility of delivering our portfolio.  DDCS provides the scientific and engineering expertise to discover and develop delivery solutions across a range of modalities from injection devices to nanomedicines.  Within DDCS the Drug Delivery and New Product Innovation (DDNPI) team is leading the effort to discover novel nanoparticle-based formulations for the efficient targeted delivery of therapeutic cargos such as nucleic acids.  This rational design approach is driven by a multi-disciplinary team consisting of materials experts, biologists, chemists, and protein engineers.  The DDNPI team is currently recruiting a post-doc to support this team in a role that will design and evaluate targeted nanoparticles for cellular delivery.  This role represents a special opportunity to work on a cross-functional project involving materials engineering, protein engineering, and biological assessments to enable innovative, cutting-edge delivery technologies!

Responsibilities:

Top candidates for this position will be expected to:

Apply resourceful and innovative thinking to develop targeting strategies related to nanoparticle design and subcellular processes affecting their uptake and distribution in cells.Leverage a strong theoretical and technical background in ligand design and conjugation methods to produce targeted nanoparticles.Carry out experimental work related to nanoparticle characterization and biological activity in vitro and in vivo.Demonstrate the ability to work effectively within a team environment but also show the self-initiative and resolved to conduct independent research and solve problems on an individual basisDemonstrate strong communication skills (oral and written).  Present work at group meetings or external conferences and work diligently to prepare manuscripts for publicationShow learning agility and willingness to rapidly learn the fundamental concepts and experimental techniques related to nanoparticle design and where necessary learn and apply emerging characterization techniques and bioassays.

Basic Qualifications:

PhD in chemistry/materials engineering/biomedical engineering/biotechnology or related field.Expert level skills in nanoparticle characterization, bioconjugation and in vitro assays.In depth knowledge of nanoparticle materials platforms, receptor-mediated endocytosis mechanisms, and ligand design.

Additional Skills/Preferences:

Experience formulating nucleic acid-loaded nanoparticles and determining loading/encapsulation efficiency.Experience determining ligand density and binding properties of targeted nanoparticles.Expert-level understanding of ligand/nanoparticle coupling chemistry and factors affecting optimal cell binding and internalization.Experience with mammalian cell culture and associated assays to determine protein expression, protein knockdown, viability, and nanoparticle distribution within cells.Fundamental understanding of cell uptake, subcellular trafficking, and endosome escape processes.Well-developed problem-solving skills based on creative thinking and attention to detail.Hands on experimental- and nanoparticle-characterization skills.Good organizational skills that will enable success in a fast-paced environment.Ability to balance multiple activities, prioritize and handle uncertainty and risk.A strong desire to learn emerging technologies and new scientific concepts to support multi-disciplinary research.Good interpersonal skills and a persistent tendency for collaboration.Proficiency in scientific writing and publication in peer-reviewed journals along with scientific presentation skills.

Additional Information:

Travel: 0 to 10%.Position Location: Indianapolis, IN; Lilly Technology Center-North (LTC-N).

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