Associate Scientist - Cell Line Development

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: Senior Associate Scientist, Cell Line Development

As a Senior Associate Scientist, Cell Line Development, you will be a pivotal member of our Transitional and Early Development (TED) team, directly contributing to the advancement of Elanco’s biotherapeutic and vaccine pipeline. You will leverage your deep expertise in mammalian cell culture, molecular biology, and biochemistry to develop and industrialize next-generation cell lines. This is a hands-on laboratory role where you will take ownership of projects, collaborate with a diverse group of scientists, and see your work translate from research to development, making a tangible impact on animal health.

Your Responsibilities:

• Guide the development, optimization, and implementation of robust workflows for mammalian cell culture and high-performance cell line generation.
• Take ownership of the end-to-end creation of stable and clonal cell lines for biotherapeutic and vaccine candidates, utilizing advanced platforms such as Beacon and VIPS.
• Serve as a key technical matter expert on cell line development, providing critical scientific input and fostering seamless collaboration with Discovery, Upstream Process Development, and Analytical teams.
• Manage the evaluation and implementation of new technologies and methodologies to enhance the speed, quality, and efficiency of our cell line development engine.
• Ensure meticulous data integrity and knowledge transfer by authoring detailed technical protocols, analyzing complex datasets, and clearly presenting scientific findings to guide project progression.

What You Need to Succeed (minimum qualifications):

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant scientific discipline (e.g., Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology) with at least 6 years of industry experience, OR a Master's degree with at least 3 years of industry experience.
• Experience: Deep technical expertise in mammalian suspension cell culture (specifically CHO and 293 cells), including aseptic technique, media preparation, and cell banking.
• Top Skills: Proven ability to independently troubleshoot complex technical issues, interpret complex data to influence project direction, and effectively manage multiple projects in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

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

• Demonstrable hands-on experience in the end-to-end development of stable cell lines, including transfection, single-cell cloning, and characterization of clonality and stability.
• Proven project management experience with the ability to guide technical strategy and mentor junior scientists.
• Hands-on experience with high-throughput cell line development platforms (e.g., Beacon, VIPS) and flow cytometry.
• A strong understanding of upstream bioprocess techniques, including the use of shake flasks, ambr®, and bench-scale bioreactors.
• Familiarity with cGMP principles and the regulatory requirements for cell line development and characterization for IND/BLA submissions.

Additional Information:

• Travel: Up to 10%
• Location: Global Elanco Headquarters - 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

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). Of course, the compensation is subject to change and could be higher or lower than the range described above. 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.