Job DescriptionPostdoctoral Scientist - Synthetic & Medicinal Chemistry
Position SummaryThis Postdoctoral Scientist position offers the opportunity to work at the interface of medicinal and process chemistry within a multidisciplinary team of chemists, analytical scientists, and engineers. The scientist will design and synthesize novel chemical targets, develop and apply new synthetic methodologies, and build deep insights into structure-function relationships that rapidly advance discovery and development efforts.
We are especially interested in candidates who can pair a strong foundation in modern synthetic chemistry with emerging enabling technologies - in particular single-electron chemistry (photochemistry and/or electrochemistry) and a strong engineering mindset for reaction scale-up, continuous processing, and laboratory automation. This role enables the researcher to conduct innovative chemistry relevant to our pipeline while generating data that can be published externally, creating value for both Eli Lilly and the scientist.
Responsibilities:Top candidates for this position will be expected to:
- Working within a scientific team, conceptualize and execute new synthetic methodologies to rapidly screen and optimize relevant reactions.
- Purify starting materials, intermediates, and final compounds using modern separation techniques (e.g., flash chromatography, crystallization, preparative HPLC).
- Characterize reaction components, starting materials, and products by modern analytical techniques including NMR, HPLC, LC-MS, and related methods.
- Apply and develop single-electron chemistry approaches - photochemistry and/or electrochemistry - to enable new bond disconnections and methodology.
- Conduct chemical development using modern technologies such as continuous (flow) processing, automated/high-throughput reaction screening, and computational chemistry.
- Build, maintain, and troubleshoot laboratory instrumentation and equipment, contributing engineering insight to experimental design and scale-up.
- Review assay and analytical data, communicate results, and discuss the project impact of new findings.
- Author peer-reviewed external publications as a primary work output and present work in team and scientific meetings.
- Uphold laboratory safety standards and safe chemical-handling practices, and generate accurate, descriptive lab records to industry standards in a timely manner.
Basic Qualifications:- PhD in synthetic chemistry, organic chemistry, chemistry, biochemistry, chemical engineering, or a closely related field.
- Qualified applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Lilly will not provide support for or sponsor work authorization or visas for this role, including but not limited to F-1 CPT, F-1 OPT, F-1 STEM OPT, J-1, H-1B, TN, O-1, E-3, H-1B1, or L-1.
Additional Skills & Preferences:Core chemistry skills (required)- Strong background in modern synthetic and/or medicinal chemistry with hands-on bench expertise.
- Proficiency with standard analytical and purification techniques, including NMR, HPLC, and LC-MS.
Strongly preferred- Single-electron chemistry: demonstrated experience in photochemistry and/or electrochemistry, including reaction setup, optimization, and mechanistic understanding.
- Engineering skills: strong engineering aptitude applied to chemistry - e.g., continuous/flow chemistry, reaction engineering and scale-up, process development, or design and integration of automated/instrumented systems.
Additional preferences- Experience or familiarity with parallel reaction design, design of experiments (DoE), or high-throughput synthesis and screening.
- Experience or familiarity with data science, and with Python, R, or other coding languages.
- Strong interest in creating and advancing new technologies in predictive and data-driven chemistry.
- Demonstrated self-initiative, appropriate risk-taking, and a continual-learner mindset.
- Demonstrated proficiency in scientific writing and publication in peer-reviewed journals, along with strong scientific presentation skills.
- Excellent interpersonal, organizational, analytical, documentation, and multitasking skills, with the ability to prioritize and manage ambiguity in a fast-paced environment.
- Demonstrated track record of creative, mechanism-based problem solving and effective teamwork.
Additional Information:- Work environment is a laboratory setting; the physical demands of this job are consistent with a lab environment.
- Potential exposure to chemicals, allergens, and loud noises.
- Occasional travel between Boulder and Louisville sites may be required.
Actual compensation will depend on a candidate's education, experience, skills, and geographic location. The anticipated wage for this position is
$58,000 - $123,200
Full-time equivalent employees also will be eligible for a company bonus (depending, in part, on company and individual performance). In addition, Lilly offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees, including eligibility to participate in a company-sponsored 401(k); pension; 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).Lilly reserves the right to amend, modify, or terminate its compensation and benefit programs in its sole discretion and Lilly's compensation practices and guidelines will apply regarding the details of any promotion or transfer of Lilly employees.
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