Postdoctoral Researcher – Neurodegeneration & Autophagy Full-time

Postdoctoral Researcher

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.

Position Overview

Eli Lilly and Company invites applications for a highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher to join the Neuroscience team, focusing on investigating the interplay between neurodegeneration, metabolism, and autophagy within the brain. This role provides the opportunity to lead an independent research project utilizing our advanced research facilities and receiving guidance from expert scientists across multiple disciplines. At Lilly, our drug discovery efforts are rooted in a comprehensive understanding of disease biology and mechanisms; in this position, you will contribute valuable insights that will inform and shape our future directions.

In this role you will:

• Design and execute an experimental program aimed at understanding how alterations in metabolic activity alter autophagy in the brain at a cellular level and how this may impact the progression of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's Disease.
• Utilize rodent and cell models to generate data that will determine project directions.
• Work hands-on with cutting-edge molecular and cellular biology methods western blotting, tissue lysate preparation, and more—in the state-of-the-art Lilly Seaport Innovation Center.
• Conduct comprehensive experiments to identify autophagy-related indicators as reliable, next-generation biomarkers for tracking neurodegenerative disease progression.
• Identify critical needs in neuroscience clinical development and champion creative, science-driven solutions.
• Present findings at conferences and publish in high quality peer-reviewed journals.
• Work collaboratively with Eli Lilly scientists in biology, pharmacology, and neuroscience, integrating diverse perspectives.
• Gain exposure to drug discovery programs in an industry setting.

Basic Qualifications:

• Education: Ph.D. in a relevant field (e.g., cell biology, neurobiology, neuroscience, molecular biology or related life sciences)
• 1+ years of in-vivo modeling experience within Industry or Academic lab

Additional Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience working with rodent models for neuroscience or metabolic research. Skills in handling, dosing, behavioral assays, and tissue and biofluid collection is required.
• Proficiency in standard molecular biology, cell biology and biochemistry techniques (e.g., PCR, Western blotting, ELISA, MSD, immunohistochemistry) is required
• Hands-on experience investigating autophagy with demonstrated track record of publications in this area is highly desirable. Additionally, knowledge of neurodegenerative diseases will be considered a significant asset.
• Ability to use relevant software and tools for data analysis (e.g., GraphPad Prism, ImageJ, statistical packages).
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a proven capacity to interpret complex biological data and troubleshoot experimental challenges.
• Independence: Self-motivated and able to design and carry out research with minimal supervision, while also knowing when to seek guidance. A strong desire to innovate and drive projects forward is critical.
• Communication: Effective written and verbal communication skills in English. Ability to clearly articulate research goals and results, and to collaborate with team members across disciplines.
• Teamwork: Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively in a collaborative research environment. Experience working on a research team or in cross-functional projects is beneficial.

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