Process Chemistry Advisor/Senior Advisor - Synthetic Peptide Chemistry (SMDD) at Eli Lilly and Company

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.

The Synthetic Molecule Design and Development (SMDD) organization at Eli Lilly and Company has an exciting opportunity for an innovative synthetic organic chemist!  Join our peptide process development team within a highly dynamic and cross-functional department, focused on sustainable synthetic peptide development and commercialization. The selected candidate will be part of a diverse team of chemical engineers, synthetic chemists, and analytical chemists, delivering product and process understanding across various platforms.

Our peptide group recently commercialized Mounjaro/Zepbound (see: Tirzepatide Hybrid Synthesis), one of the many exciting peptides in our portfolio. The team is responsible for the sustainable synthesis and cost-effective commercialization of therapeutic peptides. We are looking for a candidate with experience in peptide synthesis, decoding problematic reactions, process optimization, and isolation.

Position Responsibilities:

• Synthesize complex peptide active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) using both established and ground-breaking technologies in synthetic peptide chemistry, chemical engineering, and continuous manufacturing.
• Identify and exploit new scientific concepts, employ strong problem-solving skills, and be self-motivated and adaptable.
• Embrace green chemistry and engineering principles to reduce the environmental footprint of peptide APIs (see: Synthetic Peptide Sustainability Challenges and PMI Analysis of Current Peptide Manufacturing Processes - A Review).
• Design, develop, and implement sustainable, innovative, and cost-effective synthetic processes for API manufacture.
• Collaborate with external development and manufacturing organizations to support technology transfer, develop new initiatives, and improve existing scientific processes.
• Generate data for regulatory filings.
• Present research findings at internal forums, relevant external conferences, and in high-quality peer-reviewed journals.

Minimum Qualifications:

• PhD in Chemistry or related field or MS in Chemistry or related field with 7+ years of relevant experience.
• Strong background in synthetic organic and/or peptide chemistry.
• Experience with characterization of organic/peptide products by NMR, HPLC, and MS.

Desirable Skills/Preferences:

• Understanding of various modes of peptide synthesis such as Solid-Phase Peptide Synthesis, Solution-Phase Peptide Synthesis, Liquid/Tag-Assisted Peptide Synthesis, Semi-Synthesis, and enzymatic approaches, with familiarity with peptide automation.
• Knowledge of fundamental structural/molecular properties of organic molecules/peptides, equilibrium and kinetic principles, and their application in reaction development and improvement.
• Ability to prioritize work to achieve scientific, professional, and business goals.
• Strong interpersonal skills and experience in collaborative, multidisciplinary team environments.
• Ability to meet deadlines on multiple assignments and efficiently prioritize project needs.
• Strong technical problem-solving ability and initiative.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Hands-on experience with peptide synthesis in both solid- and solution-phase.
• Expertise in various synthetic organic chemistry methods and techniques.
• Familiarity with reversed-phase chromatography, ion exchange chromatography, size exclusion chromatography, chiral chromatography.
• Experience with high-resolution mass spectrometry in the characterization of synthetic peptides and MS data interpretation.
• Strong publication record in organic synthesis or methodology, with peptide-related research being a plus.

Additional Information:

• Travel: 0 to 10%
• Possible exposure to chemicals, allergens, and loud noises
• Location: Indianapolis, IN. (Lilly Technology Center-North)

Work-Life Balance and Benefits:

Eli Lilly and Company values work-life balance and offers flexible working hours, remote work opportunities, and comprehensive parental leave policies. Our supportive work environment includes various employee resource groups, including those dedicated to employee advancement in science.

Eli Lilly and Company, Lilly USA, LLC and our wholly owned subsidiaries (collectively “Lilly”) are committed to help individuals with disabilities to participate in the workforce and ensure equal opportunity to compete for jobs. If you require an accommodation to submit a resume for positions at Lilly, please email Lilly Human Resources ( Lilly_Recruiting_Compliance@lists.lilly.com ) for further assistance. Please note This email address is intended for use only to request an accommodation as part of the application process. Any other correspondence will not receive a response.

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