Job Description
Associate / Sr. Associate - Molecular Biology- Lilly Gene Therapy at Eli Lilly summary:
The Associate/Sr. Associate in Molecular Biology at Lilly Gene Therapy conducts advanced molecular biology experiments to design, build, and test novel CAR constructs for cell therapy programs. The role involves utilizing cloning, mutagenesis, protein engineering, and automation platforms to optimize gene therapy reagents. Collaboration with cross-functional teams supports the development and validation of gene therapy products aimed at improving patient outcomes worldwide.
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.
Join the rapidly expanding Lilly Gene Therapy team at Eli Lilly. We invent, characterize, and advance novel gene therapy reagents for a wide range of clinical applications, working cross-functionally across disease areas and platforms. Our goal is to deliver on the promise of gene therapy for patients worldwide.
Responsibilities - Perform hands-on molecular biology experiments to design, build, and test novel CAR constructs by combining modular protein domains.
- Apply advanced cloning and mutagenesis techniques (e.g., Golden Gate, Gibson Assembly) to generate and optimize CAR constructs for discovery-stage cell therapy programs.
- Operate and maintain automation platforms (e.g., liquid handlers, colony pickers) to enable high-throughput cloning and construct assembly.
- Implement protein engineering strategies such as codon optimization, linker design, and modular domain assembly.
- Execute PCR/qPCR/ddPCR, sequencing, and other molecular assays to validate construct integrity and performance.
- Support library-scale construct generation and screening campaigns using automated workflows.
- Maintain detailed experimental records, analyze data, and contribute to troubleshooting and process optimization.
- Collaborate with internal teams to support downstream functional testing of engineered constructs.
Basic Qualifications - Bachelor's degree with 3+ years, or Master's degree with 1+ years of relevant laboratory experience in molecular biology or related field.
Preferred Skills - Excellent troubleshooting and problem-solving skills in molecular biology and automation workflows.
- Strong communication and ability to work effectively in a collaborative team environment.
- Strong proficiency in molecular biology techniques, including cloning, mutagenesis, PCR/qPCR/ddPCR, and sequencing.
- Hands-on experience with automation platforms for molecular biology workflows (e.g., liquid handling systems).
- Familiarity with library-scale cloning or mutagenesis approaches (Golden Gate, Gibson, or similar).
- Experience with protein engineering approaches such as codon optimization, linker design, and modular domain assembly.
- Knowledge of computational protein design tools is a plus.
- Experience with primary cell engineering or in vivo models is a plus.
Lilly is dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities to actively engage in the workforce, ensuring equal opportunities when vying for positions. If you require accommodation to submit a resume for a position at Lilly, please complete the accommodation request form ( for further assistance. Please note this is for individuals to request an accommodation as part of the application process and any other correspondence will not receive a response.
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Our employee resource groups (ERGs) offer strong support networks for their members and are open to all employees. Our current groups include: Africa, Middle East, Central Asia Network, Black Employees at Lilly, Chinese Culture Network, Japanese International Leadership Network (JILN), Lilly India Network, Organization of Latinx at Lilly (OLA), PRIDE (LGBTQ+ Allies), Veterans Leadership Network (VLN), Women's Initiative for Leading at Lilly (WILL), enAble (for people with disabilities). Learn more about all of our groups.
Actual compensation will depend on a candidate's education, experience, skills, and geographic location. The anticipated wage for this position is
$71,250 - $187,000
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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Keywords:
molecular biology, gene therapy, CAR constructs, cloning, mutagenesis, protein engineering, automation platforms, PCR, sequencing, cell therapy
Job Tags
Full time, Worldwide, Flexible hours,