Postdoctoral Scientist – CNS Neuroimaging & Quantitative Data Science

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 is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Scientist in CNS Neuroimaging to join the Drug Delivery and Connected Systems (DDCS) group. This role will support CNS therapeutic development by applying multimodal neuroimaging and quantitative data analytics across discovery and translational research programs.

The successful candidate will play a critical role in enabling data‑driven decision making for CNS drug delivery strategies through the management, analysis, and interpretation of complex neuroimaging datasets derived from preclinical and in vivo studies. Imaging modalities may include MRI, CT, PET, optical imaging, and other emerging techniques relevant to CNS exposure, biodistribution, target engagement, and neurobiological response.

This scientist will work closely with internal experts in neuroscience, drug delivery, genomics, and biodistribution, as well as with external CRO partners, to optimize imaging strategies, ensure data quality, and translate imaging outputs into actionable biological and therapeutic insights.

This postdoctoral position offers the opportunity to work at the intersection of CNS therapeutics, multimodal neuroimaging, and quantitative data science within a leading pharmaceutical research organization. The role provides direct exposure to translational decision‑making, complex CNS drug delivery challenges, and cross‑functional scientific collaboration. There will be strong opportunities to publish high‑impact research in peer‑reviewed journals while developing deep expertise in neuroimaging‑driven therapeutic evaluation.

Key Responsibilities:

CNS Neuroimaging Data Management & Analysis

• Receive, organize, curate, and analyze multimodal CNS neuroimaging datasets, including but not limited to MRI, CT, and complementary imaging approaches used in CNS drug delivery research.

• Apply advanced quantitative analysis methods across neuroimaging modalities relevant to regional CNS exposure, delivery efficiency, anatomical specificity, tissue response, and longitudinal change.

• Perform standard preprocessing and analysis workflows, including registration, segmentation, artifact assessment, and region‑based quantification.

• Implement atlas‑based registration and segmentation using established CNS atlases (e.g., Allen Brain Atlas, Paxinos, and higher‑vertebrate atlases) as a required skill for regional exposure and biodistribution analysis.

• Manage large, multi‑study imaging datasets with strong attention to data integrity, reproducibility, and documentation aligned with CNS research and regulatory expectations.

Neuroimaging Software & Computational Expertise

• Demonstrate deep working knowledge of neuroimaging software platforms such as FSL, ANTs, ITK‑SNAP, and 3D Slicer; these are considered table‑stakes tools for the role.

• Develop and maintain custom Python‑based image analysis workflows and scalable pipelines tailored to CNS drug delivery research.

• Apply modern data analytics and visualization techniques to extract and communicate CNS‑relevant insights.

Multimodal Integration & Biological Interpretation

• Lead co‑registration and integration of neuroimaging data with histology, IHC, and molecular biodistribution readouts.

• Serve as a scientific bridge between imaging and biodistribution teams, enabling coherent interpretation across spatial, anatomical, and molecular scales.

• Translate complex neuroimaging datasets into clear, interpretable visualizations and summaries for project teams and leadership audiences.

Cross‑Functional & External Collaboration

• Act as a scientific interface between DDCS, Lilly neuroscience and genomic medicine teams, and external CRO partners on neuroimaging strategy, data quality, and analytical approaches.

• Clearly communicate imaging data needs, timelines, and quality expectations to external collaborators while advocating for CNS program priorities.

• Collaborate with internal experts across neuroscience, gene therapy, toxicology, pharmacology, and bioinformatics to embed neuroimaging data into broader CNS therapeutic strategies.

Imaging Acquisition Strategy & Quality Optimization

• Provide scientific and technical input to CROs to improve image quality, resolution, contrast, and interpretability for CNS applications.

• Contribute to optimization of imaging protocols addressing CNS‑specific challenges such as motion, susceptibility artifacts, small anatomical targets, and longitudinal consistency.

• Ensure acquisition strategies support cross‑study and cross‑site comparability.

Method Development & Innovation

• Contribute to the development of standardized, scalable neuroimaging analysis pipelines tailored to CNS drug delivery and translational research.

• Explore and apply emerging neuroimaging and analytical approaches as appropriate to evolving CNS therapeutic modalities.

Basic Requirements:

• PhD in Imaging Sciences, Biomedical Engineering, Medical Physics, Neuroscience, Physics, Computer Science, or a closely related quantitative field.

• Demonstrated experience in neuroimaging data handling and analysis, including standard preprocessing and quantitative analysis techniques.

• Strong programming experience for image analysis, preferably in Python.

• Experience working with large datasets and communicating scientific insights through effective visualization.

• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively within multidisciplinary, matrixed research teams.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with comfort engaging both technical and non‑technical stakeholders.

• 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 Preferences:

• Hands‑on experience with preclinical and/or in vivo CNS studies, including animal models of neurological disease.

• Working knowledge of neuroimaging physics and contrast mechanisms (MRI and/or other modalities) as they relate to neuroanatomy and CNS pathology.

• Experience collaborating with CROs on neuroimaging acquisition or analysis in a therapeutic development context.

• Prior exposure to pharmaceutical, biotech, or translational neuroscience research environments.

• Strong interest in CNS drug delivery, gene therapy, neurodegeneration, or advanced neuroimaging methodologies.

Other Information:

• This is a fixed-term role for one-year, extendable up to four years, with eligibility to apply for full-time positions upon completion.

• This position is based out of the Boston, MA Lilly location, and requires daily, on-site presence and lab work.

About Eli Lilly’s Postdoctoral Scientist Program

When it comes to research and development, our goal is to discover and deliver innovative medicines that make life better for people around the world. It’s challenging, expensive and often filled with failure. But even when we fail, we advance medical science and understanding by learning more about diseases, biology and chemistry – ultimately bringing new solutions one step closer to reality.
 

Over the course of our history, we have shed light on some of the toughest health care problems known to man – diabetes, heart disease, infectious diseases, neuroscience disorders, cancer and more. We could not pursue this without our research and development team.
 

Postdoctoral scientists help us continue this pursuit. During your experience you will get:

• Top industry research experience

• Mentoring by some of Lilly’s top scientists  

• Laboratory and classroom training and education to further your development

• Collaboration and networking across dozens of postdoctoral scientists and other researchers

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 (https://careers.lilly.com/us/en/workplace-accommodation) 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.

Lilly is proud to be an EEO Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender identity, sex, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.

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

$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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