Postdoc/Scientist - Psychiatry and Neuronal Health
Eli Lilly and Company
August 19, 2026
On-site
Indianapolis, IN
Clinical Research and Development
Position Summary
Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Psychiatry and Neuronal Health) for an in vivo pharmacology program studying reward, arousal, and stress-related neural circuitry.
Key Responsibilities
- Design and execute in vivo rodent behavioral experiments relevant to CNS drug discovery (chronic IV self-administration, extinction, cue-induced reinstatement).
- Perform survival surgeries: stereotaxic viral injection, IV catheter implantation, fiber optic cannula placement.
- Conduct single- and dual-site in vivo fiber photometry recordings (genetically encoded calcium and/or neuropeptide biosensors) during behavior and cue-triggered reinstatement.
- Run in vivo microdialysis with LC/MS or immunoassay quantification of neurotransmitter/neuropeptide efflux.
- Use circuit-dissection techniques to map projections and test causal sufficiency/necessity.
- Perform multiplex fluorescence and histology; characterize sleep/arousal with EEG/EMG as needed.
- Support human postmortem brain tissue processing and molecular analysis.
- Analyze multimodal datasets (behavioral, neurochemical, imaging, transcriptomic) using computational pipelines.
- Author peer-reviewed manuscripts; present findings internally and externally.
- Maintain documentation, IACUC compliance, and data integrity.
Required Qualifications
- Ph.D. (or equivalent) in Neuroscience/Pharmacology/Behavioral Neuroscience or closely related field (completed within last 1–3 years or near completion).
- Hands-on in vivo fiber photometry experience.
- Expertise in rodent stereotaxic surgery, viral delivery, and fiber optic cannula implantation.
- Rodent operant/behavioral pharmacology model experience (IV self-administration, extinction, and/or cue reinstatement strongly preferred; IV catheterization a plus).
- Familiarity with in vivo microdialysis and downstream quantification (HPLC/LC-MS or similar).
- Authorized to work in the U.S. full-time; Lilly does not sponsor visas.
Preferred Qualifications
- Knowledge of reward/arousal/stress neurocircuitry; rodent handling (rat/mouse).
- Quantitative skills (MATLAB/Python/R); first-author publications.
- Optogenetics/chemogenetics; unbiased stereology; multiplex fluorescence/in situ hybridization.
- Dual/multi-site simultaneous fiber photometry; EEG/EMG sleep-wake scoring.
- Genetically encoded biosensors.
What We Offer
- Mentored postdoctoral appointment; publication support and conference encouragement.
- Competitive stipend and benefits per Lilly postdoctoral program guidelines.
Benefits include eligibility for 401(k), pension, vacation, medical/dental/vision/prescription, flexible benefits, life insurance, time off/leave of absence, and well-being benefits.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Psychiatry and Neuronal Health) for an in vivo pharmacology program studying reward, arousal, and stress-related neural circuitry.
Key Responsibilities
- Design and execute in vivo rodent behavioral experiments relevant to CNS drug discovery (chronic IV self-administration, extinction, cue-induced reinstatement).
- Perform survival surgeries: stereotaxic viral injection, IV catheter implantation, fiber optic cannula placement.
- Conduct single- and dual-site in vivo fiber photometry recordings (genetically encoded calcium and/or neuropeptide biosensors) during behavior and cue-triggered reinstatement.
- Run in vivo microdialysis with LC/MS or immunoassay quantification of neurotransmitter/neuropeptide efflux.
- Use circuit-dissection techniques to map projections and test causal sufficiency/necessity.
- Perform multiplex fluorescence and histology; characterize sleep/arousal with EEG/EMG as needed.
- Support human postmortem brain tissue processing and molecular analysis.
- Analyze multimodal datasets (behavioral, neurochemical, imaging, transcriptomic) using computational pipelines.
- Author peer-reviewed manuscripts; present findings internally and externally.
- Maintain documentation, IACUC compliance, and data integrity.
Required Qualifications
- Ph.D. (or equivalent) in Neuroscience/Pharmacology/Behavioral Neuroscience or closely related field (completed within last 1–3 years or near completion).
- Hands-on in vivo fiber photometry experience.
- Expertise in rodent stereotaxic surgery, viral delivery, and fiber optic cannula implantation.
- Rodent operant/behavioral pharmacology model experience (IV self-administration, extinction, and/or cue reinstatement strongly preferred; IV catheterization a plus).
- Familiarity with in vivo microdialysis and downstream quantification (HPLC/LC-MS or similar).
- Authorized to work in the U.S. full-time; Lilly does not sponsor visas.
Preferred Qualifications
- Knowledge of reward/arousal/stress neurocircuitry; rodent handling (rat/mouse).
- Quantitative skills (MATLAB/Python/R); first-author publications.
- Optogenetics/chemogenetics; unbiased stereology; multiplex fluorescence/in situ hybridization.
- Dual/multi-site simultaneous fiber photometry; EEG/EMG sleep-wake scoring.
- Genetically encoded biosensors.
What We Offer
- Mentored postdoctoral appointment; publication support and conference encouragement.
- Competitive stipend and benefits per Lilly postdoctoral program guidelines.
Benefits include eligibility for 401(k), pension, vacation, medical/dental/vision/prescription, flexible benefits, life insurance, time off/leave of absence, and well-being benefits.