Apprenticeships at ICR
At The Institute of Cancer Research, we currently have apprenticeship programmes in both our research teams as alternative entry routes into technical talent pipeline and within our professional services team such as Digital Services and Finance.
Our Laboratory Technician Apprenticeship Programme
Our Laboratory Technician apprenticeship scheme is part of a national initiative to strengthen and promote career development for scientific research technicians – made possible by a £1m grant from Wellcome that was awarded to The Institute of Cancer Research in September 2023. The programme aims to address challenges in recruitment, development, and retention of technicians, increase diversity by promoting apprenticeships to underrepresented groups, and improve the recognition of the technician career path in academia. This programme, delivered in partnership with Tiro, has been recognized with the Education and Training Award at the UK Pharma Industry Awards.
Professor Kristian Helin, Chief Executive of The Institute of Cancer Research, London, said:
“We’re honoured our new apprenticeship programme, working with Tiro, has been given this award. Technicians make a significant and highly valued contribution to the ICR’s world-leading research to defeat cancer. We are fully committed to ensuring that their work is recognised, and that technicians are supported to achieve their full potential.
“This success has been made possible by the major grant from Wellcome that we secured last year – we were delighted to receive it so we could build a national initiative around technician development. The grant is already helping us to recruit and nurture brilliant people from diverse backgrounds and share what we learn with other research institutes and higher education institutions, so we can continue to build a positive research culture and benefit technicians at the ICR and beyond.”
Dr Aline Tabib-Salazar, Technician Career Pathways Programme Manager at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, said:
“We’re proud of what we’ve achieved in the first year of funding and it’s extremely encouraging that the apprenticeship programme we’ve developed with Tiro has been recognised with this prestigious award. But there’s much more to do – it will be a busy year as we look to build on the success we’ve had so far and crucially, help grow the programme into an established national initiative.”
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Scientific Apprenticeship Conference - Building a Sustainable Technical Pipeline: Apprenticeships in Research
Dissemination of learnings and sharing resources with the sector was a key point in our Wellcome award. To achieve this, we are hosting a scientific apprenticeship conference at Wellcome Collection, London on 15th May 2025.
Scientific Apprenticeship Conference Report
On 15 May, the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) hosted a sector-wide conference as part of its £1 million Wellcome Research Culture Award, bringing together 60 delegates from 34 organisations across academia, industry, and policy to explore the transformative role of scientific apprenticeships. The event highlighted how apprenticeships can address technical skill shortages, diversify the research workforce, enhance institutional reputation, and promote social mobility by creating opportunities for underrepresented groups. To build on this momentum, participants emphasised the need for clear post-apprenticeship pathways, standardised job roles, skills-focused recruitment, strong mentoring networks, and cross-sector collaboration to drive meaningful policy reform and embed apprenticeships into the fabric of research culture. To find out more, please see our full report.
Professional Services Apprenticeships
We also offer apprenticeships in our professional services teams, tailored to meet the needs of a research organisation. These roles provide valuable experience and training in various areas:
- Digital Services (IT): Our Digital Services Directorate ensures that everyone at ICR has access to the technology they need. Apprenticeships in this team involve working on the IT Helpdesk, dealing with a wide range of customer requests while studying for a Level 3 Information communications technician qualification. They provide comprehensive support, including hands-on technical training and personal development. Apprentices gain exposure to various aspects of digital services, enhancing their understanding of how different functions interconnect. They also receive guidance on problem-solving and career clarity through diverse team rotations. This broad experience helps them build a professional network and develop adaptability in the evolving digital industry. These roles are based in our Helpdesk teams at London Chelsea and Sutton.
- Finance: Our Finance Team, primarily based at Chelsea, employs apprentices in entry-level roles, supporting them to study for apprenticeship qualifications while working. This team is experienced in dealing with research grants and provides essential support to our research community.
Join Us
Details of current apprenticeship vacancies in these and other research-supporting roles are advertised on our website. We are committed to nurturing talent and providing opportunities for professional growth within our organization.
Vacancies at the ICR
Postdoctoral Training Fellow
Under the leadership of Claudio Alfieri, we are seeking to appoint a Postdoctoral Training Fellow to join the Molecular Mechanisms of Cell Cycle Regulation Group at the Chester Beatty Laboratories, Fulham Road in London. This project aims to investigate the molecular mechanisms of cell cycle regulation by macromolecular complexes involved in cell proliferation decisions, by combining genome engineering, proteomics and in situ structural biology. For general information on Post Doc's at The ICR can be found here. Key Requirements The successful candidate must have a PhD in cellular biochemistry and experience in Cryo-EM and CLEM is desirable. The ICR has a workforce agreement stating that Postdoctoral Training Fellows can only be employed for up to 7 years as PDTF at the ICR, providing total postdoctoral experience (including previous employment at this level elsewhere) does not exceed 7 years Department/Directorate Information: The candidate will work in the Molecular Mechanisms of Cell Cycle Regulation Group within the ICR Division of Structural Biology headed by Prof. Laurence Pearl and Prof. Sebastian Guettler. The division has state-of-the-art facilities for protein expression and biophysics/x-ray crystallography, in particular the Electron Microscopy Facility is equipped with a Glacios 200kV with Falcon 4i detector with Selectris energy filter and the ICR has access to Krios microscopes via eBIC and the LonCEM consortium. We encourage all applicants to access the job pack attached for more detailed information regarding this role. For an informal discussion regarding the role, please contact Claudio Alfieri via Email on [email protected]
Head of Biology, Cancer Drug Discovery (Group Leader)
The ICR is seeking an established research leader in cancer drug discovery biology with a track record in discovering innovative drugs to be the Head of Biology in the Centre for Cancer Drug Discovery (CCDD). The appointee will provide scientific leadership for the CCDD biology discipline, champion scientific excellence and work closely with senior team leaders in the CCDD to provide a strategic vision for the research and drug discovery portfolio. Key Requirements The role requires excellence in cancer biology, coupled with significant experience across the target identification to candidate selection stages of drug discovery. We envisage that applicants will have either significant commercial experience of successful drug discovery or have a strong academic track record in cancer biology and small molecule drug discovery; or will have a combination of both backgrounds. As part of your online application you will be required to upload your full CV which will pre-populate your application form. Department/Directorate Information: We encourage all applicants to access the job pack attached for more detailed information regarding this role. For an informal discussion regarding the role, please contact Abby Cook via Email on [email protected]
Director of Centre for Target Validation (CTV) (Group Leader)
The ICR is seeking an established research leader in cancer biology with a track record in target validation for drug discovery to be the Director of the Centre for Target Validation (CTV). The appointee will provide scientific and strategic leadership of the CTV, ensuring a pipeline of robust, clinically relevant targets for drug discovery programmes within the ICR’s Centre for Cancer Drug Discovery (CCDD). They will collaborate with scientists across the ICR to identify target validation projects with therapeutic potential that are suitable to benefit from the Centre’s dedicated resource and scientific expertise. They will lead, direct, and participate in multidisciplinary projects to define/refine therapeutic hypotheses, examine mechanisms of target modulation, and explore biomarkers and patient selection criteria. Working with the CTV Deputy Director, they will ensure that ICR expertise in drug target identification is effectively translated to drug discovery programmes at ICR and with external partners. Key Requirements The appointee will lead an independent research group contributing to the discovery of novel targets and/or innovative small molecule anticancer therapies, aligned with the strategy and goals of the CTV / CCDD. The role requires expertise in cancer biology and substantial experience in target identification & validation; experience of later drug discovery stages is valued. We envisage that applicants will have either significant commercial experience or have a strong academic track record in cancer biology for target validation; or will have a combination of both backgrounds. As part of your online application you will be required to upload your full CV which will pre-populate your application form. Department/Directorate Information: We encourage all applicants to access the job pack attached for more detailed information regarding this role. For an informal discussion regarding the role, please contact Abby Cook Email on [email protected]
Group Leader - Biology
The ICR is seeking a cancer biology research leader to join us in our mission to discovery novel small molecule therapeutics for the treatment of cancer. The appointee will lead an independent cancer biology research group that contributes to the overall strategy and goals of the Centre for Cancer Drug Discovery (CCDD); in particular, progression of innovative small molecule anticancer compounds to proof-of-concept clinical trials. Commitment to translational and drug discovery research is fundamental to this position. The appointee will lead and participate in multidisciplinary drug discovery projects to discover small molecule clinical candidates. Key Requirements The role requires application of molecular pharmacology and cancer biology approaches to 1) support hypothesis-driven target identification and validation; 2) design and implement functional and mechanistic assays to support discovery and progression of small molecule therapeutics; and 3) develop and test hypotheses regarding patient selection strategies and biomarkers. Enthusiasm for working in a collaborative interdisciplinary environment is essential. We envisage that applicants will have either commercial experience of successful drug discovery or have a strong academic track record in cancer drug discovery; or will have a combination of both backgrounds. As part of your online application you will be required to upload your full CV which will pre-populate your application form. Department/Directorate Information: We encourage all applicants to access the job pack attached for more detailed information regarding this role. For an informal discussion regarding the role, please contact Abby Cook via Email on [email protected]