Group leaders
We're recruiting the top figures in cancer research to work in a vibrant and confident culture that consistently produces world-changing research.
What we offer
Joining as a group leader, you will be given outstanding support to help you to continue to develop in your career. You’ll receive a competitive start-up package of funding, as well as the guidance you need to start up your first lab – from lab space and equipment, to help recruiting postdoctoral students, technicians and PhD students.
You will be enrolled in a development programme aimed at early career researchers, providing you with the skills and techniques required to make you a confident and effective group leader. We also have a wealth of training programmes run by out Learning and Development department that allow you to develop as a manager.
You’ll have the space to grow, excel and make your mark while gaining dedicated support with grant applications, leadership training.
We support our scientists with state-of-the-art platform technologies and expert facilities staff, providing cutting-edge facilities for microscopy, imaging, sequencing, proteomics, X-ray crystallography and much more.
Employee stories
Diana Zatreanu, Postdoctoral research fellow
Dr Becky Cook
Jess Barnes
Daisy Henesy
Vacancies at the ICR
Head of Biology and Director, Centre for Target Validation (Group Leader)
Under the leadership of Dr Olivia Rossanese, we are seeking to appoint a Team Leader to join The Centre for Cancer Drug Discovery (CCDD) as The Head of Biology and Director of the Centre for Target Validation. Key Requirements The successful candidate must have in-depth knowledge and recent experience in an area of cancer biology relevant to oncology drug discovery. Leadership experience of drug discovery within, or in collaboration with, the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry as evidenced by publication and/or successful commercial projects. Along with completing the online application form, you will be asked to attach the following documents and failure to do so will mean your application cannot be considered on this occasion: · Full CV · Lists of major publications, achievements, research grants, distinctions. · A PDF of a maximum of five key publications, or other research outputs (e.g. patents) that best demonstrate previous productivity · You must also complete the personal statement section of the application form in the format of a covering letter including the names and contact details of three academic referees Department/Directorate Information: The Division of Cancer Therapeutic's mission is to develop personalised medicines by translating information from the cancer genome and cancer biology into drugs for patient benefit. We implement innovative drug discovery technologies, discover novel mechanism-based drugs, and develop these as rapidly as possible from the laboratory through to hypothesis-testing early clinical trials 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 Dr Olivia Rossanese, Email [email protected]
Postdoctoral Training Fellow - Mechanisms and Regulation of pre-mRNA Splicing
Under the leadership of Professor Vlad Pena, we are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Training Fellow with a strong interest in the structural biology of RNA-protein complexes. The primary objective of this project is to elucidate the structural mechanisms underlying key regulatory events in RNA splicing. The successful candidate will focus on reconstituting spliceosomes involved in this process and determining their structures using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). Comprehensive training in specialized techniques will be provided. Our laboratory offers regular access to cutting-edge structural biology facilities, including recombinant protein expression, purification systems, mammalian cell bioreactors, advanced electron microscopy (Glacios and Titan Krios), high-performance GPU computing clusters, mass spectrometry, and both preparative and analytical biochemistry tools. More detailed information about our research, can be found on our webpage. For general information on Post Doc's at The ICR can be found here. Key Requirements The successful candidate must have a PhD (or equivalent) in structural biology and demonstrate strong expertise in the biochemistry of macromolecular complexes. While experience in RNA biology, the structural study of RNA-protein complexes, and cryo-EM is advantageous, we encourage applications from all talented scientists with a passion for this field. 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 10 years Department/Directorate Information: The Division of Structural Biology is located at the ICR site in the picturesque Chelsea district of London, offering a vibrant scientific and cultural atmosphere and excellent opportunities for both personal and professional growth. 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 Prof Vlad Pena at [email protected]
Software Engineer
Under the leadership of Prof. Axel Behrens (ICR) and Prof.Kalyan Talluri (Imperial), we are seeking to appoint a Software Engineer to join the CRUK Convergence Science Centre (CSC) to develop and maintain a patient app platform. This innovative project is a collaborative effort between the clinical trials unit at the ICR/Royal Marsden and Imperial College Business School, fully supported by the CSC. Key Requirements The successful candidate must have strong database and programming skills, along with the ability to maintain production applications. The candidate should have a strong desire and capability to pick up new technologies and frameworks in the software and health areas. The post holder will undertake project management and collaborate with clinicians, researchers and other software developers. Department/Directorate Information The CRUK Convergence Science Centre is a research initiative funded by Cancer Research UK (CRUK) that brings together experts from different scientific disciplines to tackle complex challenges in cancer research. It is a partnership between The Institute of Cancer Research ICR and Imperial College London, combining expertise from a wide range of fields, such as biology, engineering, physics, chemistry, and data science, to develop innovative solutions for cancer diagnosis, treatment, and patient care. The Centre focuses on convergence science, an approach that integrates diverse scientific perspectives to accelerate discovery and innovation. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, the Centre aims to translate cutting-edge research into practical applications, particularly in areas such as precision medicine, new technologies for cancer treatment, and patient-centred healthcare solutions. 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 Dr Arnaud Legrand [email protected].
Human Resources Adviser
We currently have an exciting opportunity for a self-motivated and experienced HR Adviser to join our HR Operations team. Providing dedicated partnering with client departments, you’ll work closely with line managers to provide proactive and pragmatic advice and guidance on all aspects of people management, taking ownership of a busy employee relations caseload. You will also be responsible for supervising the work of our HR Administrative Team to ensure our monthly payroll input is submitted accurately and on time. You will work closely with other HR teams, including Recruitment, Systems and Information, and Learning and Organisational Development to ensure the provision of an effective, end to end HR service to Scientific and Professional Services teams across the ICR. Key Requirements You will have previous HR advisory experience, as well as a sound experience of managing employee relations cases end-to-end. You’ll need to be highly computer-literate, and have excellent attention to detail, with strong organisational and prioritisation skills to deliver effectively within a fast-paced environment. You will also have first-rate customer service skills to build and maintain collaborative relationships with colleagues across the organisation. Previous line management experience, and of managing small scale team restructures, including knowledge and understanding of TUPE processes would be a distinct advantage. Human Resources Directorate We know that talented, brilliant, passionate people lie at the heart of the ICR. That’s why we provide the policies, procedures, systems and people management infrastructure to recruit, retain, motivate and develop our people to achieve their full potential. We offer both operational and strategic support to teams across the ICR. We are organised across four main functions: HR Operations Learning and Organisational Development Pensions Reward, Information and Systems The ICR’s future success depends on recruiting the very best people with the very best skills and our HR strategy ensures that we have the organisational capacity and capability to deliver this. We encourage all applicants to access the job description pack attached for more detailed information regarding this role. For an informal discussion regarding the Sutton based role, please contact Karen Grieff via email on [email protected].