Study and Careers
As the UK’s leading academic research centre, The Institute of Cancer Research offers a fantastic work and study environment, great opportunities for development and the chance to make a real difference for cancer patients. We aim to train, recruit and develop the best – with positions for outstanding scientists and clinicians, and the most talented professional or administrative staff.
Studying at the ICR
Our competitive programmes and specialised courses are designed for the next generation of cancer researchers and clinicians.
PhD projects and opportunities
We offer 20 fully funded PhD studentships each year. Our main round opens in October, but we also advertise projects throughout the year.
Opportunities for clinicians
At The Institute of Cancer Research, London, we offer clinicians a variety of opportunities – from a taught master's course in Oncology, to fellowships providing protected time for research, and higher research degrees.MSc in Oncology
The Taught Course in Oncology is a day-release modular programme designed for medically qualified candidates who intend to pursue a professional career in some aspect of clinical or medical oncology, either as a clinical academic or a clinician.Why study with us?
By providing world-class expertise and support to students at The Institute of Cancer Research, we hope to advance cancer research and clinical practice not only within our organisation, but throughout the field.
Student Profile
Varun Ramaswamy is a third-year PhD student at the ICR. He is working on a collaborative project between the Division of Cancer Therapeutics and the Division of Structural Biology that aims to solve the 3D structure of a protein called HSET using cryo-electron microscopy and complementary biophysical techniques.
Employee Story
Head of Research Support (corporate role) Dr Becky Cook Dr Becky Cook is Head of Research Support at The Institute of Cancer Research. She oversees our large strategic grant applications and is supporting the ICR's next submission to the Research Excellence Framework (REF), which is the definitive government evaluation of the quality and impact of research at UK universities.
Support moving to the UK
Whether you're a student or a full time employee, you'll get a variety of social, welfare and accommodation benefits and advice, to help your move to the UK.Working life and benefits
As a world-leading cancer research organisation, we are a dynamic and exciting place to work - with various benefits and support if you’re moving to the UK.
Current openings
We offer a fantastic working environment, great opportunities for career development and the chance to make a real difference for cancer patients. We aim to recruit and develop the best – with positions for postdocs, scientists and clinicians, and professional or administrative staff - see the latest below:
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 to appoint a Postdoctoral Training Fellow with a strong interest in the structural biology of RNA-protein complexes. The primary objective of this project is to elucidate how RNA splicing is regulated by a specific set of chromatin factors. 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]
Higher Scientific Officer - Assay development and compound profiling
Under the leadership of Dr Rob van Montfort, we are seeking to appoint a highly motivated assay scientist keen to apply small molecule screening expertise to help progress our cancer drug discovery projects from assay development and hit finding to candidate selection. The successful candidate will develop and execute plate-based biochemical and/or cellular screening assays to support the identification and characterisation of small-molecule inhibitors against novel cancer targets using a variety of detection technologies. Key Requirements The successful candidate will be embedded in the Hit Discovery and Structural Design Team but work with multidisciplinary project teams. Key requirements for the role are significant and broad all-round laboratory experience in the characterisation of small molecule binding to proteins and the investigation of protein function and activity applied to drug discovery. A good understanding of enzymology would be beneficial, as would prior use of automation equipment for liquid and compound handling used in compound profiling Department/Directorate Information The CCDD within the Division of Cancer Therapeutics, is a multidisciplinary 'bench to bedside' centre, comprising around 150 staff dedicated to the discovery and development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of cancer. The CCDD’s exciting goal is to discover high quality small molecule drug candidates and to progress these to clinical trial. All the necessary scientific disciplines are in place to make this possible, including medicinal chemistry, cancer biology, structural biology, assay science, drug metabolism and clinical expertise. 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 Rob Van Montfort or Dr Caroline Ewens for further information by emailing [email protected] or [email protected] This job description is a reflection of the current position and is subject to review and alteration in detail and emphasis in the light of future changes or development. Please DO NOT send your application to Dr Rob Van Montfort or Caroline Ewens, but apply via the e-recruitment system on our website www.icr.ac.uk.
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 10 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]