Fellowships

The ICR Clinician Scientist Fellowship scheme has been established to provide clinician scientists with demonstrated ability and high potential the opportunity to consolidate their doctoral training in cancer research. 
 
The ICR is also keen to support strong candidates in applying for externally funded clinical or non-clinical Career Development Fellowships.

Clinician Scientist Fellowship  

Clinician Scientists Fellows appointed to the ICR scheme are expected to develop towards independence during the course of the fellowship with a view to a long-term career in academic medicine.

Read more about:

Support | Eligibility | Sponsorship

Application | Review | Timeline

Support  

The award provides four years of postdoctoral support. Personal salary support for the fellow is provided (four years fixed term), with appointed made on the ICR Clinician Scientist Fellow scale according to the applicant’s current NHS salary.  

Research support staff, up to the level of higher scientific officer, is provided. General research consumables of up to £30,000 per annum are provided for both the fellow and support staff, and additional specific consumables may also be requested.   

Fellowships will be cancer oriented and will be undertaken in the laboratories of postdoctoral advisors based at either the Chelsea or Sutton campuses of the ICR.  Fellows will be expected to remain clinically active during the tenure of the fellowship and spend between 20% and 50% of the fellowship on clinical duties.

Eligibility  

All applicants must ensure that the proposed area of research fits within the scientific strategy of the ICR.

• Applicants must hold a higher degree (PhD, MD or equivalent) in a basic science or clinical research project and must have been awarded this degree before they can take up the fellowship.
• No minimum period of postdoctoral experience is required but applicants are expected to demonstrate a strong publication record.
• Applicants must hold Consultant status / obtained their Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT), or will hold a specialist training post and have no more than 2 years full time training remaining at the time of award.
• If an applicant has not completed specialist training at the time of submission then a clear plan for completion of this training must be included in the application. All specialist training plans must be approved by the appropriate Royal College.
• Candidates of any nationality may apply to the scheme however, as fellows will be expected to maintain some clinical duties during the fellowship, applicants must be eligible to complete their training or to practise clinically in the UK.

Sponsorship of applications  

Each application to the scheme must be supported by a postdoctoral advisor who is a permanent member of Faculty at the ICR.

View the list of Faculty eligible to act as postdoctoral advisors for Clinician Scientist Fellowships.  

It is the responsibility of the applicant to identify an appropriate advisor. Applicants should make contact with potential postdoctoral advisors to establish if they would be willing to support a Clinician Scientist Fellowship.  A collaborative proposal would then need to be developed between the applicant and proposed advisor. 

Application process  

Download: 

• Application form (Word)
• Guidance on completing the submission (PDF)
  

Applicants will need to send one electronic copy, including all letters of support and references, to fellowships@icr.ac.uk by 6pm 31 October 2012.

Review process  

Applications will be reviewed by a three stage process:

1. Review by the Clinical Fellowships Panel 
   Applications that fit the eligibility criteria and contain all the necessary signatures will be reviewed and the Panel will then select candidates for interview based on the following:
   • Applicant’s research and clinical career.
   • Scientific merit of the proposed project.
   • Importance of the science.
   • Appropriateness of the Postdoctoral advisor and host laboratory.
     
2. Interview by the Clinical Fellowships Panel
   Applicants who are selected by the Panel will be invited to present their proposal where they will be ranked in order of competitiveness.
   
3. Ratification of ranked proposals by Research Directorate
   The ranked applications will be considered by the Research Directorate, where allocation will be made on the basis of ranking, availability of funds and strategic importance.

Feedback will be provided to all applicants who reach stages 2 and 3 of the process following the final panel meeting. 

Consideration of the application by ICR does not guarantee that support will be offered.

Timelines  

• 31 October 2012, 18:00 -  Closing date for application
• November / December 2012 - Clinical fellowship Panel shortlisting
• January / February 2013 - Interviews
• March 2013 - Results of Fellowship Panel and Research Directorate
• 1st April to 31st August 2013 - Start date for fellowships

If you have any queries about the scheme or the application process please email fellowships@icr.ac.uk

Externally funded clinical or non-clinical Career Development Fellowships  

The ICR is keen to support strong candidates in applying for externally funded clinical or non-clinical Career Development Fellowships of four years or more in duration, to work within the three core themes of the ICR scientific strategy: 

• Therapeutic Development
• Molecular Pathology
• Genetics and Epidemiology

We are particularly interested in increasing activity in the areas of:

• Molecular pathology
• Computational biology and genomics
• Functional imaging (especially PET) as related to cancer
• Cancer genetics
• Tumour biology
• Structural biology

Excellent candidates in other areas relevant to the core themes of the ICR scientific strategy will also be considered.  

Scientific Divisions

The ICR is organised into eight Scientific Divisions:

Breast Cancer Research - Professor Clare Isacke

Cancer Biology -  Professor Chris Marshall FRS

Cancer Therapeutics - Professor Paul Workman

Clinical Studies - Professor Stan Kaye

Genetics and Epidemiology - Professor Nazneen Rahman

Molecular Pathology - Professor Alan Ashworth

Radiotherapy and Imaging - Professor Alan Horwich

Structural Biology - Professor David Barford and Professor Dale Wigley

Candidates who wish to apply for external Fellowships should contact the relevant Division Head.

Application process

Once the proposed research has been discussed and agreed with the Division Head, candidates will need to submit a one-page outline of their proposal and their full CV for consideration by the Research Directorate.  The Division Head will provide a letter of support.

The Research Directorate will meet to consider which proposals will be supported by the ICR for submission of a full application. Candidates should ensure that they allow sufficient time before the funding body submission date for their proposal to be considered by the Directorate, and for a full submission to be developed.

If the Research Directorate agrees to support a submission the candidate will be assisted in the application process.  Applicants invited for interview by the funding body will be provided with pre-interview advice, including mock interviews and an audience to comment on presentations.

Further information

Candidates successful in obtaining external Fellowship funding will be appointed to Career Development or Institute Fellow positions at the ICR, and will be provided with high quality laboratory space and access to a wide range of state-of-the-art research facilities. Additional funding may be available in certain circumstances.

For further information on the process, please contact Dr Benjamin Onwuegbusi.