Postdocs
As a postdoc at the ICR, you’ll be working at the forefront of cancer research, in an environment that’s collaborative, international and inclusive.
We aim to attract the best scientific minds, wherever in the world they come from. With postdocs from all over the UK and the world, you'll be joining a welcoming community that prioritises training the next generation of world-leading researchers. You’ll also benefit from our strong links with our partner hospital, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, as well as our links with companies through industrial partnerships.
Benefits and culture
We offer a competitive salary, rigorous training, many opportunities for professional development, and an open and inclusive working culture. Our PostDoc Association, faculty and learning and development team work closely to support postdocs.
We also offer generous annual leave and family-friendly policies that support parents, including stop the clock, which supports maternity leave during research.
Reimbursing your visa and other costs
Successful applicants will be able to claim the cost of their visa and of the immigration health surcharge (IHS) for themselves and for their dependants once they have joined. This is a taxable benefit. Applicants often find the UK visa application process to be less onerous than for some other countries, such as the United States.
We provide extensive training and development opportunities that will help prepare for your future career inside or outside academia.
Throughout your postdoc fellowship, you’ll be offered training and support to help you to develop your skills in key areas such as high-impact publishing, managing research projects, leadership and career planning.
Getting started
We run training sessions for new postdocs, as well as a postdoc buddy system to help you to settle into your new role. We normally pair you with someone from a different discipline, to broaden your network. We can also try to match you with someone who speaks your native language.
Training and support
As signatories of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, we are committed to providing our postdocs with at least 10 days each year for their personal and career development. We offer a wide range of activities that you can tailor to your career stage, research interests and career ambitions. These include:
- On-the-job training – such as shadowing funding panels, grant writing, peer review, supervising and mentoring others, lab visits, committee membership and project-related placements.
- Informal opportunities – such as building professional networks, engaging with the ICR Postdoc Committee, participating in conference organising committees, mentoring (as mentor or mentee), and 1:1 career support with consultants employed by the ICR.
- Formal training and professional development courses – on topics ranging from supervisor training, writing and publishing, and statistics, to project management and entrepreneurship.
The Pathway to Independence – a competitive programme that we run in collaboration with the Wellcome Sanger Institute and CRUK, is also an option for postdocs who are aiming to become academic team leaders.
We also provide training on science communication and outreach to support your participation in our public engagement programme.
You'll be joining a diverse and talented community of postdocs who come to work here from all over the UK and the world.
We’ve around 150 postdocs working at the ICR from across dozens of countries around the world at any one time. Several groups can help you to settle in, build a social network and get involved with life at the ICR.
PostDoc Association
Our Postdoc Association (PDA) brings together postdocs across the ICR for professional and social events, which include away days and conferences. It provides a community for postdocs to feel connected and supported.
Join our networks
From our LGBT+ Network and our forum on race and ethnicity to sports clubs and seminars, you’ll have the chance to connect with like-minded researchers and build your network.
Our active Postdoc and Alumni LinkedIn group is also a great way to connect with others and get answers to common questions – from what it’s like to rent in London to how to set up a UK bank account.
Former ICR postdocs are also welcome to subscribe to Network, our alumni e-newsletter, so they can continue to feel part of our community even after moving on in their careers.
Employee stories
Vacancies at the ICR
Group Leader in In Vivo Cancer Modelling
The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) in London seeks to appoint a Group Leader in In Vivo Cancer Modelling to play a pivotal role in advancing our cutting-edge cancer research. The position is based at the newly established Centre for In Vivo Modelling (CIVM), part of the Division of Cancer Biology. We welcome applications at both the Career Development Faculty and Career Faculty levels. Key Requirements The successful candidate will generate and employ state-of-the-art genetic and humanised mouse models of cancer to tackle fundamental and translational questions in haemato-oncology and/or solid tumour oncology. In addition to leading a successful research group, they will expand the CIVM's research capabilities and foster productive collaborations with other groups and centres at the ICR, thus promoting in vivo modelling by integrating it into multidisciplinary projects and initiatives. Applicants must have an internationally recognised track record of leading research in in vivo modelling and advanced mouse genetics, demonstrated by high-quality publications and significant funding success. For more junior candidates, an outstanding track record in cancer research, coupled with a compelling research vision leveraging advanced genetic mouse models and clear potential to secure competitive external funding, is essential. As part of your online application you will be required to upload your full CV which will pre-populate your application form, you will also be asked to attach the following documents and failure to do so will mean your application cannot be considered on this occasion: Lists of major publications, achievements, research grants, distinctions. Research plan (five to six pages outlining your current research interests and research programme for the next 5 years) 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 ICR is one of the world’s most influential cancer research institutions, with an outstanding track record of achievement dating back more than 100 years. In addition to being one of the UK’s leading higher education institutions for research quality and impact, the ICR is consistently ranked among the world’s most successful for industry collaboration. As a member institution of the University of London, we also provide postgraduate higher education of international distinction. One of the ICR’s key research strategies is to defeat cancer by viewing it as a dynamic ecosystem. We aim to solidify our expertise in state-of-the-art in vivo cancer models to probe these complex cancer ecosystems, discover their underlying biology, and identify new therapeutic targets. The postholder will significantly contribute to driving these strategic priorities. We encourage all applicants to access the job pack attached for more detailed information regarding this role. If you would like to informally discuss this position, please contact Professor Kamil R. Kranc ([email protected]), Director of the Centre for In Vivo Modelling, or Professor Chris Jones ([email protected]), Head of the Division of Cancer Biology at the ICR.
Postdoctoral Training Fellow - Microenvironment
Under the guidance of Anna Wilkins and Magnus Dillon, we are seeking to recruit a Postdoctoral Training Fellow to contribute to a project on the microenvironmental effects of radiotherapy, assessing the microenvironmental effects of advanced radiation technologies in vivo and conducting analyses of radiotherapy-treated human tumour tissues. The successful candidate will play a key role in developing our knowledge of the effect of radiation (microbeam +/- FLASH) on fibroblast and myeloid populations in pancreatic and bladder cancer models. About you The successful candidate must have: - a home office licence and prior experience of in vivo mouse work - immunology experience, either using multiparameter flow cytometry, development and analysis of multiplex immunofluorescence or spatial transcriptomic data analysis Candidates who are nearing completion of their PhD may apply, but confirmation on awarded PhD is required within 6 months of employment. 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. For general information on Postdocs at The ICR, more information can be found here. Department/Directorate Information The Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging brings together research groups that work on how to use radiation therapy, guided by state-of-the-art imaging techniques, in the most effective way to cure cancer. Our work is based on the central idea that the best outcomes will be achieved by delivering curative radiation doses to tumours, while limiting radiation damage of neighbouring normal tissues. Our therapy often includes adding drug treatments alongside radiation therapy as a means of killing cancer cells more effectively and, at the same time, activating anti-tumour immune responses. Preclinical work includes research that combines radiation therapy with radiation sensitisers and biological response modifiers (for example innate immune activators, immune checkpoint inhibitors) to maximise anti-tumour efficacy and give protection against tumour recurrence. Multiple translational clinical studies seek to address these themes through our collaborators in the Royal Marsden. Overall, our mission is to cure more patients with fewer immediate and long-term side effects of treatment. Biological enhancement of radiotherapy and Stromal Radiobiology Groups The Biological Enhancement of Radiotherapy and Stromal Radiobiology Groups (led by Magnus Dillon and Anna Wilkins) aim to understand how the tumour microenvironment drives radiotherapy resistance. The groups focus on gastrointestinal and bladder cancers with an emphasis on integrating findings from preclinical models and patient samples. The immunostimulatory effect of radiation is often restrained by suppressive cells in the tumour microenvironment. These include certain populations of cancer-associated fibroblasts, macrophages, myeloid-derived suppressor cells and tumour-associated neutrophils. Both fibroblast and macrophage activation and polarity can be affected by radiation, with dose-dependent effects. The effect of dose-rate is unknown, but delivering radiation at ultra-high dose-rates (FLASH) is believed to have reduced effects on normal tissues, including immune cells. Microbeam radiotherapy offers the opportunity to modulate different spatially-distributed populations by exposure to different radiation doses. Using these technologies may allow the delivery of radiation which (a) preserves and (b) stimulates anti-tumour immune cells, when compared to standard treatment. We work collaboratively within other groups in the Centre for Immunotherapy of Cancer and the Centre for Cancer Imaging What we offer A dynamic and supportive research environment Access to state-of-the-art facilities and professional development opportunities Collaboration with leading researchers in the field Competitive salary and pension 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 [email protected] or [email protected]
HR Payroll Specialist
About the Role We are seeking a Payroll Specialist to join our HR Team and contribute in providing high quality, proactive HR and Payroll support focused on ensuring a resilient, streamlined monthly end to end process for implementing HR changes and managing the Payroll service, in line with our policies and procedures and to agreed service levels. The role will also provide expertise, additional resilience and capacity across the HR and payroll function to support the HR department in the implementation of the Oracle Cloud solution, as well as directly feeding into the programme where required, participating in workshops and meetings and disseminating relevant information to HR colleagues. Key Responsibilities To take lead responsibility for the monthly payroll processing timetable from the HR perspective. To ensure all changes input into the system are actioned in time for the monthly payroll cut-off and that inputs have the correct impact on the employee's payslip in each case. To be a source of expert knowledge on the various elements that might apply to an employee's pay. To be a source of expert knowledge and guidance on all payroll taxes, including the tax implications of salary sacrifice arrangements and benefits in kind. To be involved in the annual pay review processing and implementation. About You We are looking for someone with demonstratable experience of working in an HR/Payroll function. And: Educated to degree level in a related field or equivalent relevant experience Part qualified membership status of the CIPD or equivalent knowledge and experience Excellent organisational and time-management skills Strong communication and interpersonal abilities What We Offer A supportive and collaborative working environment. Competitive salary and pension. 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 Karen Grieff via email @ [email protected].
Scientific Officer
Under the leadership of Prof. Kevin Harrington, we are seeking to recruit a Scientific Officer to contribute to radiotherapy / immunotherapy-focused research projects. The candidate will be part of the Targeted Therapy team at The Institute of Cancer Research, on Fulham Road, in London. Our team focuses on radiotherapy / immunotherapy combinations for cancer treatment. The successful candidate will play a key role in conducting experiments, analysing data and provide technical support for in vitro and ex vivo assays as well as analyses of in vivo samples. The technical work will focus on cell culture and maintenance and in vitro assays including various tumour cell assays and immunology read-out assays. The candidate will support research activities across multiple projects under the lead and supervision of senior members of the team. About you The successful candidate must have: MSc in Biological science (or equivalent) Experience in cell culture and molecular biology assays and cell based assays in vitro. Experience in flow cytometry is desirable. High attention to detail and keep daily accurate scientific records. Enjoy working independently and as part of a team. Department/Directorate Information The Candidate will work in the Targeted Therapy Team within the division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, headed by Professor Kevin Harrington. What we offer A dynamic and supportive research environment Access to state-of-the-art facilities and professional development opportunities Collaboration with leading researchers in the field Competitive salary and pension 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. Malin Pedersen ([email protected]) or Dr. Emmanuel Patin ([email protected]).