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:
Senior Technician - in vivo biology
About you The ICR is one of the world's leading cancer research institutes, aiming to defeat cancer. As a Senior Laboratory Technician you will contribute directly to this mission by supporting vital in vivo research. We are looking for a highly motivated, detail-oriented individual, committed to high-quality work. Key requirements include: Education and Knowledge BSc in Life Sciences or IAT Level 3 (Essential) Home Office Personal Licence (PILA, B, C) or equivalent (Essential) Understanding of tumour biology and pre-clinical models (Desirable) Skills Skilled in dissection, surgery, dosing of agents and sampling techniques (Essential) Strong organisational, communication and interpersonal skills (Essential) Ability to work independently and in a team with other scientists and BSU staff (Essential) Computer proficiency and willingness to pursue professional development (Essential) Experience Proven experience in in vivo oncology and PDX models (Essential) Strong foundation in animal (rodent) husbandry and behaviour (Essential) Experience in stereotaxic surgery, imaging techniques and sample preparation (Desirable) 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 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 Bishani Wickrama via email on: [email protected].
Business Development Manager
About the Role We are seeking a Business Development Manager to join The Institute of Cancer Research’s (ICR’s) Business and Innovation Office and contribute to to support a portfolio of academics by protecting and commercialising their research, supporting them in securing translational funding and to highlight to them the benefits of working with industry. The successful candidate will play a key role in strategic project evaluation, stakeholder engagement, IP protection, commercial deal-making (collaborations and licensing), and translational funding support. Key Responsibilities Identify and assess commercially viable research Protect IP and manage confidentiality agreements Draft and negotiate licensing and collaboration contracts Support translational funding applications Drive spinout opportunity management About You We are looking for a proactive, detail-oriented team player. PhD, MBA or equivalent in a relevant field Experience in business development or technology transfer Direct experience of negotiating and closing deals with external partners Strong communication, negotiation, and organizational skills What We Offer • Supportive, collaborative environment • Career development opportunities • Competitive salary and pension Department/Directorate Information The Business and Innovation Office drives commercialisation and strategic partnerships to maximise patient benefit. For more details, please refer to the job pack. For an informal discussion regarding the role, please contact Dr. Amritha Nair via Email on [email protected]
Postdoctoral Training Fellow - Thoracic Oncology & Immunotherapy Group
Under the guidance of Dr Astero Klampatsa, we are seeking to recruit a Postdoctoral Training Fellow to lead a research project targeting the mesothelioma solid tumour microenvironment with CAR-T cell therapy. The successful candidate will join the Thoracic Oncology & Immunotherapy Group, led by Dr Klampatsa, which works on development of CAR-T cell strategies for thoracic malignancies, as well as immunology-based projects in mesothelioma. Key responsibilities of the successful candidate include: a) to design and engineer novel CAR constructs using viral and non-viral gene delivery methods, b) undertake the preclinical testing of the developed CAR-T cell therapies in vitro and in vivo in mesothelioma mouse models via an array of functional assays, flow cytometry, PCR, qPCR, and Western blotting, c) lead the analysis of experimental data and interpretation of results, d) assume some lab management duties. About you The successful candidate must have: Educational Background: A Ph.D. in Immunology, Biotechnology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, or a closely related field is required. Candidates who are nearing completion of their PhD may apply, but confirmation on awarded PhD is required within 6 months of employment. Technical Expertise: Proficiency in primary T cell isolation, culture, and genetic modification. Prior experience with viral transgene delivery. Strong foundation in molecular biology techniques. Hands-on experience with multicolour flow cytometry. Demonstrated experience with in vitro functional assays. Prior experience with in vivo models. Problem-Solving Skills: Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities with a proven track record of troubleshooting experiments. Communication: Strong written and oral communication skills, with the ability to present complex scientific concepts clearly and concisely. Preferred Qualifications Postdoctoral or industry experience in a CAR-T cell therapy or immuno-oncology/immunology setting. Knowledge of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing. Proficiency in bioinformatics tools for data analysis. Knowledge of Good Laboratory Practices (GLP). 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 Cancer Therapeutics brings together a wide variety of disciplines, including cell and molecular biology, pharmacology, tumour modelling, computational and structural biology, and medicinal chemistry, in order to select promising drug targets, design effective prototype drugs and biomarkers, and develop strategies to counter drug resistance. Find more information here: https://www.icr.ac.uk/research-and-discoveries/icr-divisions/cancer-therapeutics 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 Astero Klampatsa via Email: [email protected]
Higher Scientific Officer - Experimental & Translational Theranostic
Under the guidance of Dr Kathy Chan, we are seeking to recruit a talented and motivated Higher Scientific Officer to join the Experimental and Translational Theranostic group at the Centre for Cancer Imaging, Sutton. The research focuses on the development of next-generation ‘radiotheranostics’ – whole-body radionuclide-based imaging and therapeutic tools for cancer detection and treatment, and explore biological effects of radionuclide therapy to identify druggable targets and help develop novel therapeutic strategies to fight cancer. This position will provide excellent opportunities to interact within a multidisciplinary environment of staff within imaging, radiotherapy, drug development and molecular pathology, and explore new avenues of research. About you The successful candidate must have a PhD in cancer biology, molecular biology, radiochemistry, medicinal chemistry or a related discipline. A background in in vitro and in vivo radiobiology is essential. Experience in immuno-oncology is desirable. Department/Directorate Information The candidate will work in the Experimental and Translational Theranostic Group within the ICR Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, which provides an integrated environment for multi-modality pre-clinical imaging, co-locating 7T and 1T MRI systems, a PET/SPECT/CT system, multispectral optoacoustic and ultrasound imaging platforms, bioluminescence imaging systems and micro-CT. 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 Kathy Chan via Email on [email protected].