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.
Beginning your career
Joining as a group leader, you will receive outstanding support to advance your career, including a competitive start-up package, tailored guidance to start your first group leader position, space and resources, and will receive help in recruiting your research team, both staff and PhD students, to build your group.
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.
Senior positions
To become part of our career faculty, you will be an established senior researcher and have the proven leadership skills and international research credibility to direct major scientific programmes, and build and manage a motivated and high-performing scientific team.
Our culture emphasises the importance of collaborative working to address the big challenges in cancer research, and you will be expected to form part of the wider ICR team. You will also recruit and develop the research leaders of the future.
What we offer
We are the top-ranked higher education institution in the UK for research quality and impact, we are also rated among the world’s best universities in measures of innovation and collaboration with industry.
We offer support throughout the process of relocating and embedding your team at the ICR, and as you continue to build on your achievements.
We understand that access to world-class facilities and technology platforms is essential to maximise the progress you are able to make with your research and will work with you to shape access to facilities to meet your needs.
As an intellectual leader in your field, you will have the chance to use your platform at the ICR to influence and contribute to wider public discussions to ensure your research has the maximum benefit for people with cancer.
And with access to expertise across the spectrum of cancer research disciplines, you will build on our success – leading innovation through new collaborations across the ICR, and with external collaborators in academia, healthcare and industry.



Scientific vacancies at the ICR
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 7 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]
Head of Biology, Cancer Drug Discovery (Group Leader)
The ICR is seeking an established research leader in cancer drug discovery biology with a track record in discovering innovative drugs to be the Head of Biology in the Centre for Cancer Drug Discovery (CCDD). The appointee will provide scientific leadership for the CCDD biology discipline, champion scientific excellence and work closely with senior team leaders in the CCDD to provide a strategic vision for the research and drug discovery portfolio. Key Requirements The role requires excellence in cancer biology, coupled with significant experience across the target identification to candidate selection stages of drug discovery. We envisage that applicants will have either significant commercial experience of successful drug discovery or have a strong academic track record in cancer biology and small molecule drug discovery; or will have a combination of both backgrounds. As part of your online application you will be required to upload your full CV which will pre-populate your application form. 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 Abby Cook via Email on [email protected]
Director of Centre for Target Validation (CTV) (Group Leader)
The ICR is seeking an established research leader in cancer biology with a track record in target validation for drug discovery to be the Director of the Centre for Target Validation (CTV). The appointee will provide scientific and strategic leadership of the CTV, ensuring a pipeline of robust, clinically relevant targets for drug discovery programmes within the ICR’s Centre for Cancer Drug Discovery (CCDD). They will collaborate with scientists across the ICR to identify target validation projects with therapeutic potential that are suitable to benefit from the Centre’s dedicated resource and scientific expertise. They will lead, direct, and participate in multidisciplinary projects to define/refine therapeutic hypotheses, examine mechanisms of target modulation, and explore biomarkers and patient selection criteria. Working with the CTV Deputy Director, they will ensure that ICR expertise in drug target identification is effectively translated to drug discovery programmes at ICR and with external partners. Key Requirements The appointee will lead an independent research group contributing to the discovery of novel targets and/or innovative small molecule anticancer therapies, aligned with the strategy and goals of the CTV / CCDD. The role requires expertise in cancer biology and substantial experience in target identification & validation; experience of later drug discovery stages is valued. We envisage that applicants will have either significant commercial experience or have a strong academic track record in cancer biology for target validation; or will have a combination of both backgrounds. As part of your online application you will be required to upload your full CV which will pre-populate your application form. 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 Abby Cook Email on [email protected]
Group Leader - Biology
The ICR is seeking a cancer biology research leader to join us in our mission to discovery novel small molecule therapeutics for the treatment of cancer. The appointee will lead an independent cancer biology research group that contributes to the overall strategy and goals of the Centre for Cancer Drug Discovery (CCDD); in particular, progression of innovative small molecule anticancer compounds to proof-of-concept clinical trials. Commitment to translational and drug discovery research is fundamental to this position. The appointee will lead and participate in multidisciplinary drug discovery projects to discover small molecule clinical candidates. Key Requirements The role requires application of molecular pharmacology and cancer biology approaches to 1) support hypothesis-driven target identification and validation; 2) design and implement functional and mechanistic assays to support discovery and progression of small molecule therapeutics; and 3) develop and test hypotheses regarding patient selection strategies and biomarkers. Enthusiasm for working in a collaborative interdisciplinary environment is essential. We envisage that applicants will have either commercial experience of successful drug discovery or have a strong academic track record in cancer drug discovery; or will have a combination of both backgrounds. As part of your online application you will be required to upload your full CV which will pre-populate your application form. 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 Abby Cook via Email on [email protected]