Research scientists and scientific support

To join the ICR you’ll be a talented scientist looking for the next step after your initial postdoctoral studies. You’ll be ready to start leading a team independently under the mentorship of a leading senior scientist.

Research teams also include staff scientists and a number of specialist research roles such as bioinformaticians. Some senior staff scientists may run part of a team, specialise in a particular area of research within a team or work as part of a scientific service. 

Our Heads of Division will be pleased to have an informal chat – you can find their contact details on our Division pages.

What we offer

As an integral part of the ICR’s faculty, you’ll receive additional start-up support (typically a postdoctoral researcher and one PhD student) and the help you need to find your feet and recruit your new team.

You will receive dedicated support in gaining further grant funding and establishing your own programme of independent research as you make the journey towards joining our permanent Faculty.

You will also have access to support networks, mentoring, career development opportunities and tailored 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. 

Scientific support

We employ a network of scientific officers and laboratory managers to support our researchers. These come from a variety of backgrounds and may hold responsibility for managing scientific projects, people, resources and budgets. Many are scientifically trained to PhD level, while others hold a first degree in a scientific discipline and may also hold professional management qualifications.

Laboratory managers most often come from a scientific background and have responsibilities for maintaining efficient, tidy and safe laboratories, resolving problems and introducing new systems to improve efficiency within labs. They also organise the delivery and repair of equipment, ensure decontamination procedures are carried out, organise laboratory supplies and manage budgets.

Employee stories

Vacancies at the ICR

Group Leader in In Vivo Cancer Modelling

  • Sutton
  • Cancer Biology
  • From £66,092 per annum
  • Fixed term

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.

Group Leader in Cancer Stem Cell Biology

  • Sutton
  • Cancer Biology
  • Competitive
  • Permanent

Key Requirements 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 Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) in London seeks to appoint a Group Leader in Cancer Stem Cell Biology to play a pivotal role in advancing our cutting-edge cancer research. The position will be based in newly-refurbished laboratory and office space at our Sutton campus within the Division of Cancer Biology. We welcome applications at both the Career Development Faculty and Career Faculty levels. 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 the biology of cancer stem cellsaq. The postholder will significantly contribute to understanding the underlying biology of cancer stem cells and how this may be exploited to address key questions in tumour relapse, disease progression and metastasis. The successful candidate will have a compelling research programme focused on cancer stem cell biology in an area which complements existing disease-specific expertise at the ICR / Royal Marsden NHS trust. Possible areas of research include (but are not restricted to) basic mechanisms of self-renewal and pluripotency, regulation of cancer stem cell fate / differentiation, how they remodel the tumour microenvironment into a supportive niche, targeting treatment resistance of cancer stem cells, and the role of CSCs in driving the metastatic cascade. Applicants must have an internationally recognised track record of leading research in cancer stem cell biology, demonstrated by high-quality publications and significant funding success. For more junior candidates, an outstanding postdoctoral track record in cancer research, coupled with a compelling research vision in a strategic area of cancer stem cell biology and clear potential to secure competitive external funding, is essential. If you would like to informally discuss this position, please contact Professor Chris Jones ([email protected]), Head of the Division of Cancer Biology at the ICR.

Scientific Officer - Structural Chemistry

  • Sutton
  • Cancer Therapeutics
  • £31,445 - £33,100
  • Fixed term

Under the leadership of Dr Amin Mirza, we are seeking an enthusiastic and skilled Scientific Officer to join our cutting-edge Structural Chemistry Facility, a hub of innovation driving the discovery of new anticancer drugs. In this exciting role, you will: Make an impact by contributing your expertise in structural characterisation and physicochemical property analysis of novel compounds. Collaborate at the forefront of science, working closely with medicinal chemists and biologists to advance drug discovery. Take ownership of mission-critical analytical equipment, ensuring optimal performance and reliability. Empower others, providing support and guiding colleagues through training and knowledge sharing, enabling effective use of advanced spectroscopic techniques. Innovate and lead by developing new methodologies to tackle complex scientific challenges and advance our understanding of cancer therapeutics. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to life-changing research in a highly collaborative environment, where your expertise will directly influence the development of next-generation cancer treatments. About you The ideal candidate will have an accredited degree in chemistry or biochemical sciences with a solid foundation in analytical techniques. Experience with liquid chromatography is highly desirable, and knowledge of mass spectrometry and NMR theory will be beneficial. We welcome applicants who are analytical, collaborative, and committed to applying advanced techniques to support innovative drug discovery. Department/Directorate Information The Centre for Cancer Drug Discovery, part of the Division of Cancer Therapeutics, is a world-leading multidisciplinary 'bench to bedside' research centre. With over 100 scientists working together, we are dedicated to discovering and developing innovative cancer therapeutics that make a meaningful difference to patients' lives. Our mission is clear: to identify high-quality drug candidates for validated biological targets and progress them into clinical trials. To achieve this, we bring together all the scientific disciplines required for success. Our biologists collaborate closely with world-class chemists and drug metabolism experts, focusing on innovative molecular targets emerging from cutting-edge genomics and cell biology research. This is an exciting and fast-moving area of research, offering you the chance to work in a collaborative, inclusive environment, using state-of-the-art technologies and equipment to address some of the most significant challenges in oncology. 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 Amin Mirza via email on [email protected] Due to the high volumes of applications that we receive, we reserve the right to close the advert before the published closing date, once we have received a sufficient number of applications. Therefore, we advise that you to submit your application, as early as possible to avoid disappointment.