Group Leader - Biology

Salary

Salary from £71,096 per annum. Commencement on the salary range is subject to comparable skills and experience. Future progression is based on annual performance review.

Duration of Contract

Permanent

Hours per Week

35 hours per week (Full Time)

Closing Date

5th of July

For Career Faculty appointments the post-holder's salary will be determined by the CEO of the ICR.

This role is eligible for ICR Sponsorship. If this is your first visa in the UK, support will be provided for costs associated with Visa application.

To work in close collaboration with Professor Sebastian Nijman, we are seeking to recruit a Group Leader to lead an independent research group that contributes directly to target identification and small molecule drug discovery; lead and participate in multidisciplinary drug discovery research teams.

Experience

• Proven ability to contribute to drug discovery activities
• Proven scientific productivity and leadership by means of high-profile publication and/or patents
• Skills in co ordinating, planning and executing novel (target) biology studies to a standard of international excellence
• Demonstrated expertise in building and running biological assays for use in drug discovery test cascades
• Ability to rapidly assimilate relevant information, identify new research opportunities, and clearly communicate recommendations
• Evidence of a strategic and inclusive approach to decision making and performance management
• Excellent track record of cross-disciplinary collaboration
• Effective stakeholder engagement through strong relationship building and communication skills
• Evidence of the ability to lead and manage research staff, with a focus on performance and development

Division of Cancer Therapeutics

The Division of Cancer Therapeutics has an unrivalled track record at discovering novel cancer treatments for the personalised treatment of cancer. Within the Division, the Centre for Cancer Drug Discovery (CCDD) is a multidisciplinary "bench to bedside" centre, comprising 160 staff dedicated to the discovery and development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of cancer. We are one of the largest academic cancer drug discovery groups in the world and, together with our collaborators, have discovered 21 preclinical development candidates, 13 of which have been progressed to clinical evaluation, many with our partners in the ICR/Royal Marsden Drug Development Unit. Our drug abiraterone (Zytiga) has been approved in the US, Canada and Europe for late stage prostate cancer whereas the pan AKT inhibitor capivasertib is on the market for breast cancer since 2023.

The CCDD's mission is to develop "first in class" personalised medicines for patient benefit. We implement innovative drug discovery technologies, discover novel mechanism based drugs, and develop these as rapidly as possible from the laboratory through to hypothesis testing early clinical trials. We publish our work extensively and have a large network of collaborations with academia, biotechnology companies, and the pharmaceutical industry. Our teams are dedicated to the discovery of small molecule drug candidates, and to the development of high quality chemical probes to enable new cancer biology research. The Division of Cancer Therapeutics is based in state of the art laboratories in the Centre for Cancer Drug Discovery building, opened in 2020 on the ICR Sutton campus.

About the Institute of Cancer Research

We are one of the world's oldest and most influential cancer research institutes with an outstanding record of achievement dating back more than 100 years. We are world leaders in identifying cancer genes, discovering cancer drugs and developing precision radiotherapy. Together with our hospital partner The Royal Marsden, we are consistently rated in the top four centres for cancer research and treatment worldwide. As a member of staff, you will have exclusive access to a range of staff benefits.

The ICR is committed to supporting overseas applicants applying for roles and provides assistance with visa and relocation where required.

At the Institute of Cancer Research, we champion diversity as we believe it fuels innovation and drives impactful research. We welcome applicants from all walks of life, valuing diverse perspectives that enrich our work. We are committed to being an equal opportunity organisation, regardless of ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, disability or any other dimension of diversity. Join us in creating an inclusive environment where everyone's voice is heard and valued.