At The Institute of Cancer Research, Research Technical Professionals (RTPs) and Scientific Support staff play a vital role in enabling world-class cancer research. They bring the specialist technical, scientific, analytical and operational expertise needed to drive high quality research every single day.
Although their functions span a wide range of roles, they share a common purpose: to apply expert technical skills that contribute to the delivery, quality and continuity of our research.
Collectively, these professionals form the vital technical infrastructure that allows our research to progress safely, efficiently, and to the highest standards. Key roles include:
As a testament to our commitment to Research Technical Professionals, we have been awarded a £1M Wellcome Institutional Funding for Research Culture (IFRC) to strengthen technical career pathways.
Strengthening Career PathwaysAt the ICR, we are deeply committed to our technical staff. We have launched three initiatives focused on developing and enhancing technical career pathways across key stages of the talent pipeline.
We are deeply committed to the professional growth and career progression of our technical staff. Reflecting this, the ICR is proud to be a founding signatory of the Technician Commitment (2017), a national initiative championing technical professionals.
Through this programme, we actively support our Research Technical Professionals and Scientific Support staff across four key pillars: Visibility, Recognition, Career Development and Sustainability.
Further details, including our action plans and submissions, can be found on our Responsibilities page.
Established in 2010, SOA is our dedicated professional community dedicated for staff in Scientific Officer grades. Working together with our Learning and Organisational Development team, the SOA champions RTPs career progression, skills growth and professional development – directly advancing our goals under the Technician Commitment.
Key areas of SOA activity include:
Together, these initiatives build the skills, confidence and career readiness of our Scientific Officers – driving the technical excellence that underpins all ICR research.
The ICR is a founding member of the RITG, a collaborative network of 11 UK research institutes. This group is unique: bringing together research‑intensive institutes where technical roles are primarily embedded in research, rather than teaching.
Through regular monthly meetings and cross-institutional collaboration, the RITG delivers impactful initiatives that connect technical professionals across the sector. An example includes the Tech Insights webinar series, which provides a platform for RTPs to share career journeys, exchange ideas, and build valuable networks.
Our RITG Partners: Alongside the ICR, the network includes the Babraham Institute, Earlham Institute, John Innes Centre, MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, MRC Mary Lyon Centre, The Francis Crick Institute, The Sainsbury Laboratory, Science and Technology Facilities Council UKRI, and the Wellcome Sanger Institute.
Techs Today is an in‑person event series connecting technical professionals across leading London Institutes: the ICR, University College London, The Francis Crick Institute, Imperial College London and King’s College London. Hosted on rotation across these partner sites, each event combines short, engaging talks with dedicated face-to-face networking.
It is a valuable local opportunity to:
The ICR offers practical support for staff working towards Professional Registration.
Our support includes:
Employee stories Dr Giulio Caravagna Dr Federico Tidu Dr Fatemeh Ahmadi Moughari Vacancies at the ICR
The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) and The Royal Marsden Hospital (RMH) invite applications for a Group Leader in Cancer Health Data Sciences. This is an exceptional opportunity for an outstanding researcher to establish an independent, internationally recognised research programme at the interface of cancer research, data science and artificial intelligence. The successful candidate will develop innovative approaches to analyse and integrate large-scale, multimodal health data to advance cancer prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment stratification and therapeutic response. They will have access to an unrivalled clinical and research environment through the ICR–RMH partnership, including electronic health records, imaging, genomics and molecular profiling data generated through routine clinical care, clinical trials and epidemiological studies, as well as local and national health datasets. The appointment is intended to strengthen and complement existing expertise across clinical research, epidemiology, computational biology, imaging and genomics. We are seeking an ambitious and collaborative researcher with strong quantitative and computational skills, extensive experience in the analysis of complex health data, and a track record of delivering innovative research with translational impact. The post will be based within the Division of Cancer Genetics and Epidemiology at the ICR and will include an honorary appointment at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust. In addition to leading an independent research programme, the successful candidate will contribute to the strategic development of cancer health data science across both institutions. This will include opportunities to engage with initiatives supported through the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), alongside other institutional, charitable and externally funded programmes. The appointee will be expected to develop a strong externally funded research portfolio aligned with their scientific vision and to build productive collaborations across the ICR, RMH and the wider national and international cancer research community. The successful candidate must have: PhD (or equivalent) in relevant quantitative discipline (including, but not limited to, data science, epidemiology, biostatistics, health informatics, computer Strong foundation in quantitative methods and applied analytics. Strong understanding of data governance, privacy, and ethical considerations in health data science and AI. Strong programming and analytical skills (e.g., Python, R, SQL, JavaScript) and familiarity with modern data-science workflows. 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: Please find out more about our Genetics and Epidemiology division here. 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 Professor Richard Houlston Richard.Houlston@icr.ac.uk or Professor Montse Garcia-Closas via montse.garcia-closas01@icr.ac.uk.
Are you passionate about advancing cancer research and improving outcomes for patients? Do you want to contribute to pioneering research that is shaping the future of personalised radiotherapy treatment? If so, we'd love to hear from you. Join one of the world’s most influential cancer research institutes with an outstanding record of achievement dating back more than 100 years. This is an exciting opportunity to become part of a multidisciplinary team running internationally practice-changing clinical trials and delivering high-impact translational research that has the potential to transform patient care. We are recruiting a Trial Co-ordinator on a 1-year fixed-term contract in the first instance. The successful candidate will be based at the Institute of Cancer Research Sutton site, with occasional travel to the Chelsea site as required. Working within Dr Somaiah's Translational Breast Radiobiology Research Team, you will coordinate and support the delivery of a portfolio of translational research projects, ensuring studies are managed efficiently and in accordance with regulatory, governance, and sponsor requirements. You will also be awarded an honorary contract to co-ordinate hosted commercial and non-commercial radiotherapy studies in breast cancer at the Royal Marsden Hospital which shares the same onsite campus, working closely with clinicians, researchers, trial sponsors and external collaborators. This is an excellent opportunity for someone looking to develop a career in clinical research. We welcome applications from candidates with experience in clinical trials, clinical/translational research, or research project management, as well as those with a relevant scientific degree who are keen to build their experience in trial co-ordination. Comprehensive training and support will be provided to help you succeed in the role. If you are highly organised, proactive, and enjoy working collaboratively in a fast-paced research environment, we encourage you to apply. Key Responsibilities Responsibility for the day-to-day coordination and oversight of a portfolio of breast cancer clinical trials and projects within the ICR (employer) and Royal Marsden Hospital (honorary contract). Assisting the Senior Research Manager with study and project management from set-up through to close out, including study amendments in accordance with protocols and regulatory, sponsor, GDPR and GCP requirements. To be an active member of the ICR and Royal Marsden departments, providing regular reports on research activities, highlighting areas of concern and developing improvement strategies. The candidate will also help to assist the Translational Breast Radiobiology laboratory team with clinical sample collection and processing. They must have exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a team. Excellent administration and IT skills will be essential. For full details of the role, responsibilities, and person specification, please refer to the attached job pack.
Under the guidance of Professor Axel Behrens, we are seeking to recruit a Postdoctoral Training Fellow. We are looking for a highly motivated and creative molecular biologist with a strong background in breast cancer biology. The goal of the project is to use advanced genetic cancer mouse models and patient-derived human cancer organoids, to apply their cancer biology skills to elucidate mechanisms of breast cancer stem cell biology and metastasis formation, with the ultimate aim to develop novel therapeutics. About you The successful candidate must have: Considerable experience in cancer biology Considerable experience in working with human patient-derived cancer organoids Considerable experience in working with in vivo breast cancer models Considerable experience in CRISPR modification of human patient-derived cancer organoids 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 This post will sit within the Cancer Stem Cell team, part of the Breast Cancer Research Division - further information can be found here. 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 Ian Evans at Ian.Evans@icr.ac.uk
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