Group Leader

Join Us at the World-Leading Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute

Join us at the forefront of cancer research! The Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute (https://www.cruk.manchester.ac.uk) is seeking to appoint exceptional early-career scientists (including clinician scientists) as Group Leaders to develop bold, innovative, and high-impact research programmes. Situated within one of Europe’s largest and most dynamic cancer research ecosystems, we offer a unique opportunity to pursue cutting-edge discovery science and drive translation into clinical benefit. We are looking for visionary scientists ready to establish an independent, world-leading research programme and take full advantage of the extraordinary collaborative ecosystem across the Manchester Cancer Research Centre (MCRC, mcrc.manchester.ac.uk), The University of Manchester (www.manchester.ac.uk) and our clinical partners at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust (christie.nhs.uk).

We particularly welcome applicants with expertise in the biology of solid cancers, tumour immunology, cancer evolution, and computational or machine learning approaches to tumour ecosystems; but we encourage visionary proposals from across the spectrum of cancer research that complement and expand our existing strengths. 

We encourage applicants from a broad range of scientific disciplines — including molecular biology, mathematics, physics, computational biology, data science, and engineering — to bring fresh perspectives and disruptive approaches to cancer research. We are looking for bold, innovative, and technically pioneering applications with the potential to transform our understanding of cancer biology and drive translational impact. 

Core funding is provided to every group leader whilst they hold their position at the Institute. As a Group Leader you will receive a significant package of support, including:

• 2 Postdoctoral scientists, a technician and 2 PhD students with running costs.
• Full access to comprehensive and cutting-edge core facilities.
• Access to the Manchester Cancer Research Centre Biobank which collects samples from NHS Foundation Trusts across Manchester, including The Christie.
• Outstanding colleagues and rich opportunities for collaboration.
• Mentorship to elevate grant success, and advice on laboratory and financial management.

What we offer:

• We provide up to 7 years of CRUK core-funded support; appointed on a five-year fixed term contract in the first instance.
• A mid-term review at 4 years that influences career progression beyond 5 years.
• Consideration for promotion to Senior Group Leader at 6 years (dependent on successful mid-term review and Director approval).
• Salary range £58,000 - £65,000 (dependent upon experience).
  For clinically qualified candidates, salary is dependent upon experience and clinical duties (not expected to exceed the equivalent of 1 clinic day per week).
• High quality laboratory space.
• Strong mentorship from Senior Faculty and Institute committees.
• Specific courses available to support new Group Leaders.
• With Director approval, scope for group expansion through applications for external funding with grant review support provided by the Institute’s Grants Advisor and Grants Committee.
• Research Governance oversight and advice provided by the Institute’s Scientific Administration team which includes the Research Integrity and Training Adviser.
• A collegial environment and ethos of team science.

About you:

You will have a PhD in an area relevant to cancer research, significant and productive post-doctoral experience, a proven track record of impactful publications and ideally, some demonstrable success with funding application(s). You will be highly motivated and confident to deliver an exciting and innovative research programme with a balance of ambition and feasibility. You will be able to communicate clear, well-formulated and incisive research plans that lead to important basic cancer research discoveries and/or deliver applied research with potential for translation to address clinical unmet needs. Prior demonstration of research independence would be an advantage.

The CRUK Manchester Institute is committed to equality and diversity in the workplace, and we encourage candidates who reflect diversity in its broadest sense. All appointments will be made on merit.

Why Join Us

Located on The Christie NHS Foundation Trust campus — one of Europe’s largest comprehensive cancer centres — and alongside the Cancer Research UK National Biomarker Centre. The Institute is a Research Institute within The University of Manchester and is core funded by Cancer Research UK (cancerresearchuk.org). The Institute provides an exceptional environment for ambitious scientists to launch and grow their independent careers. In 2024 the Institute, with its partners launched a national platform for immunotherapy research, MANIFEST (www.manifest-io.org.uk)

We are also co-located with researchers from the University of Manchester’s Division of Cancer Sciences supporting collaboration and synergy. 

We aim to nurture the next generation of world-leading cancer researchers. The Manchester ecosystem uniquely integrates basic discovery science, computational biology, biomarker development, and clinical translation, enabling you to develop cutting-edge research programmes with direct patient relevance.

In 2023, we relocated to the new state-of-the-art Paterson Cancer Research Building with a bespoke design for team science with multi-disciplinarity at its core. The new building is already facilitating our ambitions of integrated basic and translational cancer research, driving forwards research synergies across the Manchester cancer research ecosystem. We are partnered with The Christie NHS Foundation Trust one of the largest clinical cancer treatment centres in Europe (>19,000 new patients p.a.). Our research philosophy together with the critical mass of cancer researchers on site provide an exceptional environment in which to pursue basic, translational, and clinical research programmes. Our research is benefited greatly by the MCRC Tissue Biobank connected to NHS trusts across Greater Manchester.

Manchester is an ever evolving, dynamic, vibrant city offering exceptional standards of living with excellent national and international travel links and beautiful surrounding countryside.

How to apply?

Informal enquiries can be addressed to any of the Institute’s Group Leaders or director@cruk.manchester.ac.uk 

Application documents required:

(1) Cover Letter; (2) CV including publication list; (3) Future Research Plan (3 pages max) ; (4) Summary of up to 3 publications (1 page max); (5) Contact details of three referees

Closing date: Sunday 2 November 2025