Senior Principal Scientist (Network Translation)

200 staff. Limitless Potential. One team. Cancer Research Horizons.

Location: Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge with high flex (1 -2 days per week on-site)

Salary: £58,400 - £76,000 plus benefits

Contract: Permanent, Full-time (35 hours pw)

Closing date: Sunday 1^st March 23:5pm

At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer.

As a Senior Principal Scientist, you will assess CRUK’s research portfolio and emerging therapeutic areas. You’ll build strong relationships with scientific leaders to identify early‑stage ideas with potential to become fundable therapeutic concepts. This high‑visibility role requires deep scientific insight, strategic judgement, and curiosity to spot translational opportunities early. You will help turn breakthrough biology into new cancer treatments, shaping individual projects and influencing the future direction of oncology research.

About Cancer Research Horizons: Cancer Research Horizons (CRH) unites Cancer Research UK’s established drug discovery teams. Our mission is to accelerate new cancer treatments by combining unique cancer biology expertise, world-class academic networks, cutting-edge technology, and clinical insights. Based at sites in Cambridge, Glasgow, and Newcastle, our diverse team works to bring forward the day all cancers are cured.

What you will be doing:

• Support the implementation of a new Network Translation strategy for CRH TI to enhance the number of therapeutic opportunities identified from CRUK funded research.   
• Maintain awareness of emerging areas of cancer biology and technological advances relevant to the objectives of CRH TI in order to identify and recommend priority translational opportunities for examination or investment.  
• Analyse current and future CRUK funded research to highlight key translational opportunities.  
• Work with CRUK PIs, Research Institutes and Centres, within the UK and internationally (CRUK/NCI Grand Challenges or Academic Alliances) to identify translational opportunities.  
• Shape new hypotheses and collaborative proposals in partnership with PI’s.  
• Signpost the Therapeutic Catalyst scheme and assist the development and submission of EOI proposals.   
• Propose translational opportunities for strategic interventional funding.  
• Promote the visibility of the Network Translation team in the academic research community and life science sector.  

What we are looking for:

• PhD or equivalent in a relevant discipline (e.g. Bioscience, Chemical Biology) with previous experience of working on oncology drug discovery in industry. 
• You will have expertise in identifying and developing small molecule therapies and/or biotherapeutics, with an awareness of alternative therapeutic modalities. 
• A good understanding of mechanistic cancer biology, current therapeutic approaches in oncology, and personalised medicine strategies applied to cancer treatment. 
• A good understanding of translating opportunities from a target concept to a therapeutic, including relevant target validation methods and the use of preclinical models.  
• Knowledge of the broad drug development pipeline, from Target Identification through to clinical development. 

Our Values: Bold, Credible, Human, Together. We seek individuals who embody these values to drive progress against our mission.

What will I gain? We offer a supportive working environment, generous benefits, career development opportunities, and high-quality tools to support your work-life balance and career progression.

Apply Now: To view the full, detailed job description and to apply, please visit the Cancer Research Horizons careers website https://www.cancerresearchhorizons.com/about-us/careers

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