Senior Scientist (Bioscience – Translational Biology)

£41,700 - £51,300 plus benefits

Reports to: Principal Scientist

Directorate: Research & Innovation

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full time 35 hours per week

Location: Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge (Lab Based – Low flex with a minimum of 3 days per week on-site).

Closing date: Sunday 23rd August 23:55pm

Recruitment process: Initial screening call via MS Teams, followed by an in person competency-based interview with presentation task.

Interview dates: Screening calls: 2nd-4th September Second stage: 14th-16th September

Visa sponsorship: Cancer Research UK can consider visa sponsorship for this vacancy. If this applies to you, please ensure that this is clearly marked on your application.

At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer. We’re looking for a lab-based Senior Scientist to join Cancer Research Horizons (CRH) and play a key role in advancing our oncology and immuno‑oncology pipeline. You’ll design and deliver critical translational studies to inform project progression, develop and optimise cell based assays using clinical relevant materials, and work closely with multidisciplinary teams to drive drug discovery decisions. This is an exciting opportunity for a proactive, detail‑driven scientist who thrives in a collaborative lab environment and is passionate about translating science into meaningful therapeutic progress.

About Cancer Research Horizons: As the world’s biggest medical research charity, we’ve helped bring fourteen new cancer drugs to market. However, there is still an urgent need to bring more effective treatments to patients faster. Cancer Research Horizons (CRH) is CRUK’s internal translation engine. CRUK’s established drug discovery teams operate under one organisation and leadership team. Our unique combination of cancer biology expertise and access to CRUK’s world-class academic network, coupled with cutting edge technology platforms and clinical expertise enables us to 1) bring new treatments to patients faster and 2) tackle the biggest challenges in discovering cancer drugs by seeking out more radical ideas and embracing risk in our bid to achieve success. Based across sites in Cambridge, the CRUK Scotland Institute in Glasgow, and Newcastle University, Cancer Research Horizons employs around 180 staff from both industry and academic backgrounds. Together, we are united by a shared commitment to accelerating the development of life-saving innovations and bringing forward the day when all cancers are cured.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead translational assay development, linking preclinical findings to clinical relevance.
• Apply human tumour biopsy tissue, patient-derived material, and primary cells in drug discovery to integrate in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo data and support project decision-making.
• Design, execute, and interpret in vivo PK/PD and efficacy study (CDX, PDX) for small molecules or mAb, ADC programmes.
• Design, perform complex cell culture, including 3D coculture experiments using patient derived materials.
• Conduct and interpret phenotypic analysis in cancer and immune cells including cell proliferation, apoptosis, colony formation.
• Review and critically appraise published and unpublished research to identify protocols for translational assay development.
• Demonstrate strong problem-solving skills, ability to develop innovative solutions independently, and adapt effectively to rapidly changing drug discovery environment.
• Work collaboratively within the Bioscience team and interact with multi-disciplinary research teams both internally and with external collaborators.
• Communicate efficiently, interpret and summarise data and present them to different audiences.
• Prioritise work according to project goals and take responsibility for the timely delivery of his/her objectives.
• Maintain accurate and up to date electronic laboratory notebook.
• Maintain assigned laboratory equipment and/or duties.
• Perform all work demonstrating due care and attention to all health and safety regulations.
• Keep up to date with state of the art technologies and knowledge of developments in cancer therapeutics with particular focus on translational model development.
• Highly committed, enthusiastic with a passion for learning.

Key Technical Skills, Knowledge and Experience:

• PhD or equivalent in a biological science. Postdoctoral experience (or equivalent) in oncology and/or immunology research.
• Expertise in ex vivo translational models, particularly with patient derived materials, human tumour biopsies, and/or MPS (microphysiological system) and NAM approaches (desirable but not essential).
• Proven scientific leadership, with the ability to drive projects and influence research direction.
• Industry research experience within pharma or biotech environments.
• Strong knowledge of cell culture techniques, including coculture, primary cell handling, maintenance and optimisation.
• Hands‑on experience with phenotypic assays, such as cell proliferation, apoptosis and colony‑forming assays.

Our organisation values are designed to guide all that we do. Bold: Act with ambition, courage and determination. Credible: Act with rigour and professionalism. Human: Act to have a positive impact on people. Together: Act inclusively and collaboratively. We’re looking for people who can believe in and embody these organisation values and can use them to drive forward progress against our mission to beat cancer.

If you’re interested in applying and excited about working with us but are unsure if you have the right skills and experience we’d still love to hear from you.

What will I gain? We create a working environment that supports your wellbeing and provide a generous benefits package, a wide range of career and personal development opportunities and high-quality tools. Our policies and processes enable you to improve your work-life balance, take positive steps in your career and achieve your personal wellbeing goals. You can explore our benefits by visiting our careers web page.

How do I apply? We operate an anonymised shortlisting process in our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. CVs are for all applications; but we won’t be able to view them until we invite you for an interview. Instead, we ask you to complete the work history section of the online application form for us to be able to assess you fairly and objectively. For more information on this career opportunity please visit our website or contact us at recruitment@cancer.org.uk.

For more updates on our work and careers, follow us on: Linked In, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube. Our vision is to create a charity where everyone feels like they belong, benefits from and participates in, the work we do. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, in particular those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently under-represented. We want to see every candidate performing at their best throughout the job application process, interview process and whilst at work. We therefore ask you to inform us of any concerns you have or any adjustments you might need to enable this to happen. Please contact recruitment@cancer.org.uk or 020 3469 8400 as soon as possible. Unfortunately, we are unable to recruit anyone below the age of 18, so that we can protect young people from health & safety and safeguarding risks.