Programme Leader Track

The LMS is a vibrant biomedical research institute with a focus on mechanistic biomedical discovery science. We value transdisciplinary team science as a transformative approach to address major questions of relevance to human health and disease. Our state‑of‑the‑art building, our innovative and highly collaborative researcher community and our scientific core facilities collectively build the backbone of our research. Our cutting‑edge facilities provide our researchers with expert guidance, as well as driving innovation through the development of new methodologies.

The MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences (LMS), under the Directorship of Professor Wiebke Arlt, comprises around 30 research groups carrying out mechanistic research addressing major questions of relevance to human health and disease. Research focuses on mechanisms underpinning metabolism, genetic and epigenetic regulation and cell fate decisions and we are particularly interested in the impact of sex differences, life course‑associated changes and the exposome on these processes.

Appointments to the Programme Leader Track level are an open‑ended contract, which comprises a six‑year advanced training and development scheme after which the role holder will be considered for promotion to Programme Leader. Programme Leader Track scientists are expected to have a strong experimental track record and be able to demonstrate evidence of outstanding scientific originality and creativity.

To deliver research in line with the expectations of the Institute and MRC, Programme Leader Track positions are expected to lead a research group and are supported through dedicated core funding for research posts, PhD students and research consumables, alongside access to the Institute’s core facilities.

Programme Leader Track appointments are expected to:

• Plan the scientific direction of a research programme within the overall strategic remit of the Institute and be accountable for presenting the programme for peer review in accordance with MRC procedures.
• Direct the research of their group, supervising some projects directly and overseeing others delegated to senior members within the group.
• Manage the resources required to sustain the programme, including obtaining additional funding from non‑MRC sources.
• Generate and manage collaborations and engage in team science approaches to expand the scope and impact of their group’s research.
• Contribute to the long term aims of the Institute by participating in scientific management and taking responsibility for infrastructure, including horizon scanning and providing strategic and scientific advice to the LMS scientific core facilities.
• Disseminate the research outputs of the Group through publications, presentations at scientific meetings, social media and responding to media enquiries.
• Contribute to the MRC's commitments to train and mentor scientists, enhance public awareness of science, promote a positive research culture and support research integrity and reproducibility endeavours, promote appropriate translational/commercial exploitation of research findings, and contribute to the wider scientific community through membership of external committees, editing academic journals, and reviewing funding applications.

Person Specification

Education / Qualifications / Training (will be assessed from the application form)

• Essential: PhD in a research field related to the strategic focus of the Institute.
• Postdoctoral research experience in a research field complementing existing research strengths at the Institute.

Knowledge and Experience (will be assessed from the application form and at the interview)

• Essential: A strong track record of scientific originality and creativity in a research area complementary to the Institute’s existing strengths, as evidenced by appropriate research outputs. This should include demonstration of first, senior or corresponding author publications in appropriate journals.
• Substantial experience in the use of experimental models and technologies that are appropriate to the specific area of research.

• Desirable: Supervision of PhD and MSc students, laboratory management, including budget management, leading on successful applications for grant funding.

Personal skills / Behaviours / Qualities (will be assessed at the interview)

• Essential: Excellent written and verbal communication skills with an ability to convey complex information to a wide range of audiences.
• Ability to organise and prioritise workload, to delegate responsibility as appropriate and to supervise staff.
• Ability to provide leadership, to work within a team and manage, motivate, inspire and support staff.
• A commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.