Job Description

Ref Number

B02-09093

Professional Expertise

Research and Research Support

Department

School of Life & Medical Sciences (B02)

Location

London

Working Pattern

Full time

Salary

35,930-41,255

Contract Type

Fixed-term

Working Type

On site

Available for Secondment

No

Closing Date

28-Jul-2025

About us

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The UCL Cancer Institute is the hub for cancer research at University College London, one of the World's leading universities. The Institute draws together over 400 talented scientists who are working together to translate research discoveries into developing kinder, more effective therapies for cancer patients. In particular, it fosters links between basic cancer researchers across Biomedicine and with the clinical activities of our four partner hospital trusts, known as UCL Partners (University College London Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust, the Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust, and Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust), as well as the London School of Pharmacy and Cancer Research UK. The Institute has greater clinical links than any comparable centre in the UK, creating a unique opportunity for significant impact on the delivery of clinical service to cancer patients.



The UCL Cancer Institute is part of the CRUK City of London Centre, which draws together the expertise present in four leading centres for cancer research, UCL, Barts, KCL and the Francis Crick Institute. Further Information about the UCL Cancer Institute can be found on our website https://www.ucl.ac.uk/cancer/.

The Francis Crick Institute

The Francis Crick Institute is a world-leading biomedical research centre, founded through an innovative partnership between six major UK institutions: the Medical Research Council, Cancer Research UK, the Wellcome Trust, UCL, Imperial College London, and King's College London. As a charitable organisation, the Crick's mission is to pursue discovery without boundaries, building the foundation for 21st-century improvements in health. More information can be found on our website https://www.crick.ac.uk/

About the role

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We are seeking a highly motivated and collaborative Scientific Officer to join the TRACERx and TRACERx EVO programmes at the Francis Crick Institute, in partnership with the UCL Cancer Institute. This role is situated within the Genomics Science Technology Platform (STP) at the Francis Crick Institute. The post-holder will join a collaborative team conducting specialised sequencing and genomic analyses for TRACERx (TRAcking Cancer Evolution through therapy (Rx)), the first longitudinal, multi-region cancer genomics study of its kind, led by Professor Charles Swanton.



Working closely with Professor Nicholas McGranahan and Dr. Simone Zaccaria at UCL, this position offers a unique opportunity to advance sequencing technologies applied in the TRACERx project and is part of a dynamic, multi-institutional effort to unravel how lung cancers evolve over time and in response to therapy.

About

TRACERx

and

TRACERx EVO

TRACERx (TRAcking Cancer Evolution through therapy/Rx) is the first national longitudinal cancer genomics study of its kind, designed to map the evolutionary trajectory of lung cancer from early stages through treatment and metastasis. Funded by Cancer Research UK, the Rosetrees Trust, and the UCL Biomedical Research Centre, the programme has received over 13 million in funding across nine years, with research spanning across multiple clinical and academic institutions in the UK.



Through multi-region exome, whole genome, RNA, and single cell sequencing of over 850 patients (more than 6,000 tumour regions), TRACERx is reshaping our understanding of tumour heterogeneity and evolution. The project is now expanding through TRACERx EVO, which investigates evolutionary mechanisms and vulnerabilities in more detail, informed by cutting-edge genomics, bioinformatics, and translational science.



The post-holder will be central to this world-leading program of research and will have the opportunity to join an established group within a team of postdoctoral scientists, PhD students, technicians, and clinical scientists at UCL and The Francis Crick Institute.



This full-time position is funded by Cancer Research UK and Rosetrees for 1 year in the first instance, subject to standard probationary requirements, with potential to extend to 2 years. A start date as soon as possible is preferred.

Applications should include a CV and a Cover Letter:

In the Cover Letter please evidence the essential and desirable criteria in the Person Specification part of the . (By including a Cover Letter, you can leave blank the 'Why you have applied for this role' field in the application form, which is limited in the number of characters it will allow.)

About you

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The successful candidate will be highly motivated, passionate about cancer research and will have substantial experience in a broad range of molecular biology techniques. Experience in Next Generation Sequencing is highly desirable.



The candidate is required to have a degree in a relevant subject and/or excellent practical molecular biology skills and experience, as well as a strong theoretical understanding of sequencing. The candidate is also required to have excellent attention to detail and to have a flexible and cooperative approach to working with others, as well as having an analytical approach to problem solving.



The candidate should possess the ability to work both as a team member and independently under minimal supervision. In addition, the candidate should have broad experience in establishing and optimising new assays and providing technical support to other lab members.

What we offer

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As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents we also offer some great benefits some of which are below


+ 41 Days holiday (including 27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
+ Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
+ Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
+ On-Site nursery
+ On-site gym Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
+ Employee assistance programme
+ Staff Support Service Discounted medical insurance



For rewards and benefits at UCL please visit:



https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/reward-and-benefits

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

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As London's Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world's talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL's workforce. These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.



You can read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/equality-diversity-inclusion/