"Crick early career group leaders"

Job Details

We are looking for creative and innovative scientists to establish independent research programmes in any area of biological, biomedical or clinical sciences, including relevant areas of physical, AI/computational or chemical sciences.

Early career group leaders (ECGLs) are the core of the Crick's faculty. We appoint ECGLs at a creative stage in their careers to develop innovative and ambitious research programmes.

Crick core funding supports them to develop research programmes driven by curiosity, not by trends.

ECGLs are appointed for 12 years. Towards the end of their time at the Crick, we help them to secure senior positions in the UK and elsewhere, providing support to relocate their research programme.

The Crick is one of Europe’s largest biomedical research institutes. By breaking down barriers between departments and disciplines, we are accelerating the discovery of fundamental biology processes behind health and disease. Central to our mission is developing collaborative and multidisciplinary approaches encompassing clinical, biological and physical sciences.

Our research spans the scales from genes, systems and evolution, through molecules and cells, to tissues and organismal biology. Aiming to generate insights into human biology in health and disease, our programmes use interdisciplinary approaches and diverse model systems to address issues in areas that include but are not limited to:

• infections and immunity
• cancer
• neural systems
• cardiac and vascular biology
• repair, degeneration and ageing
• physiology and homeostasis

Details of our research portfolio are at https://www.crick.ac.uk/research.

The Crick early career group leader programme

Crick early career group leaders (ECGLs) develop internationally leading research programmes in biomedical research and build their research profile, in their specialist area and the wider international research community. Crick ECGLs receive a core support package which we expect them to build on by attracting external response-mode funding. Our ECGLs contribute to scientific and operational administration at the Crick, working with colleagues in the Crick's graduate student and postdoc mentoring programmes, and represent the Crick at external meetings and scientific bodies. Our early career group leaders contribute to the Crick's public engagement and fundraising activities.

The early career group leader support package

This package applies for the full duration of the contract. It includes:

• Competitive salary with benefits and relocation assistance
• 12-year contract (review at 6 years)
• Salaries and research costs for up to three researchers and two graduate students
• Opportunity to expand through external grant funding
• Close links to our partner universities – University College London, Imperial College London and King's College London
• Access to Crick technology platforms and facilities, including our cutting-edge high-performance computing infrastructure
• Full lab set-up in state-of-the-art space

Person specification

An advanced degree (PhD or equivalent) and experience conducting research in a relevant field is required.

How to apply

Applications should be made through our academic recruitment system before 23:59 GMT on Thursday 27 November 2025.

You will need:

• Full academic CV
• Publications list
• Details of past research (~500 words)
• Future research plans (~1000 words)
• 3-minute video presentation outlining future research plans
• Two or more academic references

Successful applicants will be invited to the Crick for recruitment seminars February - April 2026.

Further information on early career group leaders and their current research interests can be found at: https://www.crick.ac.uk/careers-study/faculty/early-career-group-leaders

Informal enquiries about the Francis Crick Institute or the application procedure can be made through: group-leader-recruitment@crick.ac.uk

We are able to support flexible working, including part-time work schedules, and will support visa applications for successful candidates and their families.

We believe diversity is integral to scientific excellence. We particularly welcome applications from candidates with backgrounds that are currently under-represented in science.