"Lecturer / Senior Lecturer / Reader / Professor in Human Genetics"

About Us

The Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics at King's College London is pleased to announce openings for two academic positions, at Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Reader or Professor level. These group leader positions signify King's College London's continued commitment to advancing the field of human genetics, reflecting the university's pioneering history in genetics research and recognising the importance of human genetics in contemporary medical and public health fields.

These positions offer an exciting opportunity to join the thriving human genetics community at a world-class department renowned for its strength in this field. We are particularly interested in applications from individuals with research interests in the areas of population genetics and epidemiology, and functional genomics.

The Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine is a leader in medical education and research, providing a vibrant and supportive environment for its faculty and students. By joining King’s, you will be part of an institution that values innovation, collaboration, and the advancement of knowledge in genetics and beyond.

The Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics is located in the life sciences cluster in historic and vibrant London Bridge. It hosts advanced research facilities for genetic investigations of both common and rare diseases, alongside studies of fundamental mechanisms of gene regulation. With internationally recognised programs in both computational and experimental genetics, the department serves as a hub for interdisciplinary research, encouraging collaboration across various scientific and clinical disciplines and maintaining strong connections with international research communities.

About the role

Successful candidates will lead their own innovative research programs, focusing on the identification and manipulation of genetic mechanisms in human health and disease. Each group leader will be entrusted with leading their research teams and fostering a collaborative and positive research culture. They are expected not only to secure funding and publish impactful scholarly articles but also to lead initiatives with impact beyond academia, influencing public health policy, enhancing health service delivery, and promoting broader societal benefits.

They will be expected to contribute to the vibrant academic community within the department and more broadly across the college. A key aspect of these faculty positions involves education and mentoring, where they will shape the next generation of scientists through their contributions to both undergraduate and postgraduate education.

This is a full time post (35 hours per week), and you will be offered an indefinite contract.

About You

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

Lecturer

Essential Criteria

1. PhD in human genetics or a closely related field.
2. Demonstrable success in securing external research funding and clear plan for ongoing research success and sustainability.
3. Original peer-reviewed research publications, first or senior author in high-impact journals, showing significant contributions to human genetics.
4. Clearly articulated vision for high-quality human genetics education at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
5. Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present research findings to both scientific and non-scientific audiences.
6. Experience of delivering teaching and assessment
7. A commitment to a positive working environment, supportive of staff and student wellbeing and experience

Desirable Criteria

1. Experience in mentoring and training research staff and postgraduate students.
2. Proven track record of participation in collaborative research projects.
3. Strong network within the human genetics research community, including collaborations with international researchers and institutions.
4. Education qualification, such as Fellow of Higher Education Academy or equivalent

Senior Lecturer

Essential Criteria

1. PhD in human genetics or a closely related field.
2. Established track record of securing external research funding with a clear pipeline and strategy for ongoing research funding.
3. Strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals, including as senior author in high-impact journals, showing significant contributions to human genetics.
4. Demonstrated ability to lead and manage a research team, fostering a positive research culture and establishing an innovative research environment.
5. Fellow of the Higher Education Academic (or equivalent) alongside extensive teaching delivery and curriculum development/innovation experience. A clear vision for innovation in a human genetics curriculum at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
6. Evidence of a national profile in the field, and growing international recognition.
7. Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present research findings to both scientific and non-scientific audiences.
8. Experience in managing, mentoring and training early-career researchers and/or postgraduate students.

Desirable Criteria

1. Contributions to public health policy or initiatives that extend the impact of genetic research beyond academia.
2. History of contributions to the development of academic policies or programs.
3. Experience in translational research and the ability to bridge basic science with clinical applications.
4. Strong network within the human genetics research community, including collaborations with international researchers and institutions.

Professor

Essential Criteria

1. PhD in human genetics or a closely related field.
2. International recognition in human genetics research and education, with a well-established network of national and international collaborators.
3. Sustained track-record in securing competitive external funding, with evidence of large scale and long lasting programmatic funding.
4. Strong publication record, including as senior author in high-impact journals, showing significant and sustained contribution to human genetics.
5. Demonstrated leadership skills, in the context of the leadership and management of a research team, and more widely in shaping the strategy and policy of a Department or equivalent, in professional bodies and other external contexts, fostering a positive research culture and establishing an innovative academic environment.
6. Sustained evidence of mentoring and training early-career researchers and postgraduate students.
7. Fellow of Higher Education Academy (or equivalent), with extensive experience as an educator including evidence of ongoing professional development, development of curricula and innovative delivery/assessment methods, along with a clear vision for innovation in a human genetics curriculum at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
8. Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present research findings to both scientific and non-scientific audiences.

Desirable Criteria

1. Contributions to public health policy or initiatives that extend the impact of genetic research beyond academia.
2. History of contributions to the development of academic policies or programs.
3. Experience in translational research and the ability to bridge basic science with clinical applications.

Further Information

In your application please state which role you are applying for (Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, or Professorial) and include the following materials

• Curriculum Vitae - including educational background, professional experience, awards, honours, and relevant skills or certifications.
• Publication highlights, five selected publications from the last 10 years that you consider your most significant contributions, each with a brief narrative description of the key findings and your role.
• Research Statement (1-2 pages), an overview of your past research achievements, current projects, and future research plans.
• Educational Statement (1-2 pages), your philosophy for mentoring and education, your experiences, and an overview of how you would plan to contribute to genetics education.

We pride ourselves on being inclusive and welcoming. We embrace diversity and want everyone to feel that they belong and are connected to others in our community.

We are committed to working with our staff and unions on these and other issues, to continue to support our people and to develop a diverse and inclusive culture at King's.

As part of this commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and through this appointment process, it is our aim to develop candidate pools that include applicants from all backgrounds and communities.

We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the person specification section of the job description. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.

To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our How we Recruit pages.

Interviews are due to be held in March/April 2026.

Grade and Salary: Lecturer: £53,947-£63,350 per annum; Senior Lecturer: £65,091 per annum; Professor: £83,414 per annum, including London Weighting Allowance

Job ID: 134827

Close Date: 01-Feb-2026

Contact Person: Professor Michael Simpson

Contact Details: Michael.simpson@kcl.ac.uk