"Principal Scientist (Portfolio Generation)"

200 staff. Limitless Potential. One team. Cancer Research Horizons.

Location: Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge (1 - 2 days per week on site)

At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer.

We are seeking an experienced Principal Scientist to join our Portfolio generation team at Cancer Research Horizons in Cambridge. As a Principal Scientist, you will identify and assess new therapeutic opportunities from academic sources and help evaluate advanced oncology assets suitable for acceleration through TI’s capabilities. You will design and lead focused workplans to de‑risk promising concepts and guide them to clear entry decisions for the TI portfolio, working closely with drug discovery teams and key stakeholders.

About Cancer Research Horizons: Cancer Research Horizons (CRH) unites Cancer Research UK’s established drug discovery teams. Our mission is to accelerate new cancer treatments by combining unique cancer biology expertise, world-class academic networks, cutting-edge technology, and clinical insights. Based at sites in Cambridge, Glasgow, and Newcastle, our diverse team works to bring forward the day all cancers are cured.

What you will be doing:

• Development of multiple new opportunities/ from concept review, through to evaluation and de-risk to a decision point on drug discovery portfolio entry (in collaboration with key drug discovery stakeholders)
• Lead on the development and delivery of workplans to agreed inflection points
• Act as a primary point of contact between academic collaborators and CRH-TI within Portfolio Generation space as required
• Assist the triage of Therapeutic Catalyst expressions of interest and the development of full proposals
• Lead multiple Therapeutic catalyst projects to required/approved endpoints including option to accelerate via additional TI support.
• Matrix manage drug discovery activities and interactions with PIs in conjunction with key drug discovery stakeholders (Target Validation and Project Enabling leads)
• Make strategic recommendations to relevant review groups/leadership teams.

What we are looking for:

• PhD or equivalent experience in relevant cancer field.
• Significant experience early drug target discovery and the evaluation process (target selection, validation, technical feasibility etc),
• Previous experience of working with PI’s and helping to deliver early translation projects in cancer discovery
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to network and build strong working relationships.
• Strong scientific and strategic understanding of what it takes to drive exciting opportunities towards future drug discovery starts (biology and early drug discovery).
• An appreciation of the use of preclinical cancer models to support therapeutic discovery.
• Collaborative team player, but also a highly self-motivated individual able to prioritise and manage time effectively with the highest levels of quality and productivity.

Our Values: Bold, Credible, Human, Together. We seek individuals who embody these values to drive progress against our mission.

What will I gain? We offer a supportive working environment, generous benefits, career development opportunities, and high-quality tools to support your work-life balance and career progression.

Closing date: Sunday 8th March 23:55pm