Postdoctoral Training Fellow - Cancer Stem Cell (Prof Axel Behrens)

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Location:

Chelsea

Position:

Cancer Stem Cell

Salary Details:

£45,600 per annum

Contract:

Fixed term

Contract Length:

Not Specified

Advertising End Date:

21 Aug 2025

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Postdoctoral Training Fellow - Cancer Stem Cell (Prof Axel Behrens)

Key Information

Salary: Starting salary is £45,600.

This role is eligible for ICR Sponsorship. Support will be provided for costs associated with Visa application. If you are considering relocating to the UK, further information can be found here.

Duration of Contract: Fixed Term for 12 months, starting on 1st October 2025

Hours per week: 35 hours per week (Full Time)

Location: Chelsea

Closing Date: Thursday 21 August 2025

Job Details

Under the guidance of Professor Axel Behrens, we are seeking to recruit a highly motivated and creative molecular biologist with a strong background in cancer biology. This Postdoctoral Training Fellow role has a project goal to use advanced genetic cancer mouse models and patient-derived human cancer organoids, to apply their cancer biology skills to elucidate mechanisms of cancer stem cell biology and metastasis formation, with the ultimate aim to develop novel cancer therapeutics.

About you

This position is for entry level Postdoctoral Training Fellows, who have just completed/or are soon to complete their PhD in molecular biology/biochemistry. We require candidates to have substantial research experience in cancer biology, substantial research experience in the role of mechanosensing in cancer and substantial research experience in tumour organoid biology. The position is to start on 1 October 2025 for 12 months. Confirmation on awarded PhD is required within 6 months of employment.

The ICR has a workforce agreement stating that Postdoctoral Training Fellows can only be employed for up to 7 years as PDTF at the ICR, providing total postdoctoral experience (including previous employment at this level elsewhere) does not exceed 7 years.

For general information on Postdocs at The ICR, more information can be found here.

Department/Directorate Information

The Cancer Stem Cell team led by Professor Axel Behrens uses a combination of sophisticated genetics and human cancer organoids to understand the biology of cancer and to develop novel therapeutic options. Recent key discoveries of the Behrens team include identification of cancer stem cell populations in breast and pancreatic Cancer (Blaas et al., Nature Cell Biology 2016; Wang et al., Nature Cell Biology 2019), and the elucidation of mechanisms guiding tumour maintenance, tumour morphology and tumour cell fate (Messal et al., Nature 2019; Nelson et al., Nature Communications 2022; Lan et al., Nature, 2022). The successful candidate will work within a multidisciplinary team focussed on understanding fundamental mechanisms governing cancer stem cell function and apply this knowledge to develop cancer stem-cell based therapies. Our laboratories are fully equipped for cancer molecular biology and human cancer organoid tissue culture.

The Cancer Stem Cell team is part of The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre at the ICR, within the Division of Breast Cancer Research, this is the first centre in the UK entirely devoted to breast cancer research. Our goal is to advance research into the causes, diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.

What we offer

A dynamic and supportive research environment
Access to state-of-the-art facilities and professional development opportunities
Collaboration with leading researchers in the field
Competitive salary and pension

About The Institute of Cancer Research

Why work for us?

As a member of staff, you'll have exclusive access to a range of staff benefits.

The ICR is committed to supporting overseas applicants applying for roles, please click here to find out further information.

The Institute of Cancer Research, London, is one of the world's most influential cancer research institutes, with an outstanding record of achievement dating back more than 100 years. Further information about working at the ICR can be found here.

At the Institute of Cancer Research, we champion diversity as we believe it fuels innovation and drives impactful research. We welcome applicants from all walks of life, valuing diverse perspectives that enrich our work.

Don't let a checklist of qualifications hold you back – if you're passionate about the role, we want to hear from you. Your unique experiences and backgrounds contribute to the richness of our team. We are committed to being an equal opportunity for all, regardless of ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, or any other dimension of diversity. Join us in creating an inclusive environment where everyone's voice is heard and valued.

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