Scientist; Discovery Biology

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

£33,700 - £42,600 plus benefits

Department: Therapeutic Innovation, R&I

Reports to: Senior Scientist

Location: Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge (Lab Based – Low Flex)

Contract type: Permanent hours: Full time, 35 hours per week

Closing date: Sunday 8th March 2026 23:55pm

Interview process: 2 stage interview process, initial screening call via teams followed by on-site competency-based interview with presentation.

Interview Date: First stage between 19-23rd March. Second stage 9-10th April.

Visa sponsorship: You must be eligible to work in the UK to apply for this vacancy. Cancer Research UK is not able to offer visa sponsorship.

At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer.

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Scientist to join our Discovery Biology function at Cancer Research Horizons. Sitting within the Bioscience department, the Discovery Biology group focuses on defining the key biological insights needed to advance drug discovery projects. The team leads biomarker discovery, investigates disease pathways and drug mechanisms of action, and provides experimental evidence to help guide early clinical strategy.

In this role, you’ll run studies that deepen our understanding of therapeutic targets, explore how treatments interact with cells, and test combinations to stay ahead of resistance. You’ll bring curiosity, strong problem‑solving skills, and a collaborative mindset, turning complex data into clear insights and work closely with cross‑functional teams to drive meaningful progress against our goals.

Every role at CRH is united by a single mission: beating cancer sooner. We carry out work that matters—impacting patients, families, and the future of science.

• Perform and interpret gene perturbation studies using tool compounds and gene editing approaches to confirm disease associations
• Design and execute mechanistic studies to elucidate drug-target engagement and downstream signalling
• Identify and validate pharmacodynamic (PD) biomarkers to support preclinical-to-clinical translation
• Design studies testing Standard of Care (SOC) combinations and investigate emergent drug resistance mechanisms to inform clinical positioning
• Conduct and interpret phenotypic analysis in cancer and immune cells including cell proliferation, apoptosis, colony formation
• Demonstrate ability to solve problems and develop solutions independently
• Work collaboratively within the Bioscience team and interact with multi‑disciplinary research teams
• Communicate efficiently, interpret and summarise data and present to different audiences
• Prioritise work according to project goals and take responsibility for the timely delivery of his/her objectives

• An advanced degree (BSc, MSc or PhD) in Biological Science or related discipline
• Previous working experience within a multi‑disciplinary drug discovery environment or translational academic programmes
• Strong laboratory skills including molecular and cellular biology techniques (including siRNA, shRNA, CRISPR), use of tool compounds and development of physiologically relevant robust assays
• Strong understanding of tumour biology, with a track record in elucidating mechanism of action and driving biomarker discovery
• Ability to integrate complex omics biological datasets to inform progression of oncology therapeutic programmes
• Experience with high‑content imaging and automated image analysis would be highly advantageous
• Strong collaboration and relationship‑building skills, with integrity, commitment, and the ability to work effectively as part of a team
• Highly organised with strong attention to detail, ensuring accuracy and consistency at all times

Our organisation values are designed to guide all that we do.

Bold: Act with ambition, courage and determination

Credible: Act with rigour and professionalism

Human: Act to have a positive impact on people

Together: Act inclusively and collaboratively

We’re looking for people who can believe in and embody these organisation values and can use them to drive forward progress against our mission to beat cancer.

If…