Senior Scientific Officer

The mission of the CRUK National Biomarker Centre (NBC) is to discover, develop, validate and qualify biomarkers that facilitate optimised treatment of patients with cancer. The NBC Preclinical Pharmacology Team (PP) focuses on evaluation of novel therapeutics across cancer types alongside development of predictive and pharmacodynamic biomarkers using a broad set of preclinical cancer models.

We are seeking a curiosity driven, highly skilled scientific officer with considerable relevant experience to join the PP team. The types of analyses routinely performed include in vitro/ex vivo cell-based assays (e.g., for cell viability, proliferation, invasion, migration) to evaluate the efficacy of novel therapeutics (targeted and immunotherapies) as monotherapies or in combinations. Studies will also include discovery and validation of candidate predictive and pharmacodynamic biomarkers.

As well as the use of established cancer cell lines, the role will involve derivation and characterisation of primary cell cultures, development and analysis of primary organoids and co-cultures. A range of molecular biology approaches will be used to function test hypotheses and credential therapy targets (e.g., CRISPR-Cas9 depletion/shRNA approaches and screens using these tools). Mid throughput drug screening will also be in remit.

This is an incredible opportunity to develop your career as a preclinical cancer pharmacologist within a multidisciplinary setting, adjacent to one of Europe’s largest cancer hospitals, surrounded by a wealth of expertise. You will be driven by the goal to support the development of novel therapies and biomarkers to optimise their clinical utility using patient relevant preclinical models and incisive technologies.

You will want to uplift your existing skills sets and get involved in strategic decision making as we expand the PP team and seek to bring in new collaborations and additional funding. You will enjoy supporting early career scientists and derive satisfaction seeing them progress with their projects. You will be excited by the opportunity to work with our pharmacologists and biomarker specialists to gain a holistic view of how drug treatment perturbs cells from both the tumour and host.

This role affords an exciting opportunity to be part of a team testing the efficacy of novel therapeutics with parallel development of biomarkers to optimise their application in the clinic for the benefit of patients with cancer.

The post holder will be responsible to the team lead and deputy. They will contribute to the design and day-to-day oversight of team projects within the laboratory. The post holder will provide technical support to our early career researchers and take ownership of their own projects working with minimal supervision.

You will have extensive experience in the field of cell biology/pharmacology ideally within cancer research laboratories along with previous experience in the supervision and mentoring of technical staff. You will have a degree in Molecular Pharmacology, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Cancer Biology or a related subject (or have equivalent relevant experience). Key qualities include independent thinking, leadership, ability to work in a team and good communication skills, all of which are needed to efficiently work in a multidisciplinary team.

Closing date:
Sunday 13 September 2026, (18:00 hours).