Research Assistant Full-time

Research Assistant

UCL is one of the UK's premier research and teaching Universities and has one of the largest Biomedical Faculties in Europe. UCL is both a Cancer Research UK Centre and an Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre providing key infrastructure for cancer research. The UCL Cancer Institute is a £40 million investment in central London based at University College London (UCL), one of the world's top universities and a founding member of the Crick Institute. UCL Cancer Institute draws together over 300 scientists working together to develop world-class basic and translational cancer research. Through our associations with UCL Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Great Ormond Street Hospital and the Royal Free Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, the Institute has greater clinical links than any comparable centre in the UK and a significant impact on the delivery of clinical service to cancer patients. This concentration of excellence, access to patients and significant recent investment of cancer treatment and research infrastructure makes UCL a global leader.

We are seeking a self-motivated research associate to work on an exciting pre-cancer immunology project, as part of the UCL Pre-Cancer Immunology Laboratory and groundbreaking international Alliance for Cancer Early Detection (ACED) initiative launched by Cancer Research UK.

ACED brings together centres of excellence in cancer early detection: UCL, Harvard, DKFZ, Cambridge, Manchester and CEDAR at OHSU. The successful applicant will join an ambitious, thriving international consortium of investigators from these centres formed to 'Exploit the Adaptive Immune System for Cancer Early Detection'.

About the Role

The project sits at the interface of basic and translational research, and will be generating a rich dataset from patient-derived samples, from trials run locally and across the UK, including from pioneering lung cancer surveillance studies run by Professor Sam Janes (e.g. summitstudy.co.uk).

The position will be based within a multi-disciplinary team of T cell immunologists, wet-lab scientists and translational research clinicians focused on both fundamental immunological principles and understanding the early immune response to cancer, with an emphasis on the early detection and immunological interception of lung cancer. The successful applicant will be supervised by Dr James Reading, who is group leader of the Pre-Cancer Immunology group at UCL, theme lead of Immunology in the CRUK Lung cancer centre of excellence and co-lead of the ACED Interception Theme.

The post is funded for 1 year in the first instance, commencing in April 2026, the starting salary is contingent on the candidate's previous experience. This project will build on a strong track record of significant discoveries in the field of tumour immunology at UCL Cancer Institute, and the candidate will benefit from expert training in an exciting and dynamic environment.

Applications should include a CV and a Cover Letter: In the Cover Letter, please provide evidence of the essential and desirable criteria in the Person Specification part of the Job Description. (By including a Cover Letter, you can leave blank the 'Why you have applied for this role' field in the application form, which is limited in the number of characters it will allow.)

This role does not meet the eligibility requirements for a Skilled Worker Visa certificate of sponsorship under UK Visas and Immigration legislation. Therefore, UCL will not be able to sponsor individuals who require right to work in the UK to carry out this role.

About You

Successful candidates must have a bachelor's or Master's degree in a relevant discipline; e.g. Biological Sciences, Immunology and an understanding of cancer immunology principles, particularly T cell immunology.

Ability to design, perform, and troubleshoot experiments and maintain accurate laboratory records, and to work both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team are essential.

Contribution to peer-reviewed publications is desirable but not essential for the role.

What We Offer

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:

• 41 Days holiday (including 27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
• Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
• Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
• On-Site nursery
• On-site gym
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
• Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
• Discounted medical insurance

Our Commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As London's Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world's talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.

We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL's workforce.

These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.

You can read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/equality-diversity-inclusion/