Programme Leader Track LMS 2656

Open Date

02/07/2025, 10:00

Close Date

31/08/2025, 23:55

Research Institute MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences

Research Institute / Unit Information

The LMS is a world-class research laboratory where scientists and clinicians collaborate to advance the understanding of biology and its application to medicine. Funded by the MRC as part of UK Research and Innovation , the LMS has a collaborative working culture and new state-of-the-art building based in the heart of West London in the Hammersmith Hospital Campus (W12).

The LMS aims to deliver transdisciplinary team science, in synergistic interaction with Imperial College and the wider national research environment. Part of achieving this, is to recruit new talent and support postdoctoral scientists to become world leaders in their area of science.

UK Research and Innovation is a new entity that brings together nine partners to create an independent organisation with a strong voice for research and innovation, more information can be found at

Band MRC - 2

Location London

£65,940 - £74,448 plus London allowances (£5,385) per annum

Contract Type Permanent

Job Type Science

Full Time / Part Time Full Time

Job Description

The MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences (LMS), under the Directorship of Professor Wiebke Arlt, comprises around 35 research groups carrying out mechanistic research addressing major questions of relevance to human health and disease. Research focusses on mechanisms underpinning metabolism, genetic and epigenetic regulation and cell fate decisions and we are particularly interested in the impact of sex differences, life course-associated changes and the exposome on these processes. The LMS is committed to a transdisciplinary team science approach and our research is underpinned by state-of-the-art core facilities.

Appointments to the Programme Leader Track level are an open-ended contract, which comprises a six-year advanced training and development scheme after which the role holder will be considered for promotion to Programme Leader. Programme Leader Track scientists are expected to have a strong experimental track record and be able to demonstrate evidence of outstanding scientific originality and creativity.

To deliver research in line with the expectations of the Institute and MRC, Programme Leader Track positions are expected to lead a research group and are supported through dedicated core funding for research posts, PhD students and research consumables, alongside access to the Institute's core facilities.

Programme Leader Track appointments are expected to:

• Plan the scientific direction of a research programme within the overall strategic remit of the Institute and be accountable for presenting the programme for peer review in accordance with MRC procedures.
• Direct the research of their group, supervising some projects directly and overseeing others delegated to senior members within the group.
• Manage the resources required to sustain the programme, including obtaining additional funding from non-MRC sources.
• Generate and manage collaborations and engage in team science approaches to expand the scope and impact of their group's research.
• Contribute to the long term aims of the Institute by participating in scientific management and taking responsibility for infrastructure, including horizon scanning.
• Disseminate the research outputs of the Group through publications, presentations at scientific meetings, social media and responding media enquiries.
• Contribute to the MRC's commitments to:
  • Train scientists (and to the specific LMS commitment to support integrated training of clinician scientists and basic scientists)
  • Enhance public awareness of science.
  • Promote a positive research culture and support research integrity and reproducibility endeavours.
  • Promote appropriate translational/ commercial exploitation of research findings.
• Contribute to the wider scientific community through membership of external committees (e.g. funding committees or advisory boards), editing academic journals, reviewing funding applications.

Person Specification

Education / Qualifications / Training (will be assessed from application form):

Essential:

• PhD in a research field related to the strategic focus of the Institute
• Postdoctoral research experience in a research field complementing existing research strengths at the Institute
• For highlighted recruitment priority areas, specific post-doctoral expertise is preferred

Knowledge and Experience(will be assessed from application form and at interview):

Essential:

• A strong track record of scientific originality and creativity in a research area complementary to the Institute's existing strengths, as evidenced by appropriate research outputs. This should include demonstration of first, senior or corresponding author publications in appropriate journals

• Substantial experience in the use of experimental models and technologies that are appropriate to the specific area of research is required

Desirable:

• Supervision of PhD and MSc students
• Laboratory management, including budget management
• Leading on successful applications for grant funding

Personal skills / Behaviours / Qualities (will be assessed at the interview):

Essential:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with an ability to convey complex information to a wide range of audiences
• Ability to organise and prioritise workload, to delegate responsibility as appropriate and to supervise staff
• Ability to provide leadership, to work within a team and manage, motivate, inspire and support staff
• A commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Further Information

This post is aimed at high quality newly independent investigators seeking to establish their own groups for the first time, or recently established junior group leaders with a strong track record who are looking to further develop their potential.

Pleaseupload your up-to-date CV including past scientific accomplishments and esteem factors along with a cover stating why you want to come to the LMS and why your science is a good fit. Please quote reference number LMS 2656.

Applications without a supporting covering letter not be considered.

Please note that applications may be reviewed by both LMS and Imperial staff

The MRC is a unique working environment where scientific researchers and professional support staff can actively partake in world class innovation and collaboration opportunities and their skills and knowledge through accessing a wide catalogue of training & development, including professional registration with the Science Council.

In addition, MRC (part of UKRI) provides its community of employees access to a whole host of useful benefits, including a defined benefit pension scheme and excellent holiday entitlement (30 days plus 2.5 privilege days & 8 bank holidays), family friendly policies (6 months full pay maternity & adoption leave), a range of shopping/travel discounts, access to our Employee Assistant Programme Scheme, Health and Wellbeing Support and a salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. Please follow this link to find out more - Benefits

Our success is dependent upon our ability to embrace diversity and draw on the skills, understanding and experience of all our people. We warmly invite people from diverse backgrounds and heritage, including people who identify as having a disability, to apply for a role that excites them. As "Disability Confident" employers, we guarantee to interview all applicants who have disclosed they have a disability and who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy.

UKRI supports research in areas that include animal health, agriculture and food security, and bioscience for health which includes research on animals, genetic modification and stem cell research. Whilst you may not have direct involvement in this type of research, you should consider whether this conflicts with your personal values or beliefs.

We will conduct a full and comprehensive pre-employment check as an essential part of the recruitment process on all individuals that are offered a position with UKRI. This will include a security check and an extreme organisations affiliation check. The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.

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