Develop your research career
Supporting the next generation of cancer researchers
We have opportunities for you wherever you are in your career, whether you're new to the lab, or growing your fully-fledged independent research group. Our opportunities are suitable for academic researchers and clinician scientists at all career stages, from fully-funded fellowships to grants to advance individual projects.
Competency framework
Do you need help deciding which opportunity to apply to? Our competency framework can guide you to consider which one is right for you to support your transition to the next career level.
Opportunities for clinical academics
Many of our funding schemes are open to both academic researchers and clinician scientists.
Additionally, we have range of schemes specifically tailored to help you as a clinical academic develop your research career.
Opportunities range from clinical research training fellowships and MB-PhDs via our network, to fellowships and bursaries at pre-PhD through to researchers establishing an independent group.
Opportunities for academic researchers
Explore the funding opportunities and support you can access as an academic researcher from early-career PhDs to established group leaders.
PhDs
We support PhDs to access training to establish their research careers.
Fellowships
We support our fellows to establish their own independent cancer research programmes and transition into scientific leadership positions.
Postdoctoral researchers
We support postdoctoral researchers to continue developing their research careers.
Group leaders
We support established group leaders to continue developing their research careers and become internationally recognised leaders in their field.
Our commitment to supporting your career
Researcher development concordat
We're a proud signatory of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, an agreement between stakeholders to improve the employment and support for researchers and researcher careers. It sets out obligations for research funders, employers, line managers and researchers themselves to support the professional and career development of researchers in a higher education environment.
Continuing professional development
Continuing professional development is a critical part of any research career as it enables individuals to develop and enhance their skills and knowledge. Our policy sets out our expectations around this for researchers, managers and institutions.
Additional career support
We develop outstanding cancer researchers through more than just funding. By working with us, you can benefit from support including:
- training and development opportunities
- mentoring and coaching
- networking and events
- flexible working opportunities and paid leave entitlements
- general career support
Our commitment to a positive research culture
The culture you work in can have a huge impact on your career. Everyone should have access to a positive, inclusive environment where they can thrive.
We're using our voice as a research funder to shape and influence this.
Stay in touch
Contact us
Our research careers programme managers are here to help our research community and advise researchers who are interested in making an application.
Research careers column
Our columnists are getting into the weeds of what makes research careers more productive, more rewarding and more successful.
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