Research Career Development Fellowships (UK Visa Sponsorship Available)

Job Description

About Us

The Department of Cell and Developmental Biology (CDB) at UCL invites Expressions of Interest from talented early career researchers who wish to be sponsored for external research fellowships to establish an independent research group at UCL. This is a pathway to a tenure-track academic appointment, subject to successful funding and review.

CDB is part of UCL’s Division of Biosciences, recently ranked 9th globally in Biological Sciences (2026 QS Rankings), and offers a vibrant research environment with cutting-edge facilities:
Science & Technology Platforms

Our department hosts research across:

Animal development

Stem cell biology

Cell signalling

Organelle biology

Functional and evolutionary morphology

Neuroscience

CDB also houses several research centres, including:

Centre for Integrative Anatomy

Consortium for Mitochondrial Research
We maintain close links with the Francis Crick Institute, Sainsbury-Wellcome Centre, and the Natural History Museum.

About the Role

We are seeking exceptional early career researchers working in any area of Cell or Developmental Biology or allied fields. We are especially interested in those whose work aligns with the Centre for Engineering Life, particularly in:

Synthetic developmental biology

Machine learning applications in biology

An ability to contribute to teaching in cell biology, developmental biology, or anatomy would be a plus.

Fellowship candidates will receive strong departmental support throughout the application and award process, and if successful, will be evaluated for a permanent academic position one year before the fellowship concludes.

How to Apply

Please do not use the online Apply button.

Full CV, including referee names

One-page outline of your proposed research project (including title)

Cover letter detailing:

Fellowship scheme(s) of interest

Proposed application timeline

Fit with CDB’s research priorities

About You

We welcome applications from high-calibre researchers with:

A strong academic track record relative to career stage

Evidence of research excellence and innovation

Clear potential to secure a major external research fellowship

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to give a seminar and meet faculty (in person or online). If selected, you will receive mentorship, mock interview practice, and administrative support for your fellowship submission.

Fellows will also have access to:

UCL’s Biosciences Fellowship Network

Dedicated mentorship

Opportunities to supervise PhD students

Potential top-up funding post-fellowship

Available Fellowships for Sponsorship

Potential funding schemes include:

Wellcome Career Development Award

UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship

MRC Career Development Award

CRUK Career Development Fellowship

ERC Starting Grant

Royal Society University Research Fellowship (URF)

Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship

EPSRC Open Fellowship

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

UCL is committed to creating a fair, inclusive, and welcoming environment. We particularly encourage applications from groups underrepresented in academia, including:

Black, Asian and ethnic minority researchers

Disabled individuals

LGBTQI+ individuals

Women (especially in senior academic roles)

CDB holds an Athena SWAN Silver Award, reflecting its strong commitment to advancing gender equality in academia.