Group Leader Research Fellowship Sponsorship Scheme at UCL(UK Visa Sponsorship)

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Uk
March 5, 2026
Full Time Permanent
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Job Description

Establish Your Independent Research Group at UCL

The University College London invites Expressions of Interest from outstanding early career researchers seeking sponsorship for prestigious external fellowships that will enable them to establish an independent research group.

This opportunity is hosted within the UCL Research Department of Structural and Molecular Biology (SMB), part of the School of Life & Medical Sciences.

SMB is internationally recognised for multidisciplinary research at the interface of structural, computational and chemical biology. Our community pioneers integrative approaches that connect molecular structure, biological function and systems-level understanding across scales.

Our Research Environment

The Department brings together expertise across:

  • Gene expression and RNA biology
  • Protein folding, membranes and trafficking
  • Microbiology and synthetic biology
  • Metabolism, cancer and biological chemistry
  • Evolution, computational biology, AI and deep learning

We are particularly interested in proposals aligned with:

  • Engineering Biology
  • Microbiology
  • Computational Methods and Machine Learning in Structural Biology

Our aim is to support talented researchers in building internationally competitive programmes that complement and expand our existing strengths.

Fellowship Schemes We Support

We sponsor applications to major external fellowship schemes, including:

  • Wellcome Trust Career Development Award
  • Medical Research Council Career Development Award
  • Cancer Research UK Career Development Fellowship
  • European Research Council Starting Grant
  • The Royal Society University Research Fellowship
  • Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council Open Fellowship
  • Two competitive internal selection rounds are held annually.

What We Are Looking For

We seek ambitious early career researchers who can demonstrate:

  • An exceptional track record relative to career stage
  • Clear potential to secure competitive external fellowship funding
  • A compelling and innovative research vision
  • Strong alignment with SMB’s scientific priorities

Shortlisted candidates will:

  • Deliver an online research seminar
  • Attend an interview with the Fellowship Panel (scheduled for 24 April 2026)
  • Be invited to visit the Department to meet academic staff, students and current fellows

Application Requirements

Applicants must submit:

  • A short academic CV (including referee details)
  • A two-page research vision or draft fellowship proposal

A cover letter outlining:

  • The fellowship scheme(s) targeted
  • Proposed submission timeline
  • Strategic fit within SMB

Candidates must confirm eligibility for their chosen fellowship scheme and provide evidence of the right to work in the UK prior to commencing any award.

Immigration and Right to Work

International applicants are welcome. Fellowship holders must comply with UK immigration regulations.

For official guidance, please refer to:

Applicants are responsible for confirming their visa eligibility prior to application submission.

Before submission:

  • Strategic mentoring
  • Mock interviews
  • Detailed feedback on proposals

Following fellowship success:

  • Laboratory and office space
  • Access to state-of-the-art facilities and technical expertise
  • Integration into a collaborative research network
  • Access to PhD students across multiple 4-year doctoral training programmes
  • Bespoke mentoring and continued professional development

Our goal is to support fellows in progressing toward permanent academic positions, either within SMB or at other leading institutions. A significant proportion of our previous fellows have secured permanent roles within the Department.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

UCL is committed to building a research environment where excellence and inclusion go hand in hand.

SMB holds an Athena SWAN Silver Award in recognition of its commitment to advancing gender equality. We particularly encourage applications from individuals who are underrepresented in academia, including:

  • Black, Asian and minority ethnic researchers
  • Disabled researchers
  • LGBTQI+ researchers
  • Women in senior academic pathways

We believe that diverse perspectives strengthen discovery and innovation.

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