Group Leader Research Fellowship Sponsorship Scheme at UCL

Job Description

About Us

The Research Department of Structural and Molecular Biology (SMB) at UCL is a world-leading academic centre that promotes multi-disciplinary research at the interface of structural, computational, and chemical biology. We pioneer approaches that bridge scales in biology and integrate diverse data across disciplines.

Our research portfolio spans several key areas:

Gene Expression & RNA Biology

Protein Folding, Membranes & Trafficking

Microbiology & Synthetic Biology

Metabolism, Cancer & Biological Chemistry

Evolution, Computational Biology with AI & Deep Learning

More information: SMB Research

About the Role

We invite Expressions of Interest from early-career researchers seeking external fellowships to establish an independent research group at SMB through a tenure-track-like process. Eligible fellowships include:

Welcome Trust Career Development Award

MRC Career Development Award

CRUK Career Development Fellowship

ERC Starting Grant

Royal Society URF

Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship

EPSRC Open Fellowship

Other comparable awards

Research fellows play a vital role in our department, bringing fresh ideas, original research questions, and new collaborative opportunities that expand and enhance our portfolio.

We hold two selection rounds per year. The deadline for this round is Monday 13 October 2025, 23:59 BST.

We welcome applications in Structural and Molecular Biology, particularly in:

Engineering Biology

Integrative Biology, including Omics and Computational Biology

Microbiology

More information: SMB Research Fellowships

About You

Prospective candidates should:

Demonstrate an exceptional track record appropriate to their career stage.

Show strong potential to attract competitive fellowships.

Be eligible for the fellowship schemes of interest and provide evidence of eligibility to work in the UK.

Selected candidates will be invited to give a research seminar and attend an online interview with the Fellowship Panel on Tuesday 11 November 2025. Successful candidates will also have the opportunity to visit SMB, meet staff, students, and current fellows, and engage with group leaders.

Application materials

Short CV with referees’ names

Two-page research vision/draft fellowship application

Cover letter outlining

Suitability for the chosen fellowship scheme(s)

Timeline for fellowship application(s)

How the proposed research fits within SMB

Fellowship Application Process

What We Offer

Successful candidates will receive:

Comprehensive support for fellowship applications, including mock interviews

Integration into a closely-knit network of colleagues

Laboratory and office space with access to state-of-the-art equipment and expertise

Access to research students from multiple 4-year PhD programmes

Bespoke mentoring and continued professional development

Fellows are expected to develop into strong candidates for permanent positions within SMB or elsewhere. Historically, a large proportion of our fellows have progressed to permanent roles at SMB.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

UCL is committed to fostering a diverse, fair, and inclusive environment. We particularly encourage applications from groups underrepresented in UCL’s workforce, including:

Black, Asian, and ethnic minority backgrounds

Disabled people

LGBTQI+ individuals

Women in Grade 9 and 10 roles

SMB holds an Athena SWAN Silver award in recognition of advancing gender equality.