Career opportunities for postdoctoral researchers
Find out how we support postdoctoral researchers to develop their research careers.
Are you a clinician looking to develop your research career? Go to opportunities for clinical academics.
Our centres and institutes
Recruitment for postdoctoral positions based at the centres and institutes we fund around the UK is managed locally; we advise you to search for positions on their websites.
Institutes
Centres
Funding schemes
Project and Primer awards
We have a range of project and primer awards which typically provide funding for project staff and expenses, though eligibility and funding available may vary.
Mentoring, coaching and networking
Women of influence
Get fresh perspectives from leading businesswomen who can provide women, early in their research careers, with support and wisdom from outside academia at a critical time in their development.
Leadership coaching
Take part in free coaching designed to help you develop your full leadership potential by boosting the skills needed to progress further in your career.
Research conferences and events
We host a range of conferences and events designed to showcase cutting-edge science, bring together an international scientific community and facilitate collaborations. Every two years we host our ‘Postdoc Futures’ event to empower postdocs to take the next step in their career. We expect the next event to be held in 2026.
Training and development
Bridge to academic leadership
This biannual development programme guides postdocs through their transition to an independent group leader position.
Observer scheme
Understand how grant funding decisions are made by observing our panel and committee meetings across our funding remit.
StellarHE
This leadership programme is for researchers from ethnic minority backgrounds with experience in management and supervision looking to establish their independence as research group leaders.
Entrepreneurial programmes
Our entrepreneurial programmes, run through our translational arm Cancer Research Horizons, will show you how to build a business, connect you to a network of like-minded people and help you find the right advice and support, when you need it.
Policies and guidance
Flexible research careers support
These policies outline where we can be flexible with our eligibility criteria to accommodate your circumstances and make sure we support you in developing your research path.
Disability and accessibility guidance
We offer support for grant applicants and grant holders who are disabled or have a long-term health condition.
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.
Subscribe to research updates
Stay up to date with research funding and career development opportunities, networking events and conferences and other research news.