Summary
The Francis Crick Institute, in partnership with UCL, King’s College London, and Imperial College London, is offering PACE (Partnerships for Advancement, Collaboration and Excellence) postdoctoral fellowships. This program supports ambitious researchers in developing collaborative, interdisciplinary projects, fostering leadership skills, and building extensive networks across institutions.
Designation
Postdoctoral Fellow
Research Area
Collaborative and interdisciplinary research across various scientific disciplines, as defined by projects developed with Crick and partner university Group Leaders. Specific project topics may be pre-defined or proposed by candidates.
Location
London, UK. Fellows are expected to spend equal time between The Francis Crick Institute and their chosen university partner (UCL, King’s College London, or Imperial College London).
Eligibility/Qualification
- Applicants must hold a PhD at the time of the call deadline. Researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but have not yet been formally awarded the degree are also eligible.
- Applicants who completed their PhD at the Crick are not eligible for this specific scheme.
- Applicants who have previously held a postdoctoral position at the Crick (Postdoctoral Research Assistant or Postdoctoral Fellow) are eligible, provided their total period of postdoctoral employment at the Crick, including the four-year PACE appointment (if awarded), does not exceed the current Crick postdoctoral employment limit of six years.
- Successful fellows should be outstanding, collaborative researchers aspiring to become future leaders in their field and committed to advancing impactful, interdisciplinary research.
Job Description
The PACE postdoctoral fellowship is a four-year fixed-term position designed to develop future research leaders. Successful fellows will:
- Work across institutions (The Crick and a partner university), building extensive research networks.
- Engage in collaborative projects, promoting co-creation and shared problem-solving.
- Receive structured leadership training tailored to their career pathway, covering project management, team leadership, and strategic thinking.
- Access mentorship and career development support to prepare them for roles cultivating strategic partnerships and advancing collaborative scientific innovation across disciplines and sectors.
- Contribute to a vibrant, international scientific environment with access to world-leading scientific facilities.
What We Offer
- Four-year fixed-term contract.
- Salary starting from £47,500 per annum, with benefits, dependent on skills and experience.
- Access to world-leading scientific facilities.
- Extended training and development opportunities in collaboration with university partners.
- Structured leadership training.
- Access to mentorship and career development support.
- Visa costs for international researchers and their families, including the NHS surcharge, enabling access to the UK health service.
How to Apply
There are two application routes:
Route 1: Postdoc-led
Candidates contact both a Crick Group Leader and a partner university (UCL, King’s, or Imperial College) Group Leader to jointly propose and develop a collaborative project to be carried out across the two research groups.
Route 2: Group leader-led
Candidates can develop a project from pre-defined collaborative topics proposed by Crick and partner university group leaders. Work with both the Crick and partner university Group Leaders to develop a detailed project proposal based on the topic outline.
For detailed application guidelines and an application template, please refer to the 2026 Crick PACE Fellowship info for candidates PDF.
Last Date for Apply
6 January 2027
