Higher Scientific Officer

Key Information

Salary: Commencement on the salary range is subject to comparable skills and experience.

Reporting to: Dr Thomas Lund

Duration of Contract: Fixed Term until 31st March 2027

Hours per week: 35 hours per week (Full Time)

Location: Sutton

Closing Date: 16 November 2025

We are seeking to recruit a Higher Scientific Officer (HSO) to support with laboratory management and provide oversight of operations of the IPU labs, including Leica Bond 3 Automated Slide Stainers, Akoya PhenoImager HT (previously known as the Vectra Polaris) and Ventana Discovery Ultra. The role offers the opportunity to work within a multidisciplinary group, including clinical, scientific, and computational staff whose combined remit is to offer advanced pathology solutions to clinical research. This is an exciting opening in a recently established group at the forefront of clinical and academic research located in the world-renowned ICR & RMH.

Job Details

Under the guidance of Dr Thomas Lund, we are seeking to recruit a Higher Scientific Officer to contribute to support with laboratory management and provide oversight of operations of the IPU labs, including Leica Bond 3 Automated Slide Stainers, Akoya PhenoImager HT (previously known as the Vectra Polaris) and Ventana Discovery Ultra. The role offers the opportunity to work within a multidisciplinary group, including clinical, scientific, and computational staff whose combined remit is to offer advanced pathology solutions to clinical research. This is an exciting opening in a recently established group at the forefront of clinical and academic research located in the world-renown ICR & RMH. The successful candidate will play a key role in the establishment and maintenance of SOPs, whenever necessary, coordination of provision of reagents, quality control and quality assurance of scientific data from all projects. In addition, the HSO is expected to support all aspects of histopathology related to a range of research projects in our established, advanced translational research laboratory in the field of complex (IHC/RNA-ISH/mIF) tissue hybridisation technologies. The post holder will work alongside a team of Biomedical Scientists, three Research Scientists/HSOs and a Senior Scientific Officer (SSO). The right candidate is expected to perform a variety of tasks that may include but are not restricted to: a) Staining of pathology slides using manual and automated methodology; b) Scanning of pathology slides stained using a variety of methods; c) Maintaining a high level of QA/QC of image quality

About you

The successful candidate must have:

• PhD in Biological Sciences, Cancer Biology, Molecular Biology, Molecular Pathology, or a similar discipline
• Up-to-date knowledge of the current literature in cancer immunology, cancer therapies and the tumour microenvironment would be desirable
• Good laboratory skills, with experience in working in a collaborative environment
• Experience in tissue handling and processing, histological techniques, IHC, mIF, ISH, microscopy and digital image capturing
• Experience of using and maintaining SOPs based on these techniques
• Experience with training other members of staff
• Hands-on experience with using the Leica Bond 3 and/or the Akoya PhenoImager HT would be desirable

Department/Directorate Information

Team: Integrated Pathology Unit

Directorate: Cancer Biology

What we offer

• A dynamic and supportive research environment
• Access to state-of-the-art facilities and professional development opportunities
• Collaboration with leading researchers in the field
• Competitive salary and pension

We encourage all applicants to access the job pack attached for more detailed information regarding this role. For an informal discussion regarding the role, please contact Dr Marta Vergnano or Dr Thomas Lund via email on [email protected] or [email protected].

About The Institute of Cancer Research

Why work for us?

As a member of staff, you'll have exclusive access to a range of staff benefits.

The ICR is committed to supporting overseas applicants applying for roles, please click here to find out further information.

The Institute of Cancer Research, London, is one of the world's most influential cancer research institutes, with an outstanding record of achievement dating back more than 100 years. Further information about working at the ICR can be found here.

We look forward to receiving applications from all candidates, wherever in the world they are currently based. We will select those who display the potential to become, or to support, the world leading cancer researchers of the future based on their application and performance at interview. However, we particularly welcome British applicants from black and ethnic minority backgrounds, as they are under-represented within the ICR and nationwide in STEM roles.

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