Become a Postdoc at the Gurdon Institute

How to apply for a postdoctoral position

• Make an enquiry directly to the Group Leader you want to work with (Privacy and Data Protection policy). Group leaders are always keen to hear from talented scientists with an interest in Cancer and Developmental Biology. 
• Keep an eye on the advertised positions for postdocs through the University’s website at www.jobs.cam.ac.uk and on our own page when specific roles are on offer, such as Group Leader or Research Associate roles.

Sources of funding

While funding for postdoctoral fellows may be available, postdocs are generally expected to apply for independent fellowships. Some example funding schemes include:

• Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellowships
• BBSRC Discovery Fellowships (formerly Future Leader Fellowships)
• Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowships
• EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowships
• Human Frontiers Science Program Postdoctoral Fellowships
• Herchel Smith Postdoctoral Fellowships
• Life Sciences Research Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowships (US citizens only)
• Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 Fellowships
• British Heart Foundation Immediate Postdoctoral Basic Science Research Fellowships
• Newton International Fellowships (non-UK citizens)
• Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowships

What benefits does the Gurdon Institute offer postdocs?

• We value diversity and inclusivity; for example, around half the Institute research staff are from the EU beyond the UK, and a further quarter are from the rest of the world.
• The Gurdon Institute's own PostDoc Association (GIPA) brings people together across the Institute socially and runs a seminar series, career paths workshops and annual one-day retreat (see poster below).
• Cambridge is a thriving city and the University sits at the heart of one of the world's largest technology clusters, including the Cambridge Biomedical Campus.
• The Cambridge Colleges offer opportunities to secure paid supervising roles and other associations leading to dining rights and small stipends.
• The University's Office of Postdoctoral Affairs has many further resources regarding life as a Cambridge postdoc. 

Poster for the GIPA Retreat in June 2018 on Inequality in Science; by Dr Federica Marinaro, a former Research Associate in the Livesey lab.