Postdoctoral clinical fellows

Postdoctoral career development fellowships provide an opportunity for exceptional postdoctoral clinicians to consolidate their research experience.

Postdoctoral clinicians may apply for Crick funding to spend one year full-time or two years part-time working in a Crick research group, on a project agreed between the fellow and the Crick group leader.

The scheme aims to:

• Foster long-term clinical links and collaborations.
• Provide clinicians with a postdoctoral extension of their research experience, and with scientific networking, training and career development opportunities at the Crick.
• Provide a platform from which fellows may apply for external funding such as clinician scientist fellowships, to be held at the Crick or elsewhere.

Fellows with their own salary funded via NIHR, their university/hospital trust appointment, or other external funding schemes may also apply to be hosted within a Crick research group.
 

We are looking for talented and motivated postdoctoral clinicians who are passionate about research and show outstanding potential for continuing a career in academic medicine and research.

At the time of application, candidates for this competitive programme are expected to:

• hold a research PhD or be in the final stages of PhD thesis submission
• hold a medical, dental or veterinary degree, or related clinical degree
• have held a clinical, dental or veterinary post following degree qualification
• hold General Medical Council (GMC) registration or equivalent registration (eg GDC registration, RVCS registration, equivalent national registration outside the UK)
• have previous wet or dry lab research experience.

Applications are welcome from all medical and surgical specialties.

Postdoctoral clinical fellows at the Crick are embedded in a vibrant multidisciplinary research community of more than 1000 scientists carrying out research to improve our understanding of health and disease.

Fellows have full access to the Crick postdoc training programme. They benefit from clinical academic networking opportunities and an extensive seminar programme including Crick lectures, interest group seminars and symposia. They also have access to comprehensive training and career development activities including technical training via our science technology platforms, science communication and grant writing.

Route 1

For fellows to be considered for a fully-funded postdoctoral career development fellowship for clinicians.

Route 1 funding is available through:

• The Crick
• The Crick in partnership with the Rosetrees Trust – for clinicians focussing on translational research with the potential to benefit patients
• The Crick in partnership with Kidney Research UK – for clinicians focusing on research that will improve earlier diagnosis, prevention or treatment of kidney disease and those at risk of kidney disease

Candidates are advised to contact our research group leaders before applications open to make enquiries and discuss their application.

Short-listed candidates are invited to a panel interview with selected Crick faculty. During the interview, candidates are asked to give a short presentation on their previous research and on their intended project.

Successful candidates receive a salary commensurate with their current experience/stage of training (up to but not including NHS consultant level). Research costs are also covered. 

Route 2

For fellows with other sources of funding (such as personal fellowships/external funding) to cover salary. Research costs may be covered by the Crick.

Applicants can submit applications for route 2 at any time. Selected Crick faculty will review candidate applications, including proposed project description and references.

PhD-qualified clinicians may also consider applying for our non-clinical postdoc programme and positions.

How to apply

Step 1

Review our opportunities and contact the research group leader(s) that you are interested in well in advance to make an enquiry and discuss your project proposal and prospective application. Please copy in crf-admin@crick.ac.uk when contacting your potential group leader host(s).

Step 2

To apply, download and complete our application form (143.6 KB, docx) and equal opportunities monitoring form (146.33 KB, docx). Email the application form, the equal opportunities form and your CV (max 4 pages) to crf-admin@crick.ac.uk.

The next application submission window is from 1 March 2026 to 30 April 2026 if you are applying for a fully funded fellowship (route 1).