Director recruitment launched

The Babraham Institute provides a world-class environment for internationally-leading life science research. The Institute’s fundamental cellular and molecular research is supported by Institute Strategic Programme (ISP) grant funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC; part of UK Research and Innovation) and from other research councils, the EU, medical charities and industry. In line with the BBSRC’s Strategic Priority: Bioscience for an Integrated Understanding of Health, the Institute’s long-term vision for its research is to secure lifelong health for everyone and correspondingly, the Institute’s research has a strategic focus on understanding the basic molecular processes that maintain lifelong health and their decline with age. The Institute’s research is organised into three research programmes (ISPs): epigenetics, signalling and lymphocyte signalling and development. There is a strong commitment to excellence across the Institute’s activities and culture – in research quality, scientific facilities, knowledge exchange, personal development, training, and equality and diversity.

Having served as Director of the Institute for more than a decade, Professor Michael Wakelam very sadly passed away at the end of March. The Institute is now looking to appoint an internationally-recognised researcher and accomplished scientific leader as its Director. The successful candidate will be responsible for designing and delivering an ambitious future strategy for the Institute, and building on its current position, creating new opportunities for the Institute to achieve excellence and impact. The new Director is also expected to be an active contributor to the research output of the Institute, leading their own internationally-competitive research team.

The Institute holds a silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance the representation of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics and has its own equality and diversity programme to ensure an inclusive and diverse culture.

The Institute has engaged Perrett Laver to support the Board of Trustees in this appointment. Further information, including a detailed role description and person specification, can be downloaded at https://candidates.perrettlaver.com/vacancies/, using reference number 3893. For informal enquiries about the role, please contact Dr Urvashi Ramphul at Urvashi.Ramphul@perrettlaver.com or on +(0)207 340 6280.

Applications should consist of a letter of application together with a curriculum vitae and a publications list, and details (email and telephone) of three referees who may be consulted.

The closing date for applications is 12 noon GMT on Monday 23^rd November. The full field of candidates will be subsequently reviewed by the Board. Longlisted candidates will be invited to interview with Perrett Laver and the final shortlist of candidates will be invited to visit the Institute. Dates for formal interviews will be confirmed in due course.