Opportunities Overview

Funding, job and studentship opportunities in synthetic and engineering biology within Cambridge and externally.

Opportunities by Category

Funding Opportunities: internal and external grant funding opportunities and other sources of funding.

Job Opportunities: a list of current and past postdoc, lecturer and senior academic roles as well as roles in Cambridge-based companies and wider opportunitites across synthetic and engineering biology.

Internships: placements outside of academia in industry, policy organisations and other environments.

Postgraduate studentships: PhD studentships, Masters courses and other postgraduate placement opportunities.

Undergraduate placement opportunities: if you are looking for a summer placement or Part II or Part III project, we can signpost to relevant synthetic and/or engineering biology labs based on your interests. Please email coordinator@engbio.cam.ac.uk.

All Opportunities

Postdoctoral Research Associate - Plant Development (Sainsbury Lab) (apply by 22 May)

Applications are invited for a Research Associate position in the group of Dr Alexander Jones at the Sainsbury Laboratory, Cambridge University. Applicants must have or be close to obtaining a PhD in Plant Biology, Biochemistry, Systems Biology, Genetics, or related field. Where a PhD has yet to...

Research Assistant/Associate Pharmacology (apply by 25 May)

Applications are invited for a full-time Postdoctoral Research Associate position in the laboratory of Dr Taufiq Rahman (https://www.phar.cam.ac.uk/research/rahman) at the Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge.

The...

Research Associate (PDN) (apply by 30 May)

Applications are invited from an enthusiastic and highly motivated researcher to join the laboratory of Prof Amanda Sferruzzi-Perri. The Sferruzzi-Perri lab (https://www.pdn.cam.ac.uk/directory/amanda-sferruzzi-perri)...

Senior Research Fellow (Material Sciences) (apply by 31 May)

Applications are invited for a Senior Research Fellow in Prof. Driscoll's team. The post is intended to support research related to the work of Prof. Driscoll on advanced memory materials and devices, and is available as a consequence of Professor Judith Driscoll being awarded a 5-year...

Research Associate (Hannon Group CRUK) (apply by 2 June)

The Hannon laboratory at the CRUK Cambridge Institute (part of the University of Cambridge) is seeking to hire a talented and motivated Research Associate for an exciting collaborative project with AstraZeneca. The post holder will develop and apply next generation lineage tracing technologies...

Next Generation Fellow, Loke Centre for Trophoblast Research (apply by 30 Jan 2026)

The Loke Centre for Trophoblast Research (CTR) was founded in 2007 as a Centre of excellence to promote scientific study of the placenta, early development and maternal-fetal interactions during pregnancy. It brings together over 30 Principal Investigators, many of whom are recognized...

Pre-announcement: Engineer next generation veterinary vaccine technology platforms (aply by 16 September)

A joint BBSRC-Defra programme aims to fund ‘plug and play’ veterinary vaccine platforms, leveraging transformative technologies, interdisciplinary approaches, and cross-sector partnerships, focusing on entire platform technology pipeline from antigen discovery to delivery and underpinned by...

UKRI policy fellowships 2025 (apply by 15 July)

Spend 18 months as a UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) core policy fellow, a Natural Hazards and Resilience policy fellow or a What Works Innovation fellow to inform policy to address pressing national and

...

Centre for Climate Repair Studentship (Engineering) (apply by 16 May)

We face a climate change crisis, and it is now accepted that we not only need to dramatically reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, but that we also need to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. The Forse Group in the Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry are working on "direct air capture...

Senior Scientific Associate (CRUK Pre-Clinical Genome Editing team) (apply by 4 May)

At the CRUK Cambridge Institute, we perform world leading science which focuses on positively impacting cancer patients' lives. In the Pre-Clinical Genome Editing team, our mission is to exploit technology, working collaboratively with researchers to enable meaningful advances in understanding...

Research Assistant (Jackson Group) (apply by 1 May)

The Steve Jackson laboratory (https://www.stevejacksonlab.org/) at the internationally renowned CRUK Cambridge Institute, https://www.cruk.cam.ac.uk/ (University of Cambridge), is seeking to recruit a bright...

Post-Doctoral Researcher Plant Sciences (apply by 22 April)

An exciting opportunity is available for a Postdoctoral Researcher to join the group of Prof. Jake Harris at the Department of Plant Sciences. The laboratory is situated on the Downing Site in Cambridge and houses state-of-the-art facilities. The project is part of a pioneering new effort to...

Research Assistant MRC Mitochondrial Unit (apply by 7 May)

The Medical Research Council Mitochondrial Biology Unit (MRC MBU), University of Cambridge wishes to appoint a Research Assistant to join Dr Alex Whitworth and the Mitochondrial Neurodegeneration Group. A world-renowned centre for research, the MRC MBU is a vibrant community focused on the...

Research assistant developmental mechanics Gurdon Institutue (apply by 1 June)

We are looking for a full-time Research Assistant working closely with Dr Fengtong Ji in Dr Fengzhu Xiong's lab at the Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge. The successful candidate will be involved in studies of collective cell dynamics and tissue morphogenesis during embryo development...

University Assistant Professor Pharmacology (apply by 16 May)

Applications are invited for an Assistant or Associate Professor position in the Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge with effect from 1 September 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter. The Department offers excellent facilities for teaching and research, and has particular...

Horizon Europe info days - Cluster 6 Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment (20 May)

Are you interested in research & innovation funding opportunities in the areas of food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture and environment? Join the Horizon Europe Cluster 6 Information Days to learn more a bout the topics of the forthcoming Work Programme 2025.The event will cover...

Research Associate Computer Simulations of Protein Phase Separation (apply by 14 April)

We are seeking an ambitious and talented postdoctoral research associate to join our team to work on a computational project focussed on predicting TDP-43 mutant phase separation and aggregation in the context of elucidating the molecular driving forces behind motor neurone disease. This project...

Future Leaders Fellowships: round 10 (apply by 2 April)

This scheme aims to support the most talented early career researchers and innovators who are transitioning to or establishing research

...

Knowledge transfer partnership: 2025 to 2026 (apply by 9 April)

The Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) programme allows a UK registered business or not for profit organisation, (which we will refer to collectively as the ‘business partner’ from now on) to partner with a ‘knowledge base partner’, which is either a UK...

EnterpriseTECH 2025/26 programme (apply by 30 June)

Applications are now open for EnterpriseTECH 2025/26, an entrepreneurship programme for researchers interested in exploring commercialisation and innovation. The programme is open to PhD students, postdocs, university staff, and industry professionals,...

Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellowships (close 17 September)

Research Fellowships are awarded to outstanding early-career researchers to support them to become future research leaders in engineering. Applicants must have been awarded their PhD in the last four years, and the Research Fellowship must be held at a UK...

2025 BBSRC Fellowships scheme (apply by 7 May)

Apply for funding to carry out independent research within a host laboratory and gain leadership skills. You must demonstrate appropriate and relevant research, technical or innovation experience. You are not eligible to apply if you hold or have held a post or position at lecturer level (or...

ESRC New Investigator Grants (internal apply by 14 March 25)

The ESRC have announced their New Investigator Grant scheme. This scheme is suitable for early career researchers who have yet to make the transition to be an...

ARIA: Programmable Plants - opportunity seeds (apply by 9 April)

Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) are looking to fund bold ideas within the Programmable Plants opportunity space with up to £500k each. ...

UKRI Doctoral Focal Awards in AI and Data in the Biosciences / Doctoral Focal Awards in Engineering Biology (internal deadline: 3 March)

UKRI has announced the Doctoral Focal Awards in AI...

Trinity College & Cambridge Studentships (programme begins October 2025)

Trinity College and the University of Cambridge’s new £48 million programme enabling fully funded PhDs has been launched. It is seeking the brightest minds from across the world to conduct ground-breaking research, creating the next generation of pioneering treatments, technology and services....

BBSRC Follow-on Fund 2025 (apply by 26 March)

Are you ready to take the next step in advancing your bioscience research towards impact? BBSRC Follow-on Fund is now open! Apply by 26 March for up to £800,000 to progress your research towards innovation for a new...

Wellcome Early-Career Awards (apply by 22 May)

This funding scheme supports early-career researchers from any discipline to establish their research identity and lead innovative projects that advance understanding of human life, health, and wellbeing....

Mastercard Foundation University of Cambridge Climate Resilience & Sustainability Research Fund (apply by 21 March)

We are excited to announce that the Mastercard Foundation and University of Cambridge Climate Resilience and Sustainability Research Fund 2025 Call is now open. This initiative aims to foster collaborative research between Africa and Cambridge based researchers with research...

Addressing Key Obstacles in GreenHouse Gas Removal Technologies Call (April 2025)

The Carbon Technology Research Foundation is seeking to identify and then fund research into specific scientific problems which are inhibiting the progress of biotechnological routes to greenhouse gas removals from the atmosphere and oceans.

This is a two-phase...

Funding, job and studentship opportunities in synthetic and engineering biology within Cambridge and externally.

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