About us

The Division of Biosciences at UCL is a major centre for research and teaching in the biological sciences, fostering fundamental, innovative research that spans molecules to ecosystems. Within Biosciences, the Research Department of Cell & Developmental Biology (CDB) is internationally recognised for fundamental research into the principles that govern the behaviour and organisation of individual cells during life, growth and development.

CDB combines experimental and computational approaches to study biological processes across scales, from molecular interactions and cellular organisation to tissues, organisms and multicellular systems. Much of our research crosses traditional disciplinary boundaries, bringing together cell biology, developmental biology, biophysics, mathematics, quantitative imaging, modelling and machine learning. Our research is supported by outstanding core facilities, including advanced microscopy and imaging platforms and close links with UCL's Advanced Research Computing (ARC) Centre. Educational activity includes a range of undergraduate programmes, an expanding number of Masters Programmes and a substantial number of postgraduate research students.

We are recruiting a Lecturer/Assistant Professor or Associate Professor who applies cutting-edge machine learning, artificial intelligence and related computational biology to fundamental biological problems.

About the role

Biology is undergoing a profound transformation driven by advances in machine learning, artificial intelligence and computational modelling. Increasingly, the challenge is not simply to generate larger datasets, but to develop predictive and mechanistic understanding of living systems. A long-term ambition for modern biology is to build quantitative models that can explain, predict and eventually anticipate the behaviour of cells, tissues and organisms.

To address this opportunity, CDB seeks to appoint an outstanding academic colleague who will establish an ambitious research and teaching programme applying artificial intelligence, machine learning and computational approaches to fundamental questions in cell and developmental biology.

We welcome applicants developing innovative approaches across a broad range of areas, including but not limited to machine learning, generative and foundation models for biology, digital twins, mechanistic and hybrid modelling, statistical inference, or AI-enabled experimental design. We are particularly interested in candidates whose work tightly integrates computational and experimental biology, while also welcoming researchers developing novel computational methods with broad biological applicability.

The successful candidate will establish or grow an independent, internationally competitive and collaborative research programme within CDB. They will work closely with colleagues across Biosciences and the wider university, including researchers in computer science, mathematics, engineering, health and UCL's growing AI ecosystem.

The post holder will be expected to secure competitive research funding, supervise and mentor postgraduate researchers, and take a full part in research-led teaching across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. They will also contribute to strategic leadership in computational and AI-driven biology across CDB and UCL.

Interview Date(s) are scheduled for: September 2026.

This appointment is subject to UCL Terms and Conditions of Service for Academic Staff. Please visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/human-resources/policies/2021/jun/conditions-service-academic-staff for more information.

A job description and person specification can be accessed at the bottom of this page.

If you have any queries about the role, in the first instance please contact Professor Robert Insall ( R.Insall@ucl.ac.uk ) or Professor Sandip Patel ( patel.s@ucl.ac.uk ). If you need reasonable adjustments or a more accessible format to apply for this job online or have any queries about the application process, please contact the FLS HR team on fls.hr@ucl.ac.uk

About you

You will have a PhD or equivalent qualification in computational biology, quantitative biology, computer science, applied mathematics, biophysics, engineering, statistics or a related discipline, together with an innovative research agenda that seeks to apply artificial intelligence and computational approaches to fundamental biological questions.

You will have an established track record (Grade 9) or clear potential (Grade 8) to develop an internationally recognised research programme, attract competitive external funding and contribute to interdisciplinary collaborations. You will also have experience of, or a strong commitment to, research-led teaching at undergraduate and/or postgraduate level.

You will demonstrate the ability to work across disciplinary boundaries and to translate advances in computation, machine learning and AI into new biological understanding. We particularly welcome applicants who will actively engage with colleagues across CDB and neighbouring departments specifically the Research Department of Structural and Molecular Biology and the Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology. The expectation is to develop new interdisciplinary approaches to fundamental biological problems, and to contribute to an ambitious and collaborative academic environment.

What we offer

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:

• Grade 8-9 salary £54,931 - £76,244 inclusive of London allowance
• 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
• Additional 5 days' annual leave purchase scheme
• Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
• Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
• Immigration loan and expenses
• Relocation scheme for certain posts
• On-Site nursery
• On-site gym
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
• Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
• Discounted medical insurance

Visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/reward-and-benefits to find out more.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

As London's Global University, we know that diversity and inclusion are fundamental drivers of creativity, innovation, and excellence, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world's talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong, thrive, and reach our full potential. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL's workforce. These include people from Black, Asian, and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women'.

Our department holds an Athena SWAN Silver award, in recognition of our commitment to advancing gender equality. You can read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion here: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/equality-diversity-inclusion/ .