As a board or panel member you will use your knowledge and insight to help MRC invest in high-quality and impactful research, innovation and training. You will also provide input into our strategy, including through interactions with other boards and panels and MRC’s advisory structures, including overview groups.
As it is not possible for individuals to provide in-depth expertise across all specialities, members will collectively participate in discussions and help provide advice in other areas, sharing responsibility for decisions of the board or panel.
Infections and Immunity Board (IIB): five vacancies
IIB is responsible for MRC’s investments investigating human infectious diseases and disorders of the human immune system, underpinned by fundamental discovery research into human pathogens and the development and functioning of the human immune system in the context of human disease.
The board has particular interests in tissue immunology, immune regulation, solutions for antimicrobial resistance, and understudied, emerging or re-emerging pathogens and funds research both with a focus on the UK and in the global health arena. Further information on the remit of the Infections and Immunity Board.
We have up to five vacancies in the following areas.
Bacteriology and microbiology
We are looking for applicants with clinical expertise in bacterial infection, pathogenesis and treatment or antimicrobial resistance. Applicants with experience of working in low and middle-income country settings would be particularly valuable.
Cellular immunology (two vacancies)
We are looking for applicants with expertise in any of the following:
- T-cell biology (particularly basic T-cell biology)
- cytokines
- NK cell
- immune deficiency
- mucosal immunology
- bridging innate and adaptive immunity
Clinical immunology expertise is vital for the board and we encourage clinically active individuals to apply.
Virology and viral diseases
We are looking for applicants with a focus on physiology, pathogenesis or virus-host interactions and host response, ideally covering RNA viruses or retroviruses.
Bioinformatics
We are looking for applicants with expertise in machine learning, statistical modelling, big data mining, and omics approaches in an infection and immunity context.
We are particularly interested in applications from clinically-qualified applicants, those who have an active interest in global health or zoonoses. We have a substantial portfolio of global health research and direct experience of working in resource-limited settings would bring valuable insight.
Similarly, we welcome applicants with expertise in structural and spatial biology, diagnostic and therapeutic discovery or co-morbidities and co-infection of relevance to our activities.
Molecular and Cellular Medicine Board (MCMB): three vacancies
MCMB is responsible for MRC’s investments:
- seeking to understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms that underpin complex biological function in human health and disease
- supporting the early translation of knowledge towards new diagnosis and treatment, and changes to policy and practice
We have particular interest in understanding dynamic biological systems across space and time, the link with external exposures and research maximising opportunities at the life-physical science interface.
We invite applications from clinical and non-clinical researchers and from industry. See further information on the remit of the MCMB.
We have up to three vacancies in the following areas.
Cancer molecular and cell biology
We are looking for several candidates with expertise in underpinning cancer cell biology, pathological molecular mechanisms, and tumour microenvironment. This could include, but is not limited to, complex cancer models or model organisms, expertise in DNA damage pathways and translational oncology research.
Structural biology
We are looking for candidates with expertise in structure-function studies as well as strong skills in a broad range of biophysical methods and integrated structural approaches.
Neurosciences and Mental Health Board (NMHB): five vacancies
NMHB is responsible for MRC’s investments in disorders of the human nervous system. This includes fundamental research into the human nervous system, which:
- informs our understanding of the mechanism of disease
- supports early translation of knowledge towards new diagnosis and treatment and changes to policy and practice
We have particular interest in addressing the challenges of mental illness and neurodegenerative diseases and exploring what we can learn from the direct study of human brain tissue to gain insight into the function or dysfunction of the human brain. See further information on the remit of the NMHB.
We invite applications from clinical and non-clinical researchers and from industry. Industry applicants should have broad expertise in therapeutic development with a focus on research needs in early translation.
We have up to five vacancies in the following areas.
Cognitive neuroscience
We are looking for applicants with expertise in imaging technologies, sensory neuroscience or behavioural neuroscience.
Mental health
We are looking for applicants with expertise in one or more of the following areas:
- genetics or genomics
- clinical psychiatry
- childhood and adolescent disorders
- translational approaches
- experimental medicine
Neurodegeneration (two vacancies)
We are looking for applicants with expertise in cellular and molecular neurodegeneration or translational research.
Neuropharmacology
We are looking for applicants with expertise in translational approaches or experimental medicine.
We are particularly interested in applicants who have expertise in:
- animal models, including drosophila and zebrafish
- modelling approaches
- translational neuroscience
Knowledge of a range of non-invasive biophysical techniques will be an advantage.
Population and Systems Medicine Board (PSMB): six vacancies
PSMB supports mechanistic and applied research relating to the physiology and pathophysiology of major human organs and systems (except the brain, neurology and the immune system). This includes population health and the impact of environmental factors on health and disease across the life course. See further information on the remit of the PSMB.
We invite applications from individuals with broad expertise, including clinical and non-clinical researchers and from industry. We welcome applications from those working in Europe or a low and middle-income countries.
We have up to six vacancies in the following areas.
Inflammation
We are looking for applicants with expertise in resolution of inflammation and cellular mechanisms of inflammatory disease.
Population health sciences and epidemiology
We are looking for applicants with a strong background in data science and expertise in areas, such as:
- digital and e-health
- bioinformatics and predictive modelling
- artificial intelligence or machine learning approaches
Reproductive health
We are looking for applicants with expertise in obstetrics and gynaecology and with clinical expertise in maternal health.
Respiratory medicine
We are looking for applicants with expertise in public health or mechanistic understanding of extrinsic drivers of respiratory illness. Expertise in pre-clinical and clinical trials is advantageous.
Gastroenterology
We are looking for applicants with expertise in gastrophysiology and mechanisms of gastrointestinal disease.
Child health
We are looking for applicants with broad-ranging expertise that may cover any of the above research areas.
Applied Global Health Research Board (AGHRB): two vacancies
AGHRB supports practical and impactful research addressing global health challenges and inequities. The board’s remit includes late-stage intervention development and testing, implementation science, scale-up research and cross-sector, multidisciplinary research.
You should have experience of working in low or middle-income country settings, and of working on research projects that seek to impact policy and practice to improve health globally. See further information on the remit of AGHRB.
We have two vacancies.
Industry representation
We are looking for applicants that are currently employed within industry with strong experience in applied global health research.
Global public health
We are looking for applicants with expertise in quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods approaches that include co-production and co-design of contextually relevant solutions for pressing global health issues.
We are particularly interested in methodological expertise for high quality and inclusive participatory research, stakeholder and community engagement, and translation into policy and practice.
You should be able to demonstrate an understanding of core strategic principles for global health, including:
- the importance of health equity in a global context
- research capacity strengthening
- community engagement
- co-design and co-production of research projects that are potentially sustainable and impactful
- equitable partnerships
We encourage applicants from low and middle-income countries to apply.
We are looking for applicants to contribute their understanding of:
- conducting research that has the potential to be of benefit to the most vulnerable populations globally
- how that research can translate into near-term health benefits, in particular with respect to the role of the private sector
Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme (DPFS) Panel: five vacancies
DPFS is MRC’s primary mechanism for supporting translational research. The DPFS Panel is responsible for supporting academic-led projects to progress fundamental and clinical research findings towards clinical use, wider health application and commercialisation.
DPFS supports a broad spectrum of activities from the development of novel therapies and interventions, devices, and diagnostics through to early-phase clinical studies. Projects are goal-orientated and milestone are monitored with clearly defined outcomes and downstream development plans. See further information on the remit of DPFS.
We have up to five vacancies for applicants with academic or industry translational expertise in at least one of the following areas:
- artificial intelligence related to image analysis, for example in diagnostics, triage tools, and personalised medicine
- artificial intelligence and digital health with experience of software or app development
- technical and clinical validation of biomarkers and development of diagnostic tests
- respiratory medicine with expertise in diagnostics, particularly in relation to global health
- preclinical drug development, including pharmacology and biologics development
We particularly welcome applications from clinically active researchers, researchers based in industry and those with knowledge of the relevant investment landscape. Given the breadth of DPFS applications, panel members are required to help cover areas outside of their primary expertise.
Experimental Medicine Panel: seven vacancies
MRC’s Experimental Medicine Panel provides dedicated support for investigations in humans to further our understanding of human disease pathogenesis and enable the future development of new targeted treatments.
We invest in academic-led projects that focus on a mechanistic hypothesis, such as:
- probing pathogenic mechanisms
- identifying disease sub-groups
- confirming tractable disease pathways for targeting
- validating human challenge models
We fund applications in all disease areas and types of interventions. See further information on the remit of the Experimental Medicine Panel.
We have up to seven vacancies for applicants with academic or industry experimental medicine expertise in the following areas:
- endocrinology or renal medicine
- metabolism
- reproductive health
- neurology
- respiratory medicine
- immunology and infectious disease
- statistics with specific expertise in clinical trial design and experimental medicine studies
- liver disease or nephrology
To increase the membership diversity, we particularly welcome applications from researchers based at research organisations in Wales and Northern Ireland.
Equipment Panel: four vacancies
MRC’s Equipment Panel plays a key role in providing vital underpinning funding to support word-class laboratories across the UK. Its primary function is to assess applications to MRC’s annual mid-range equipment funding opportunity (MRC Equip) but may also assess other opportunities as required. The panel spans the entire MRC remit across all research areas, from basic to translational and clinical research.
The panel consists of technical and scientific experts from across MRC remit and across the UK, including research technical professionals. The panel reports to MRC’s Infrastructure and Capital Advisory Group.
We have up to four vacancies for applicants with expertise in either or both of the following areas.
A technology specialist in one of the following areas (in the context of biomedical research):
- microscopy
- single-cell, spatial and multiomics
- flow cytometry
- mass spectrometry
- medical and pre-clinical imaging
An academic specialist in one of the following areas:
- cancer
- neuroscience
- infection and immunology
- drug discovery and development
- structural biology
- clinical research
We welcome applications from both academics and research technical professionals. We are particularly keen to receive applications from clinical researchers.
Training and career development panels
MRC is seeking applications from researchers with an excellent track record and a keen interest in supporting early-career researchers, through fellowship awards targeting key career transitions and outstanding and novel research topics.
You must have expertise to robustly assess the experimental design and methodology aspects of funding applications (including animal or human studies) and be willing to contribute to the interviewing of trainees (where applicable) across a broad range of disciplines.
Clinical Training and Career Development Panel: four vacancies
The panel assesses applications to our range of clinical fellowships, designed to support talented researchers wishing to pursue a clinical academic career.
Panel members contribute to assessments and interviews across all our remit and interest areas, addressing research questions from fundamental science to early clinical trials and preventive medicine.
We have up to four vacancies for applicants who would bring expertise in one or more of the following areas:
- imaging or ‘omics and computational approaches (two vacancies)
- neuroscience and neurology
- clinical trials methodology and qualitative based research
We encourage applications from across the spectrum of healthcare professions, from those working in primary, secondary or community care and public health. However, it is not a pre-requisite to be clinically qualified to be a member of the panel.
Non-Clinical Training and Career Development Panel: three vacancies
The panel assesses applications to our non-clinical fellowships. Panel members contribute to assessments and interviews across the full range of our work.
We have up to three vacancies for applicants who would bring expertise in one or more of the following areas:
- infection
- neuroscience
- industry, computational biology or genomics
We particularly welcome applicants with experience of clinically oriented research, working with industry or research involving human participation.
Commitment requirements
The average time spent by members on board or panel work is about two days a month for all activities. However, meetings and preparatory work need to take place at specific times across the year.
New members will initially be appointed for two years. Membership will be extended for a further two years following review by us with the relevant chair.
Research boards and panels meet one, two or three times a year and there is an expectation that members attend every meeting. Most meetings take place over two days.
We operate a rotation of in-person and virtual meetings, aiming to offer networking and efficiency and you will be notified about the format and location of your meeting as soon as possible. When meetings are in-person, hybrid options are made available for people who need reasonable adjustments.
We ask all applicants to hold the induction and initial board and panel meeting dates for 2025 to ensure attendance if appointed. These can be found in the Further info section.
Remuneration
An allowance is payable per day for participation at meetings (the current rate is £160 per day). Travel (standard class) and subsistence expenses (including family care costs) will be reimbursed as appropriate.
