Working Here

The combination of a collaborative LMB culture and freely-shared, state-of-the-art facilities creates unrivalled opportunities for early career and established researchers. The LMB has space to accommodate more than 600 people, with approximately 440 scientists and 160 support staff. Being part of the MRC, LMB members have access to extensive career development programmes including apprenticeships and MRC training courses.

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“There have been very good institutions that have tried to capture the flavour and spirit but they haven’t got it.”

Joan Steitz FRS – discoverer of snRNPs, on the LMB

LMB employees also enjoy opportunities for flexible working, an excellent pension scheme, numerous well-being initiatives and up to 30 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays and 2.5 privilege days. The LMB is committed to supporting all of our staff, including those with family responsibilities, through the MRC’s shared parental leave policy and access to the My Family Care service.

We aim to recruit the best people irrespective of nationality, ethnic origin or gender and host a lively international community of researchers from over 50 different countries. We are proud to be both an Equal Opportunities and a Disability Confident employer.

In 2013, the LMB moved to a new, purpose-built building designed to deliver the right environment in which innovative medical research, translation and collaboration can flourish. We have sought, above all, to preserve the culture that is the hallmark of the LMB.

MRC Pay

In order to promote fairness for all, the MRC has a straightforward 7 band pay structure. Each band is split into 3 sections and progression through these sections is clearly defined and based on experience and competency within the role. All MRC employees are eligible to be considered for the Special Awards Scheme which provides a non-consolidated, taxable lump sum payment based on excellent performance.

Pensions

The MRC has an excellent pension scheme that provides generous benefits linked to your career averaged salary and service. It is an important part of your remuneration package as it helps give you and your family financial security and protection, both now and in the future. Membership is great value for money as your employer currently pays 16% of payroll towards the provision of retirement benefits for its staff, which is significantly more than members are asked to pay.

MRC & Me

The MRC is committed to supporting all of its staff by providing employees with a great benefits package. This includes access to our Cycle to Work scheme, interest-free season train ticket loan and to the Research Councils UK discounts site which allows MRC staff to save on a whole host of essentials such as grocery shopping, cinema visits, fashion shopping and a lot more.

The MRC also has an Employee Assistance Programme that offers free, confidential advice on a range of matters including work-life balance, practical support relating to issues such as finances, debt and legal matters and emotional well-being support.

Annual leave allowances

MRC employees receive 30 days annual leave per year which is pro-rated for part-time workers. They also receive 8 public holidays and 2.5 additional annual leave days distributed throughout the year.

Development

In order for the LMB to achieve its goal of understanding biological processes at the molecular level, we train and develop our staff enabling them to become the scientific leaders of the future.

The LMB International PhD programme nurtures the next generation of brilliant scientific minds, providing them with rewarding research projects, access to world-class facilities and a supportive environment. For more information please see our Student pages

The LMB also offers a range of development opportunities such as apprenticeships and postdoctoral career schemes . Both new and established researchers are encouraged to utilise the LMB’s in-house expertise to gain hands-on experience with the latest techniques.

All of our employees can benefit from access to the extensive range of MRC training courses, and the interdisciplinary, collaborative culture that is unique to the LMB.

Supporting families

The MRC strives to accommodate flexible working including part-time positions, wherever possible, and encourages managers to consider a flexible approach to working patterns.

Policies

The MRC aims to be at the forefront of modern employment practices, supporting changes in the workplace which will assist employees with family life. Our policies regarding maternity, maternity support, adoptive, shared parental and parental leave aspire to allow both female and male scientists to balance their work and family responsibilities. The MRC offers up to a year of shared parental leave, of which six months is with full pay, and male or female tenure-track Group Leaders may defer their tenure decision to compensate.

Childcare

LMB employees can take advantage of childcare benefits which allow individuals to make savings on the cost of childcare. There is childcare on the Addenbrooke’s hospital site (adjacent to the LMB) and there are several other nurseries in Cambridge which will take children from six months or younger. Other alternatives can be found here. The local area also has many primary schools, secondary schools and sixth form colleges.

My Family Care

The MRC’s My Family Care service provides support to working parents and carers including the provision of 6 free backup care sessions that can be used to arrange emergency childcare, school holiday cover or backup adult and eldercare.

Recruitment practice

UKRI is proud to be an Equal Opportunities employer and is committed to ensuring that all individuals have equal opportunities for employment and advancement on the basis of their qualification and ability. UKRI has also been awarded the Disability Confident Symbol by Jobcentre Plus. The symbol identifies those employers who have agreed to meet five commitments regarding the recruitment, employment, retention and career development of disabled people.