Young outstanding cancer researchers based in China are invited to apply for a 3-years UK postdoctoral position supported by the China Fellows Programme.

Background
Cancer Research UK is the leading supporter of cancer research in Britain and the largest fundraising medical research charity in Europe. We support a broad portfolio of cancer research across all the biomedical disciplines and we fund over 500 research groups in British universities and medical schools, as well as our own Institutes.

Cancer Research UK has run a China Fellows programme since 2005. This annual competitive scheme enables outstanding young Chinese postdoctoral researchers (both non-clinically and clinically qualified) to obtain a further three years of postdoctoral training in leading cancer research centres in the UK. For the last three years, successful applicants have been appointed to many of Cancer Research UK's core-funded institutes and supported research groups.

Objectives
This programme will serve a number of objectives:

• to provide Chinese scientists with a three year postdoctoral training period to develop skills and international experience;
• to allow Cancer Research UK investigators to recruit well-trained, highly motivated and very able postdoctoral and clinical fellows;
• to ensure UK researchers engage with the best science around the world.

Eligibility
Applicants will have shown exceptional promise in their early work in a cancer-relevant field. They should have a PhD, preferably within the last five years, in a discipline relevant to cancer research from a leading Chinese University. Applicants must be competent in written and spoken English.

Applicants have to be based in China during the application period. Chinese scientists currently living outside China are not eligible.

We appreciate that in some of the cancer research areas there might not be many existing training opportunities in China (for example, scientists who wish to pursuit career in epidemiology and population-based medical research). Your application will not be disadvantaged if you are interested in the research which is different from your research background. However, in these circumstances, please justify the reason why you would like to make such changes and provide evidence that you have prior interest in this field.

Location
Host research groups include those at the Cancer Research UK core-funded Institutes in Manchester (the Paterson Institute), Glasgow (the Beatson Institute for Cancer Research) or Oxford (the Gray Institute for Radiation Oncology & Biology). Many other Cancer Research UK-funded research groups across the UK are also eligible hosts.

Please see the lists of locations (i.e., Belfast, Birmingham, Cambridge, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Oxford and Sheffield) above for information of available vacancies and project details.

Duration and funding
These Fellowships will provide three years' support including the salary for the fellow, appropriate running expenses and an annual allowance for travel to China. The starting salary will be not less than £25,550 per annum (plus location allowance £3,750 for Fellows in inner London). The Fellowships are not renewable.

Selection criteria
Applicants will be short-listed by a group of Chinese and UK experts, then interviewed in Beijing by a distinguished international selection panel. The interview panel will make final decision for the successful applicants on where they will be located, taking into consideration the Fellow's preferences and their research background.

Number of awards
We anticipate that up to 5 Fellowships will be available for this year. The Fellowships can start at any time from September 2009 onwards.

Application procedures and deadlines
See How to apply for a China Fellowship (also available from the link at the top of the page) - you must complete Part 1 (an online form) and Part 2 (Word document).

Two references must be sent to the UK before the deadline - applicants are required to arrange this.

Please read the application guidelines before completing the form. For further information about the programme, please contact China Fellows Helpdesk.

The deadline for receipt of applications is 9 February 2009. Applicants will be short-listed by early April 2009. Interview will take place at Beijing in May 2009.