Visit the Francis Crick Institute website
The Francis Crick Institute is one of Europe's biggest biomedical research institutes and is home to more than 1500 scientists working to understand health, disease and how life works
The Francis Crick Institute is dedicated to understanding the fundamental biology underlying health and disease. This state-of-the-art biomedical research facility brings together 1500 scientists and support staff working collaboratively across disciplines and encourages both scientists and the general public to find out more about what goes on inside through a range of events.
Opening in 2016, The Francis Crick Institute is a joint venture between UCL, Imperial and King’s underpinned by funding from Wellcome, the MRC and Cancer Research UK. The Crick is a world-leading institute based in London’s Knowledge Quarter, where researchers from across the partnership can work towards delivering the “Discovery without Boundaries” strategy. As a founding partner UCL, along with the other two universities, get access to The Crick via tailored mechanisms, such as the attachment scheme, the PhD programme and Crick Interest Groups.
Staff opportunities
UCL staff benefit from a variety of opportunities to work at the Crick, make connections with Crick researchers and use its facilities as well as opportunities to host Crick staff in UCL labs.
Opportunities for students
The Crick offers training and studying options from Bachelor’s to PhD level
For students still completing their undergraduate / Masters degree courses, the Crick runs a summer and sandwich programme, plus offers the opportunity for students to be hosted in a Crick lab to carry out their Bachelor’s / Masters Thesis projects. For those considering continuing their studies further, there is the PhD Programme.
PhD students at the Crick will work in a stimulating, interactive and international scientific environment with cutting edge facilities, extensive seminar series and a strong collaborative, multidisciplinary culture.
The Crick PhD Programme
A fabulous opportunity for highly motivated and exceptionally talented individuals to embark on a career in biomedical research.
Doctoral Clinical Fellows
An opportunity for clinicians to carry out innovative biomedical discovery research for three years while following the Crick's clinical PhD programme.
Other opportunities for students
The Crick offers a range of options for students wishing to gain experience in a laboratory environment, including a summer student programme, a sandwich programme
Governance
The founders of the Crick, including the three funders all have representation on the Crick Board which maintains overall oversight for the Institute. There are multiple committees that sit below the Crick Board advising on scientific direction, the partnership with the universities and finances to name a few.
Governance for the partnership at UCL is managed by the UCL@Crick Board which meets termly.
The UCL academic leads for the Francis Crick Institute are:
Professor Geraint Rees Vice-Provost (Research, Innovation & Global Engagement) and member of the Crick Institute Board of Directors
Professor Alan Thompson Pro-Provost (London) and chair of the UCL@Crick Board
Professor Frances Brodsky (Professor of Cell Biology, UCL Division of Biosciences)
UCL-related Crick activities are overseen by the UCL@Crick Board.
The overarching purpose of the UCL@Crick Board is to provide a forum for the oversight and coordination of UCL's involvement in the Francis Crick Institute, and for discussion and scrutiny of UCL-specific issues received from and/or for escalation to the relevant internal and external groups and committees
Its membership is drawn from across UCL.
- Alan Thompson (Chair), Pro Provost London
- Geraint Thomas, Education
- Frances Brodsky , Crick Academic Lead / (UAPC) Representative
- Emma Tobin, Vice-Dean (Research), Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences
- Gail Taylor, Dean, Faculty of Life Sciences
- Marc-Olivier Coppens , Vice Dean for Interdisciplinary (Innovation), Faculty of Engineering
- Emma Morris, Dean, Faculty of Medical Sciences
- Jamie Baker , Chemistry Representative
- Giampietro Schiavo, Deputy Director, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences
- Simon Walker-Samuels , Vice-Dean (Research), Faculty of Medical Sciences
- Ibrahim Abubakar, Vice Provost (Health)
- Sam Janes , Deputy Crick Academic Lead – UAPC Representative
- Deepan Banati, Director of Finance Business Partnering – Academic
- Elspeth Latimer, Head of Strategic Health Partnerships
- Charles Marson , Head of HR – Life and Medical Sciences
- Steve Wilson , University Liaison / Associate Research Director, Francis Crick Institute
- Claire Glen, Director of Research and Innovation Services
- Ruth Bird (Crick), Crick Partnership Manager
- Matt Wakelin — Research Coordination Office
- Lydai Emmott, Senior Administrator Health Partnerships – Minutes
- Pamela Tranter — Translational Research Office
The overarching purpose of the UCL@Crick Board is to provide a forum for the oversight and coordination of UCL’s involvement in the Francis Crick Institute, and for discussion and scrutiny of UCL-specific issues received from and/or for escalation to the relevant internal and external groups and committees.
- To ensure appropriate governance of the project for UCL, and monitor progress against objectives, timelines, project resources, budget and risks.
- Ensure the partnership is managed in line with appropriate UCL policies and procedures, demonstrating best practice and ensuring realisation of benefits for UCL.
- Maintain awareness of broader policy and strategic developments within UCL that may impact on the partnership.
- Receive, advise on and resolve UCL-specific issues arising from the relevant Boards providing relevant solutions and guidance as required.Ensure appropriate onward reporting to senior decision-making bodies and structures within UCL.
- Communicate any new initiatives associated with, and general progress of, the partnership to relevant internal and external stakeholders.
Timing and Frequency
Termly for up to 90 minutes.
UCL UMC: update from Vice Provost (Health)
Crick: via UCL representatives at the following:
- Crick Board
- University and Academic Partnership Committee which has representatives from the partner universities (UCL, Imperial and King's) and the Francis Crick Institute as well as the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute.
Get in touch
Email us with questions or comments relating to UCL's engagement with the Crick Institute and we will direct your query to the relevant staff representative.
UCL staff only
Find out about Crick/ UCL run partnership programmes and new opportunities
UCL@Crick Sharepoint