MCRC-DCS Alumni Showcase

Sample tubes on a laboratory bench

On 3rd March 2022, the Manchester Cancer Research Centre (MCRC) and Division of Cancer Sciences (DCS) were joined by cancer-focused clinical and non-clinical University of Manchester PhD alumni at a range of different career stages to discuss their post-PhD career highlights and tips for current postgraduate researchers.

Professor Stephen Taylor

Professor Stephen Taylor, Head of the Division of Cancer Sciences and Leech Professor of Pharmacology, highlights the achievements of our MCRC and DCS alumni and welcomes attendees to this meeting. Click on the image to watch the video (00:04:07).

Manchester Cancer Research Centre | MCRC-DCS Alumni Showcase
We're incredibly proud of our PhD alumni and wherever their PhDs may then take them. In many cases our PhD alumni go onto successful careers in Manchester but others move onto other opportunities around the world.

Professor Stephen Taylor

Head of Division of Cancer Sciences and Leech Professor of Pharmacology

Dr Abigail Bryce-Atkinson

Dr Abigail Bryce-Atkinson, a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Advanced Radiotherapy Group, University of Manchester (UoM) discusses her career trajectory from undergraduate to postdoctoral researcher and her recommendations for other researchers. Abigail's Non-Clinical PhD (2016-20) was funded by Cancer Research UK. Click on the image to watch the video (00:5:18).

Manchester Cancer Research Centre | MCRC-DCS Alumni Showcase
I'm now employed as a postdoc on a large project called BRAINanatomy which is in collaboration with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and University Medical Centre Groningen as an international project. This is really exciting for me as I get to stay in Manchester where I've really enjoyed working but also expand my own network to other Centres.

Dr Abigail Bryce-Atkinson

Postdoctoral Researcher in the Advanced Radiotherapy Group, UoM

Dr Rebecca Lee

Dr Rebecca Lee, a current NIHR Clinical Lecturer in Medical Oncology speaks about her postgraduate research in melanoma and how this prepared her for a Clinical Lectureship and Postdoctoral Fellowship in immunology. Rebecca's Clinical Research Training Fellowship (2019-23) was funded by Cancer Research UK and based at the CRUK Manchester Institute. Click on the image to watch the video (00:03:36).

Manchester Cancer Research Centre | MCRC-DCS Alumni Showcase
The pathway for a Clinician Scientist is varied so it's important to be very flexible and start thinking early about a project for a Clinician Scientist Fellowship. It's really important to create a network of people around you who will support you and I've got that in the clinical and lab spaces.

Dr Rebecca Lee

NIHR Clinical Lecturer in Medical Oncology at UoM and prev. Postdoctoral Clinical Fellow at the Francis Crick Institute

Dr Kate Vaughan

Dr Kate Vaughan, Senior Research Programme Manager at UoM highlights her career trajectory and provides recommendations for those not seeking a traditional academic career role. Kate's Non-Clinical PhD was funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). Click on the image to watch the video (00:08:20).

Manchester Cancer Research Centre | MCRC-DCS Alumni Showcase
I co-lead the Cancer Research Project Management Network which we set up for Project Managers (PMs) based at The Christie site who have a role in oncology. There are about 50 of us now, it's grown massively, so you can always come and speak to one of the PMs to get a really good feel for what we do.

Dr Kate Vaughan

Senior Research Programme Manager, UoM (funded by Cancer Research UK & Stand Up 2 Cancer)

Dr Louise Carter

Dr Louise Carter, Clinical Senior Lecturer in the Division of Cancer Sciences and Honorary Consultant in Medical Oncology at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust moved to Manchester for her oncology training and discusses her route from PhD to a brand new role in CRUK's Centre for Drug Development. Louise's Clinical Research Training Fellowship (2012-15) was funded by a CRUK-AstraZeneca Fellowship and based in the CRUK Manchester Institute. Click on the image to watch the video (00:02:43).

Manchester Cancer Research Centre | MCRC-DCS Alumni Showcase
My real key thing is that the speed of getting a senior role is less important than the right role. [...] Spending a bit of time to get the role that you want really makes a difference.

Dr Louise Carter

Clinical Senior Lecturer in the Division of Cancer Sciences and Honorary Consultant in Medical Oncology at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust

Dr Daniel Bronder

Dr Daniel Bronder, Postdoctoral Fellow at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center joins us virtually from New York, USA, to share his research journey and key recommendations. Daniel's Non-Clinical PhD (2016-21) was funded by Wellcome. Click on the image to watch the video (00:06:27).

Manchester Cancer Research Centre | MCRC-DCS Alumni Showcase
Many USA labs do not actually advertise, the PIs who really drive their fields typically don't advertise. It's all word-of-mouth and emailing them to ask if they have positions and they would be willing to interview you.

Dr Daniel Bronder

Postdoctoral Fellow at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York

Professor Cliona Kirwan

Professor Cliona Kirwan, Clinician Scientist in Surgical Oncology and Consultant Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon shares her career trajectory and top tips for upcoming and established researchers. Cliona's Clinical Research Training Fellowship (2000-04) was funded by a Royal College of Surgeons of England Fellowship and Cancer Research Campaign (now CRUK) project grant. Click on the image to watch the video (00:07:12).

Manchester Cancer Research Centre | MCRC-DCS Alumni Showcase
My definite top tip is do it your way. People will tell you there's one way to do it or there's a best way to do it but do it your way. If you want it, you can fight for it and get it.

Professor Cliona Kirwan

Clinician Scientist in Surgical Oncology and Consultant Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon

Find out more…

Read ourĀ Alumni Stories to learn more about our cancer graduates.

Alumni Stories

From postdoctoral research to forming world-leading research groups, and clinical fellowships to leading practice-changing clinical studies, alumni from the Manchester Cancer Research Centre go on to accomplish incredible things. Find out more about some of our alumni through their stories listed below.

CRUK Manchester Centre Training Opportunities

The Cancer Research UK Manchester Centre offers a competitive and ambitious training programme for driven postgraduate researchers wishing to develop their cancer research academic careers. Explore more here.

Researcher Stories

Manchester is home to some of the best science graduates and clinicians, all working on novel, cutting-edge cancer research. Discover more about the experiences of cancer researchers in Manchester with our Researcher Stories covering all our various study programmes.