Lecturer/Associate Professor in Artificial Intelligence for Biomolecular Design & Molecular Interactions

Faculty of Life Sciences, Division of Biosciences

Job Description

Lecturer/Associate Professor in AI for Biomolecular Design & Molecular Interactions

Department: Structural & Molecular Biology

Reports to

Professor Franca Fraternali (Head of Research Department of Structural & Molecular Biology)

Context

University College London (UCL) is one of the world's leading universities, ranked 9 th

Grade: 8 (Lecturer) or 9 (Associate Professor)

Location: London, Bloomsbury campus globally (QS World University Rankings 2026). Founded in 1826, it was established to widen access to education and to connect academic excellence with real-world impact, an ethos that continues today through strong links to policy, practice, and innovation across London and beyond. UCL now hosts more than 50,000 students and 18,000 staff and has produced over 30 Nobel laureates.

The Faculty of Life Sciences brings together cutting-edge research and teaching across the biological and biomedical sciences, pharmacy, and neuroscience. Its work addresses major global challenges, including disease, climate change, sustainability, technological change and the data revolution, and inequality. We are ranked 1 st in Europe for Biology in Edurank, 6th globally for Life Sciences, 9 th for Biological Sciences, and 3 rd for Pharmacy & Pharmacology (QS World University Rankings by Subject

2026). The Faculty comprises four academic Divisions: the School of Pharmacy, Biosciences, the Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour and the Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit and includes specialist teaching facilities at the Cruciform Teaching Laboratories.

Biosciences is one of the largest Divisions within UCL with 600 staff and 2040 undergraduate and postgraduate taught students, and a leading centre for research and teaching in the biological sciences. It brings together one of the UK’s largest and most diverse life sciences communities, with strong integration across experimental, field, and computational approaches. Research spans evolutionary and population genetics, ecology and the environment, cell and developmental biology,

computational biology, neuroscience, and structural and molecular biology. This work is supported by advanced scientific infrastructure and platforms

NMR, mass spectrometry, molecular biology postgraduate research students integrated within doctoral research programmes Across its five Research Departments, UCL's Division of Biosciences runs one of the UK's broadest computational and AI-driven life-science programmes and statistical inference are now applied to fundamental questions across the Division's full scope; from genome and protein modelling to cellular imaging, neural circuit dynamics, and planetary-scale biodiversity. Sustained recruitment at the computational/biological interface has built a community where theory, code and experiment sit alongside each other, and that work is now being consolidated under a single AI for Life framework, with coordinated investment in academic posts, computational infrastructure, and training.

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Research Department of Structural and Molecular Biology (SMB) within UCL Division of Biosciences.

environment of international standing where important and exciting areas of modern biology, biophysics, biochemistry, biotechnology and medicine are investigated at the atomic, molecular, cellular and organism level.

Main purpose of the job

This is an exciting opportunity to become a Lecturer/Associate Professor at UCL. The successful candidate will take an active role in the Research Department of Structural & Molecular Biology (SMB), developing international standard, competitive research programme, conducting teaching and training of undergraduate and postgraduate students, and supporting the Departmental vision of creating an impact on the life of the University and the society.

The successful candidate will establish (at Grade 8) or expand (at Grade 9) a research and teaching programme centred on original, AI-driven for on molecular recognition and interaction engineering. An in biosciences is the development of predictive and generative models of biomolecular interactions, spanning protein–ligand, protein–protein, and acid approaches that integrate structural, thermodynamic and to model binding specificity, affinity, and conformational dynamics, and on translating these insights into (including light, electron and cryoEM microscopy, and genomics) and a large community of 350

. Modern machine learning, generative modelling

SMB provides a stimulating and diverse research approaches biomolecular design, with a focus exciting development AI-driven protein–nucleic systems. Next-generation sequence-level information the rational design of novel molecules and interaction networks, will enable precise control of biomolecular interactions and functions. We are particularly interested in candidates with a track record of developing innovative approaches combining elements of structural biology, biophysics, quantitative biology and machine learning, to understand and design interactions between proteins, small molecules, and nucleic acids. This new research programme will be fully embedded within research activities of SMB, providing opportunities of fruitful interactions between experimentalist and theoreticians, shaping and expanding new research directions. The postholder will play a pivotal role in SMB’s teaching activities, contributing teaching in relevant areas (e.g. computational biology, AI and structural bioinformatics, protein-nucleic acid/small molecule interactions, protein/biomolecular design) at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, including a new cross-division MRes AI for Bioscience.

Duties and responsibilities

Research Excellence and Leadership

• Carry out world-class research and produce high quality publications, or other research outputs, in line with personal objectives agreed in the staff review process
• Generate external income to support this research programme
• Participate in departmental, divisional and Faculty seminars as appropriate
• Share research outcomes and build interdisciplinary collaboration within and outside the Division
• Provide training and supervision for research students
• Develop productive links with staff undertaking relevant research elsewhere in UCL and to establish external collaborations both nationally and internationally Education, Teaching and Talent Development
• Teach at undergraduate and/or graduate level in areas allocated and reviewed from time to time
• Contribute to the development, planning and implementation of a high-quality curriculum
• Add expertise and provide leadership in development of the degree programme
• Assist in the development of learning materials, preparing schemes of work and maintaining records
• To monitor students progress, achievement and attendance
• Participate in the development, administration and marking of exams and other assessments
• Provide pastoral care and academic support to students
• Participate in the administration o programmes of study and other activities as requested Enterprise and External Engagement
• Engage In a range of knowledge transfer and/or public engagement activities Institutional Citizenship
• Successful and effective contribution to the achievement of UCL’s strategic goals General
• The post-holder will carry out any other duties as are within the scope, job as requested by the line manager (Head of Research Department), Divisional Director, Faculty Dean or other appropriate colleagues. They will take responsibility to carry out duties in a way that embodies UCL's environmental and social sustainability values, actively supporting UCL's Sustainability Strategy, policies and objectives
• Maintain a good working knowledge of UCL, Faculty and Divisional policy and procedures, referring to appropriate colleagues for advice where necessary.
• In addition to these duties the post holder will be expected to be flexible in their approach, as well as support and work collaboratively with academic and Professional Services colleagues within the Division and Faculty, and beyond.
• Actively participate in UCL networks, meetings and committees relevant to the role, as required.
• Attend staff meetings and training as required.
• Demonstrate zero tolerance towards bullying, spirit and purpose of the within the remit of their role.

harassment and discriminatory behaviour.

• The post-holder will actively follow and promote all UCL Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
• The post-holder will maintain an awareness and observation of current UCL Fire and Health & Safety Regulations and procedures.
• The post-holder, like all academic, research and teaching staff, is expected to demonstrate their ongoing commitment to excellence in line with the https://www.ucl.ac.uk/human-resources/policies/2021/feb/academic-career-framework
• Meet UCL’s expectations set out in the UCL Core Behaviours Framework https://www.ucl.ac.uk/human-resources/policies-advice/core-behaviours-framework
• Demonstrate an ongoing commitment ti excellence in line with the academic career framework https://www.ucl.ac.uk/human-resources/policies/2021/feb/academic-career-framework
• Meet UCL’s expectations set out in the UCL policies including those on academic careers framework Core Behaviours Framework https://www.ucl.ac.uk/human-resources/policies-advice/core-behaviours-framework

Person Specification

How to apply

Please complete the UCL online application form and specification criteria below into a “Statement in support of your application” and explain underneath each criterion how you meet it, giving concise evidence and examples. You may use statement box and additional online text box

OR statement as an additional document attachment statement” in the online box. Grade 8 applicants should address the Grade 8 essential criteria and, where relevant, the desirable criteria. Grade 9 applicants should also address the additional Grade 9 criteria. Please DO NOT upload a separate cover letter, research and teaching statement, research papers, qualification certificates or professional membership documents unless specifically requested by UCL. Shortlisting will be based on the application form, CV and supporting statement.

Essential Criteria

upload your CV. Copy and paste the person the supporting on the online form upload a single supporting and write “Please see uploaded supporting

Qualifications, experience and knowledge

Possession of a PhD or equivalent qualification in a relevant subject area

A An innovative personal research agenda the field of AI-driven biomolecular designs A/I and molecular interactions, and an international research profile with commensurate, sustained research or other outcomes appropriate to the discipline Evidence of the ability to deliver and publish internationally excellent research. A Evidence of potential to secure competitive research funding.

A/I

Evidence of effective supervision and mentoring of undergraduate, postgraduate

A/I and/or doctoral research students.

Experience of research-based teaching at undergraduate and/or postgraduate levels, including willingness to gain Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy if

A/I equivalency not already obtained.

Experience of engagement beyond academia, including contributions to policy, A/I practice, public engagement, or knowledge exchange.

Skills and abilities

Ability to build collaborative research and industry partnerships.

A/I

Ability to develop and implement team-based solutions to complex challenges, A/I delivering positive outcomes.

Ability to provide academic leadership

A/I

Ability to take part in course and programme development

A/I

Advanced competence in IT skills

A/I

UCL Ways of Working

Inspirational; in respect of teaching and supervision, acting as a positive ‘role model’ A/I for students

Adaptable and flexible with a constructive and collegiate approach

A/I Desirable Criteria

Experience of contributions to peer review bodies/committees, professional

A organisations, learned societies, government committees or Research Councils etc.

Experience of an active role in widening participation initiatives that span research A/I communities, e.g. sharing ideas and experience through organising seminars and workshops.

Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching & Learning in Higher Education, or equivalent A qualification Active membership of a relevant professional body

A/I

Additional Criteria for Associate Professor Grade 9

Essential Criteria

Qualifications, experience and knowledge

An outstanding contribution to the body of knowledge and an international research

A/I profile, in particular in AI and Biomolecular Design and Molecular Interactions

A proven track record of sustained success in obtaining research grants to support a A research group.

Evidence of successful supervision and completion of doctoral students.

A Evidence of successful research-based teaching and contribution to curriculum, A/I programme, or educational leadership at undergraduate and/or postgraduate level.

Evidence of academic leadership and a proven ability to lead, develop and motivate

A/I colleagues.

Evidence of leadership contribution to the management or administration of an A/I academic Department, or Faculty.

Evidence of significant contributions to engagement beyond academia, including

A/I policy, practice, partnerships, or wider impact.

Evidence of contributions to peer review bodies/committees, professional

A organisations, learned societies, government committees or Research Councils etc.

Evidence of an active role in widening participation initiatives that span research communities, e.g. sharing ideas and experience through organising seminars and A/I workshops.