Zinc and the Vivensa Foundation are delighted to launch the call for applications for our 2026 Innovation Placements for Ageing Well. Successful applicants will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of commercial innovation and support the development of tech-enabled products and services that contribute to ageing well. Researchers will also have the opportunity to engage in training, support and mentoring to help them translate their skills to commercial contexts, explore new career opportunities, and connect with other talented researchers.
Through this role you can:
- Create real impact: Shape new products and services designed to improve lives and add quality years to later life
- Get industry experience in a unique setting: Work in a fast-paced startup environment focused on solving complex health challenges, not a traditional corporate or public sector role.
- Learn about early-stage innovation: Gain hands-on experience plus unlimited access to content from Zinc’s venture builder programme.
- Apply design thinking: Build or deepen skills in human-centred design and product development within mission-driven commercial ventures.
- Lead applied research: Conduct and disseminate creative, design-led research using new methods in an innovation context.
- Work across disciplines: Join a diverse cohort of researchers (e.g. from psychiatry, neuroscience, ophthalmology, imaging etc.), skillsets (e.g. machine learning, user research, clinical trials etc.) and work alongside entrepreneurs and experts.
- Get expert support: Many Zinc team members have postdoctoral research backgrounds and understand your journey.
- Expand your network: Build relationships with researchers and entrepreneurs that could lead to future partnerships.
This opportunity is open to early career postdoctoral researchers with up to 10 years’ postdoctoral research experience. Whatever your academic background, it is essential that applicants have a strong interest in innovations to improve the quality of later life.
Please note, this opportunity is only open to UK-based applicants with the right to work in the UK. Where relevant (e.g. for applicants on permanent or fixed-term contracts elsewhere), applicants will need to obtain a letter of support from their current employer to join the programme, if successful.
Evidence of the following skills, background and attributes will also be prioritised:
- You have a strong interest in enhancing your knowledge of early-stage innovation commercialisation and the role of research within that. No significant previous commercial experience is required.
- You are keen to work in a multi-disciplinary, multi-sectoral environment and to translate the skills and knowledge gained in academia to a commercial context.
- You are committed to spending 6-12 months working in-house with Zinc ventures or in a venture in their network at a minimum of 0.5 FTE (up to a maximum of 1 FTE).
- Ability to plan and execute high-quality applied research: You have experience designing and implementing projects in non-academic settings.
- Flexibility and ability to respond positively to changing circumstances: You can adapt scientific rigour to a fast-paced, agile entrepreneurial context, working to tight and often-changing deadlines, and apply recommendations based on ventures’ commercial needs. You are excited to fully immerse yourself in this dynamic context.
- Team player: You can work with the Zinc team and Founders of ventures in a positive and constructive way.
- Effective and proactive: You are organised and hands-on, and able to use initiative to make decisions. A positive, “can-do” attitude is essential.
We will be funding 2-3 Innovation Placements through this process, and successful applicants will form part of a wider cohort of researchers (funded through separate schemes). The placement provides salary, research costs, and support with travel costs (if applicable).
Salaries will be paid in line with applicants’ current (or most recent) grade and according to the Higher Education single pay spine (and you will need to provide proof of this if successful at interview).
Funding is available to support successful candidates living outside London with travel and subsistence, to allow for face-to-face working where candidates need to travel. Research costs (for consumables / running expenses during the placements) and any approved travel budget will be allocated pro rata corresponding to the length of the placement.
Please note: no negotiation over salary will take place and you will need to provide detailed estimates for any travel support if successful at interview.
- The application deadline is 5pm on 2nd April 2026.
- Shortlisted applicants will be invited to interview on either 27th or 28th April 2026. Unfortunately, there will be no flexibility with these dates.
- All interviewed candidates will be informed of the outcome in June.
- Placements for selected applicants will start in September 2026
Visit funding web page
(https://zinc-hub.notion.site/Careers-at-Zinc-VC-a837ed4948ec466fb9e1082dbf13655c)
