Site-specific incorporation of non-natural amino acids into proteins could provide new approaches to study and control biological processes. The goal of this project is to develop methods for genetic site-specific incorporation of novel photocaged amino acids into proteins expressed in live cells. Development of these methods will allow gaining spatial and temporal control over several biological processes using light. The research work will involve chemical synthesis of non-natural amino acids, developing directed evolution-based approaches to enable genetic encoding of new photocaged amino acids, and application of photocaged amino acids to modulate biological processes.
The successful applicant will be a talented biochemist or chemist with enthusiasm for chemistry, chemical biology, and molecular biology. The candidate will work at the forefront of chemical and synthetic biology and will develop advanced skills in chemical synthesis, various molecular biology and analytical techniques, including molecular cloning, directed evolution-based approaches, protein expression and purification, gel electrophoresis, western blotting, and HPLC. The research work will be performed in the Chemical and Synthetic Biology laboratories housed in the School of Chemistry, University of East Anglia under the supervision of Dr. Amit Sachdeva and Prof. A. Ganesan. Contact Dr. Amit Sachdeva ([Email Address Removed]) for further information.
For more information on the supervisor for this project, please go here https://people.uea.ac.uk/a_sachdeva.
This is a PhD programme. The start date is 1st October 2021. The mode of study is full time.
Entry requirements: Acceptable first degree 2:1 in Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Biochemistry, Chemical Biology.
Applications are processed as soon as they are received and the project may be filled before the closing date, so early application is encouraged.
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