Development of methyltransferase biocatalysts

Supervisor: Dr Daniele Castagnolo

Application deadline: 14th March 2022

Interview date: 4th April 2022

Start date: 1st October 2022

UCL Chemistry Department is offering a fully-funded studentship to a highly motivated candidate to start in October 2022. The student will carry out his/her doctoral research at UCL.

The aim of the project is the development of methyltransferase enzymes as biocatalysts for the synthesis of cycloaliphatic chemicals through more sustainable chemical processes. The candidate will work on the cloning, expression and purification as well as on the engineering of enzymes with the aim to identify the best biocatalysts for targeted reactions. A substantial part of the project will be on the screening of the newly produced biocatalysts and on the development of novel biocatalytic reactions for the construction of C-C bonds. For further information on the project, please contact directly the supervisor at [Email Address Removed]. 

The applicants should have, or be expecting to achieve, a first or upper second-class Honours degree or equivalent in one of the following subjects: organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, molecular biology, chemical engineering. 

Interested candidates should initially contact the supervisor, Dr Daniele Castagnolo, with a degree transcript and a motivation letter expressing interest in these projects. Informal inquiries are encouraged. Please note that a suitable applicant will be required to complete MS Form entitled Application for Research: degree Chemistry programme. In addition, it is essential that suitable applicants complete an electronic application form at http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate/apply (please select Research degree: Chemistry programme) prior to the application deadline and advise their referees to submit their references as soon as they possibly can. All shortlisted applicants will be invited for the interview no more than 4 weeks after the application deadline.

The interview process will include a short data analysis project and the preparation of a small report to summarise its results. Any admissions queries should be directed to Dr Jadranka Butorac and Holly Ambrose-Wilson at [Email Address Removed].