Expanding the metabolism of the most primitive phototroph

Carbon fixation and conversion into carbohydrate is one of the dominant biochemical processes in nature, supplying the cellular building blocks for all living organisms. The majority of this fixation, or global primary productivity, is performed by plants on land and by algae and cyanobacteria in marine environments using the Calvin cycle, coupled to the conversion of sunlight into chemical energy. This process has produced the environmental conditions that permitted the evolution of complex life on Earth. However, the rate of release of fossil fuel emissions is disrupting the delicate gas balance of the atmosphere, leading to global warming and climate breakdown. Beyond cutting greenhouse gas emissions, it is essential that new technologies are developed to capture CO₂ from the environment and store it as organic compounds, for which efficient biological routes must be explored.                                                                                                                                      

Alternative carbon fixation pathways are found in microbes dispersed throughout the tree of life. The most ancient of these, the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway, is still used by some anaerobic bacteria and archaea found inhabiting environments lacking oxygen. This pathway is the simplest and most energy-efficient route for CO₂ capture. Interestingly, the most primitive phototrophs, the anaerobic Heliobacteria, are unable to fix CO₂, but they are closely related to bacteria that use the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway as a source of carbon. This synthetic biology project aims to couple energy-efficient CO₂ fixation to phototrophic generation of ATP in Heliobacteria, providing an exciting prospect for carbon capture and storage. The principles defined will be directly applicable to the sustainable generation of renewable chemicals.

The successful candidate will receive extensive training in all relevant techniques as part of a collaborative, multidisciplinary research group, and will have access to world-leading facilities in the Institute of Systems, Molecular & Integrative Biology at the University of Liverpool, and in the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences at Newcastle University.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications should be made by emailing [Email Address Removed] with:

·        a CV (including contact details of at least two academic (or other relevant) referees);

·         a covering letter – clearly stating your first choice project, and optionally 2^nd ranked project, as well as including whatever additional information you feel is pertinent to your application; you may wish to indicate, for example, why you are particularly interested in the selected project(s) and at the selected University;

·        copies of your relevant undergraduate degree transcripts and certificates;

·        a copy of your passport (photo page).

A GUIDE TO THE FORMAT REQUIRED FOR THE APPLICATION DOCUMENTS IS AVAILABLE AT https://www.nld-dtp.org.uk/how-apply. Applications not meeting these criteria may be rejected.

In addition to the above items, please email a completed copy of the Additional Details Form (as a Word document) to [Email Address Removed]. A blank copy of this form can be found at: https://www.nld-dtp.org.uk/how-apply.

Informal enquiries may be made to [Email Address Removed]. The closing date for applications is 10th January 2022 at 5.00pm (UK time).