Synthetic Biology Based Engineering of AAV Production by HEK Cells

This exciting 3.5 year PhD programme will provide an in-depth training in mammalian cell engineering technologies underpinning commercial manufacture of viral vectors for gene therapy. This project, in partnership with a leading clinical stage company developing novel gene therapies, aims to improve AAV production by mammalian cells using synthetic biology based engineering of genetic vectors encoding viral components.

The student will join an established team of researchers focussed on creation and testing of novel genetic constructs using synthetic biology technology previously developed at Sheffield. The successful applicant will be working under the supervision of Professor David James in collaboration with a company representative.

We are looking for highly motivated, talented individuals who have a passion for bioscience and biological engineering. You will receive a training in molecular biology, gene expression, mammalian cell culture, bioinformatic analysis and the design and testing of recombinant DNA constructs. This studentship involves collaboration with an industrial partner and a wider team of researchers, and accordingly the candidate will develop strong communication and team-working skills. The successful candidate will have excellent opportunities to interact with biopharmaceutical companies, present research findings externally, and contribute to research publications.

If you are passionate about next-generation therapies that transform the way that disease is treated, then we would love to hear from you.

https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/cbe/people/academic-staff/professor-david-james.

Further information on the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering can be found at youtube.com/c/CBESheffield and https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/cbe.