Engineering a multi-functional molecular machine for industrial biocatalysis

Applications are invited for a 4 year BBSRC/IBIOIC-funded collaborative PhD for the development and application of novel biocatalysts for the preparation of industrially-useful, high value products. The project will be supervised by Prof Dominic Campopiano (PI, School of Chemistry), Dr. David Clarke (co-I, School of Chemistry) and Dr. Reuben Carr (Ingenza). The student will be based both at the EaStCHEM School of Chemistry at the University of Edinburgh (which is among the top ranked departments within the EU) and at Ingenza (which is moving to new labs on the Roslin Innovation Centre campus, Edinburgh). The PhD will be managed within the Collaborative Training Partnership (CTP) organised by IBIOIC (www.ibioic.com).

Biocatalysis is a rapidly expanding field which has had great impact on the production of high value chemicals in a greener, more environmentally-favourable way. Biocatalysis uses natural or engineered enzymes in an optimised host to catalyse chemical reactions between substrates ideally derived from cheap, renewable feedstocks. These industrial-scale reactions generate both high value advanced pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) or bulk, commodity chemicals used in the chemical industry (e.g. plastics, biofuels). For a review see Zargar, Keasling et al, (2017) Curr. Op. Biotechnol., 56, 8942-8973.

* UK residency means having settled status in the UK that is no restriction on how long you can stay in the UK; and having been “ordinarily resident” in the UK for 3 years prior to the start of the studentship. That is you must have been normally residing in the UK apart from temporary or occasional absences; and not been residing in the UK wholly or mainly for the purposes of full-time education.

Our goal is to develop polyketide synthase (PKS) enzymes as versatile biocatalysts. We will deconstruct the large, multi-functional PKSs into component parts, study how the parts work in isolation and when combined in vitro, and engineer bespoke substrate specificity to suit our commercially important products. We will then assemble an efficient biocatalyst that synthesises our target molecules in an appropriate bacterial host. The PhD programme will train the student in modern methods of enzyme engineering, assay, protein structure (mass spectrometry and x-ray crystallography), product analysis, strain engineering/optimisation. You will join the IBIOIC PhD cohort for 2018-2022 and also be trained in public engagement and business development.

Applicants should have, or be about to obtain, a 2.i or 1st class MChem degree, or an MSc level degree in chemistry or a related discipline. The student also needs to satisfy BBSRC residency eligibility criteria.

Applications will be considered until an excellent candidate has been identified: Applicants should submit a CV, a sample of academic writing and a cover-letter describing your previous research experience, reasons to apply and justifying your eligibility. The names and contact details of two academic referees should also be supplied. Applications should be sent to Dominic Campopiano ([Email Address Removed]). We aim to invite applicants for interview (in person or by teleconference) during late July 2018.