PhD positions in Continuous Enzyme Evolution (2.0 FTE)

We are looking for two PhD candidates in the group of Prof. Clemens Mayer, who leads the Molecular Evolution group at the Stratingh Institute for Chemistry. Within the framework of a recently funded ERC Consolidator Grant, you will overcome unaddressed challenges associated with the application of biocatalysts that promote synthetically-useful transformations. In your project, you will not only engineer these enzymes at an unprecedented rate and scale, but also map their fitness landscapes.

Your research will focus on continuous evolution, an umbrella term for approaches that achieve cycles of rapid mutation, selection and amplification inside living cells. By minimizing human intervention and enabling parallelization, continuous evolution approaches can autonomously explore longer and more numerous evolutionary trajectories. In your project, you will initially construct, automate, and apply a continuous evolution platform to autonomously engineer enzyme that perform sought-after C-C, C-halogen, or C-N bond-forming reactions. In the last part of the project, you will make use of third-generation sequencing techniques and bioinformatics tools to map the sequence-structure-function relationships of these biocatalysts.

Organisation
The University of Groningen is a research university, currently in or around the top 100 on several influential ranking lists. The Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE) is the largest faculty within the University, offering first-rate education and research in a wide range of science and engineering disciplines.

The mission of the Stratingh Institute for Chemistry is to perform excellent research and teaching in molecular and supramolecular chemistry. Core activities in the chemical sciences such as bioorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, molecular inorganic chemistry and molecular materials chemistry are embedded in the institute. The research programme is focused on synthesis, catalysis, functional materials, bio-organic chemistry/chemical biology and systems chemistry/complex molecular systems.

The Mayer group tackles scientific and societal challenges with innovative molecular evolution approaches. We aspire to employ selections for the creation of made-to-order biomolecules and to obtain a molecular understanding of the underlying evolutionary processes. The group pursues two ambitious research goals: (1) to utilize continuous evolution to engineer efficient biocatalysts and map their structure-function relationships; and (2) to interface synthetic chemistry with phage display protocols to select natural-product-like macrocyclic peptides that combine the favorable traits of small-molecule and peptide-based drugs.

We are looking for creative, motivated, and determined candidates, who meet the following requirements:

• a MSc degree in (Bio)chemistry / Biotechnology or a related field
• experience in directed evolution, bioinformatics, next-generation sequencing, bioreactor design/application, or synthetic chemistry is a plus
• an interest in working at the interface of chemistry and synthetic biology
• the ability to work independently.

We offer you in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities:

• a salary of € 2,770 gross per month in the first year, up to a maximum of € 3,539 gross per month in the fourth and final year, based on a full-time position (1.0 FTE)
• a holiday allowance of 8% gross annual income
• an 8.3% year-end bonus
• a position for four years; you will get a temporary position of one year with the option of renewal for another three years; prolongation of the contract is contingent on sufficient progress in the first year to indicate that a successful completion of the PhD thesis within the next three years is to be expected
• a university PhD training programme is part of the agreement and the successful candidates will be enrolled in the Graduate School of Science and Engineering.

The preferred starting date is between 01-05-2024 and 01-08-2024.