PhD positions in Continuous Enzyme Evolution (2.0 FTE)

PhD positions in Continuous Enzyme Evolution (2.0 FTE) (V24.0013)

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Job description

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.

Qualifications

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.

Organisation
Conditions of employment

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.

Application

Do you meet our qualification criteria? If yes, please upload the following documents to complete your application:

• a letter stating your motivation to apply and your key qualities relevant for this position
• an up-to-date curriculum vitae
• diplomas (BSc and Msc) and transcript of records
• contact information of two academic references.

You may apply for this position until February 11th 2024 11:59pm / before February 12th 2024 Dutch local time (CET) by means of the electronic application form (click on "Apply" below on the advertisement on the university website).

The University of Groningen strives to be a university in which students and staff are respected and feel at home, regardless of differences in background, experiences, perspectives, and identities. We believe that working on our core values of inclusion and equality are a joint responsibility and we are constructively working on creating a socially safe environment. Diversity among students and staff members enriches academic debate and contributes to the quality of our teaching and research. We therefore invite applicants from underrepresented groups in particular to apply. For more information, see also our diversity policy webpage: https://www.rug.nl/(...)rsity-and-inclusion/

Our selection procedure follows the guidelines of the Recruitment code (NVP): https://www.nvp-hrnetwerk.nl/nl/sollicitatiecode and European Commission's European Code of Conduct for recruitment of researchers: https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/charter/code

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Information

For information you can contact:

• Prof. Clemens Mayer, [email protected]

Please do not use the e-mail address(es) above for applications.

Apply