PhD position in the development and evolution of artificial metalloenzymes based on earth-abundant metal cofactors

The laboratory of artificial metalloenzymes at the University of Basel (Switzerland) is a World-leading team in biomimetic catalysis. Such hybrid catalysts result from the incorporation of an earth-abundant organometallic cofactor within a protein scaffold. The resulting artificial metalloenzymes (ArMs) catalyze a variety of new-to-Nature reactions. Within the MetRaZymes project, a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network, it is proposed to engineer and evolve ArMs to functionalize inert CH bonds via radical mechanisms. To achieve this ambitious goal, the selected candidate will collaborate with leading groups throughout Europe both from academia and industry. The MSCA MetRaZyme doctoral network aims at training the next generation of researchers in the field of biocatalysis proceeding via radical mechanisms.

The University of Basel is located in the heart of Basel, one of the Europe's most active research hubs in Life Sciences. The department of chemistry consists of fifteen research groups with over 120 graduate students and 50 postdoctoral fellows, integrated in a state-of-the art infrastructure. Multiple opportunities for collaborations exist, thanks to the propitious environment provided by Life Science industries and academic laboratories (including the Biozentrum, the D-BSSE, the FMI, the national center of competence “Molecular Systems Engineering” etc.)