PhD Position in Biocatalysis - Evolving Enzymes for New Chemistry

Understanding the nature of enzyme promiscuity whilst enabling a more sustainable future

About the Research Group and Project

The research group headed by PI Dr. Reuben Leveson-Gower is hiring a PhD student to work on a project in the field of Biocatalysis. Motivated by the immense potential that enzymes represent to greatly improve the sustainability of the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, our group seeks to engineer enzymes that can facilitate new reactions that were previously not known in nature. To this end we will adapt existing enzyme architectures (i.e. naturally occurring cofactors and catalytic machinery) to conduct new catalytic tasks through a combination of chemical intuition and enzyme engineering.

The PhD project will involve bioinformatic selection of candidate enzymes, employing a combination of ‘off-the-shelf’ tools based on both sequence and structure. These enzymes will be produced, screened and the best variants subject to protein engineering campaigns. Once highly active variants are produced, the molecular mechanisms by which they have achieved their improvements will be investigated. These insights will form a key part of the ‘build, test, learn’ cycle to accelerate the development of further biocatalysts for related ‘new-to-nature’ reactions. The results will reveal the determining characteristics of enzyme catalytic promiscuity, so that it can be harnessed with increasing efficiency. Ultimately, the research aims to develop practically applicable catalysts for the efficient and benign synthesis of societally important molecules.

The work will be conducted in the shared laboratories of the BOC section, a highly collaborative and collegial environment. This role involves designing and instigating robust experimental protocols that will serve as a basis for the group’s future research activities. This will be done in close supervision from the PI, and there is also the opportunity to help train master and bachelor project students. Involvement in teaching is a requirement of the position.

Job Requirements

• Master’s degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, or Biotechnology.
• Strong grasp of and interest in fundamental concepts in organic chemistry.

Experience in the following topics is beneficial:

• Synthetic chemistry.
• Site-directed mutagenesis and cloning; protein expression/purification.
• Enzyme engineering/evolution; analytical method development.
• Protein bioinformatics; computational (bio)chemistry.

At this career stage it is unlikely that any candidate has all these skills and thus it is essential that candidates are enthusiastic in expanding their capabilities during the PhD. Therefore, preference will be given to those with demonstrated ability and passion for learning new wet-lab or dry-lab skills.

About TU Delft

About Delft University of Technology

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact! 🚀

Faculty of Applied Sciences

With more than 1,100 employees, including 150 pioneering principal investigators, as well as a population of about 3,600 passionate students, the Faculty of Applied Sciences is an inspiring scientific ecosystem. Focusing on key enabling technologies, such as quantum- and nanotechnology, photonics, biotechnology, synthetic biology and materials for energy storage and conversion, our faculty aims to provide solutions to important problems of the 21st century. To that end, we educate innovative students in broad Bachelor's and specialist Master's programmes with a strong research component. Our scientists conduct ground-breaking fundamental and applied research in the fields of Life and Health Science & Technology, Nanoscience, Chemical Engineering, Radiation Science & Technology, and Engineering Physics. We are also training the next generation of high school teachers.

Conditions of Employment

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1.5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months, followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2.5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills. The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service, offers information to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands.

Additional Information

If you would like more information about this role, please contact Assistant Professor Dr. Reuben Leveson-Gower at r.leveson-gower@tudelft.nl. For queries about the recruitment process you can get in touch with Bart Jan Schrijver at b.j.schrijver@tudelft.nl.