PhD Studentship: Bio Self-Assembled Molecular Wires

Biology has evolved sophisticated ligands for metal ion coordination in the form of proteins. These potentially complex architectures offer a number of advantages over traditional small molecule ligands, including the ability to position metal ions with a high degree of precision and control, and to operate over large distance scales.

This project will take inspiration from biology to design, synthesize and study, miniature artificial protein scaffolds (easily prepared on an automated peptide synthesiser), for use as ligands for multiple metal ions, as they offer many of the advantages of a native protein matrix, but without many of their limitations. Specifically this project will develop a robust modular approach, based on de novo designed coiled coil components for the self-assembly of extended single atom metallic wires for use in electronics. Resulting wires are intended for applications in energy and electronics, and thus contributing to enhanced battery performance and engineering net-zero.

Training will be gained in peptide design, synthesis, characterisation, and metal binding evaluation. Including, but not limited to, solid-phase peptide synthesis, HPLC and biophysical characterisation techniques (e.g., native MS, UV-visible, fluorescence and CD spectroscopy, X-ray protein crystallography).

The project will develop new ligands for use in inorganic coordination chemistry and will be ideal for students that are interested in inorganic chemistry and synthetic biology.

This 4-year PhD studentship is an EPSRC industrial CASE co-funded by the University of Birmingham and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl). The successful student will be based in the group of Dr Anna Peacock at the University of Birmingham in the state-of-the-art £80M Molecular Sciences Building. Over the course of the PhD, the successful student will spend a minimum of 3 months based at Dstl.

Interested candidates with (or nearing completion of) a good (1st of 2.1 UK or equivalent) degree in chemistry or the biological sciences should apply via https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/chemistry/phd/apply.aspx. Applications will be considered on an ongoing basis until a suitable candidate has been appointed. Interested candidates should contact Dr Anna Peacock (a.f.a.peacock@bham.ac.uk) for informal enquiries, and before applying should provide a CV and cover letter summarising their research interests and previous experience. For more information, please see https://peacockresearch.wordpress.com

The School of Chemistry at the University of Birmingham is keen to achieve a gender and diversity balance, and welcomes and encourages applicants from all backgrounds.

Funding notes:

This 4-year EPSRC industrial CASE PhD studentship is co-funded by the University of Birmingham and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl). This studentship includes stipend and tuition fees for UK students paid at the UKRI level. Support for conference attendance and research costs will be available.

DSTL partnered studentships are open only to UK nationals who do not hold dual nationality

References:

[1] Shah et al “Design of the elusive proteinaceous oxygen donor copper site suggests a promising future for copper for MRI contrast agents“, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA., 2023, 120, e2219036120.
[2] Slope et al “Location Dependent Lanthanide Selectivity Engineered into Structurally Characterized Designed Coiled Coils“, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2021, 60, 24473
[3] Berwick et al “De Novo Design of Ln(III) Coiled Coils for Imaging Applications” J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2014, 136, 1166
[4] Zastrow et al “Hydrolytic Catalysis and Structural Stabilization in a Designed Metalloprotein” Nature Chem., 2012, 4, 118.

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