Research Associate in Enzyme Design and Engineering (3 posts available)

Job reference: SAE-025211
Salary: £36,024 to £44,263 per annum, depending on relevant experience
Faculty/Organisational Unit: Science and Engineering
Location: Manchester Institute of Biotechnology
Employment type: Fixed Term
Division/Team: Department of Chemistry
Hours Per Week: 35
Closing date: 08/04/2024
Contract Duration: 18 months fixed term starting as soon as possible
School/Directorate: School of Natural Sciences

‘Design and Engineering of Proteins with an Expanded Amino Acid Alphabet’

Positions are available for three Postdoctoral Research Associates with experience in directed evolution, biocatalysis, biochemistry or a related discipline. The aim of the research is to develop new functional proteins built from an expanded set of amino acids and methods for their production. This position is based in the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology (MIB) under the ssupervision of Prof Anthony Green and Dr Sarah Lovelock.

Nature uses twenty canonical amino acids to produce proteins with diverse structures and functions. However, these amino acids contain limited chemical diversity, restricting our ability to engineer proteins with new functions and desirable properties. In this project we develop efficient methods for selectively introducing non-canonical amino acids with new functional side chains into proteins. These methods will be optimized to allow economical production of proteins built using an expanded genetic code. We will subsequently capitalize on these new functional amino acids to develop enzymes in proteins with new functions.

This is a highly interdisciplinary project at the cutting edge of enzyme engineering research and the successful applicant will have full access to state-of-the-art facilities for high-throughput and automated enzyme engineering, including liquid handling robots, colony pickers and a suite of high throughput analytical facilities. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to apply and further develop their expertise in both fundamental and translational science, which are highly relevant to a future career in the pharmaceutical and wider chemical industry.

Applicants should have, or expect to attain a PhD or equivalent, in Chemical Biology, Biochemistry or Biocatalysis, and have a thesis submitted prior to taking up the position. We seek applications from experienced researchers with a proven track record in biocatalyst optimization using directed evolution, and enzyme characterization. You should be capable of working under your own initiative but also collaborating with industrial and academic research partners, so excellent communication and organisational skills are required.

The School of Chemistry is strongly committed to promoting equality and diversity, including the Athena SWAN Charter for gender equality in higher education.  The School holds a Silver Award which recognises their good practice in relation to gender; including flexible working arrangements, family-friendly policies, and support to allow staff to achieve a good work-life balance. We particularly welcome applications from women for this post. Appointment will always be made on merit. For further information, please visit www.chemistry.manchester.ac.uk/about-us/athena-swan

Please note that we are unable to respond to enquiries, accept CVs or applications from Recruitment Agencies.

Any CVs submitted by a recruitment agency will be considered a gift.

Enquiries about the vacancy, shortlisting and interviews:

Name: Anthony Green or Sarah Lovelock

Email: Anthony.green@manchester.ac.uk or Email: Sarah.lovelock@manchester.ac.uk

General enquiries:

Email: People.recruitment@manchester.ac.uk

Technical support: jobseekersupport.jobtrain.co.uk/support/home

This vacancy will close for applications at midnight on the closing date.

Please see the link below for the Further Particulars document which contains the person specification criteria.

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