PhD Studentship: (BioProcess) Design and Engineering of Enzymes for Scalable Production of Therapeutic Peptides

Application deadline: 31/03/2026
Research theme: Biocatalysis and Protein Engineering Centre for Sustainable Synthesis – BioProcess
How to apply: https://www.mib.manchester.ac.uk/research/centres/coebio3/

This 4-year PhD project is fully funded and home students, and EU students with settled status, are eligible to apply. The successful candidate will receive an annual tax-free stipend set at the UKRI rate (£20,780 for 2025/26) and tuition fees will be paid. We expect the stipend to increase each year. The start date is October 2026.

Therapeutic peptides have been developed to treat a wide range of disease areas, including metabolic disorders, cancers, and infectious diseases. Compared with traditional small molecules, peptides offer high specificity, low toxicity and excellent tissue penetration. Approximately 100 peptide drugs are approved for clinical use, and the market continues to grow with peptides being evaluated as vaccines and as delivery vehicles in peptide-drug conjugates. Despite these advances, the development of more sustainable and atom-economical processes for peptide synthesis remains a critical unmet need, as highlighted by the ACS Green Chemistry Institute Pharmaceutical Roundtable.

In this project we will employ deep learning-based protein sequence design tools to deliver biocatalysts for peptide synthesis. These designed enzymes will be further optimized using established automated directed evolution workflows to improve stability, enzyme activity and selectivity towards target peptide products. Finally, to demonstrate the synthetic utility of our approach we will perform biotransformations on a multi-gram scale. This is a highly interdisciplinary project at the cutting edge of enzyme engineering research and will offer diverse training opportunities for a post-graduate student in a state-of-the-art multidisciplinary setting (at the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology). The student will gain broad expertise in computational protein design, directed evolution, molecular and structural biology, and process development.

Training

BioProcess aims to train the next generation of bio-innovators. Our interdisciplinary programmes prepare PhD students and researchers with the real-world skills to apply biocatalysis, protein engineering and sustainable manufacturing in industry.

We offer:

• PhD projects co-developed with industry and aligned with real manufacturing challenges
• advanced theoretical and practical skills training provided by a mixture of industry and academic project partners covering structural biology; biophysical and analytical methods; computational modelling; directed evolution; process modelling and development; digital skills
• Access to a network of elite partners and mentors
• A strong track record of impact, including a free online course in industrial biotechnology with over 10,000 learners to date.

Strong foundations in Biocatalysis:

Formerly CoEBio3, our centre has a focus on delivering solutions with real impact in pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturing with our industry partners. Our work has already enabled major industrial advances

• Commercialised over 1,000 enzymes
Covering 20+ reaction types, significantly expanding biocatalytic options for manufacturing.

• Pioneered metal-free processes
Reducing reliance on costly and hazardous precious metal catalysts.

• Delivered high-performing biocatalysts
Engineered industry-ready enzymes suitable for large scale pharmaceutical manufacturing.
We’ve also helped shape national policy. In 2018, our researchers co-authored the UK strategy report Growing the UK Industrial Biotechnology Base, supporting government plans for a £440 billion bio-economy by 2030.
BioProcess_IDLA

Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2.1 honours degree or a master’s (or international equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering related discipline.

To apply, please contact Dr Sarah Lovelock: sarah.lovelock@manchester.ac.uk.

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