PhD Studentship: (BioProcess) De Novo Enzyme Design

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.

This fully funded PhD project aims to develop de novo enzymes capable of catalyzing enantioselective carbon–carbon bond-forming reactions—key transformations in the synthesis of many modern pharmaceuticals. Building on recent advances from the Chica group (Beck et al., BioRxiv, https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.01.28.635154 [doi.org]), the project will apply and extend the CANVAS method to design enzymes that catalyze multistep reactions, expanding the functional scope and complexity of computational enzyme design.

Working at the interface of computer science, protein engineering, and enzymology, the successful candidate will:

• Design theozymes using density functional theory.
• Apply computational protein design methodologies to create de novo enzymes.
• Perform molecular dynamics simulations and related computational analyses to evaluate and refine designs.
• Experimentally characterize the structure and kinetic properties of engineered enzymes.
• Investigate catalytic mechanisms using modern enzymological approaches.
• Determine X-ray crystal structures of designed enzymes.

The project provides comprehensive training in computational enzyme design, structural biology, computational chemistry, and enzymology within a dynamic, multidisciplinary research environment.

About the programme

Join experts in industry and academia working to sustainably manufacture the complex and diverse molecules needed by modern society.

Led by The University of Manchester in collaboration with AstraZeneca, The Universities of Bristol and York alongside other leading industrial partners, BioProcess aims to train the next generation of scientists in the skills needed to realise full the potential of biocatalysis, protein engineering and biomanufacturing for the UK bioeconomy.

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.

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, and for more information, please contact bioprocess@manchester.ac.uk.

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