Research Associate - Enzyme Design and Engineering

Job reference: SAE-030939
Salary: 37,694 - 46,049 per annum depending on experience
Faculty/Organisational Unit: Science and Engineering
Location: Manchester Institute of Biotechnology
Employment type: Fixed Term
Division/Team: Department of Chemistry
Hours Per Week: Full time (1 FTE)
Closing date (DD/MM/YYYY): 20/03/2026
Contract Duration: Fixed term for 12 months
School/Directorate: School of Natural Sciences

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

A position is available for a Postdoctoral Research Associate 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 supervision of 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.

What you will get in return:

• Fantastic market leading Pension scheme
• Excellent employee health and wellbeing services including an Employee Assistance Programme
• Exceptional starting annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays
• Additional paid closure over the Christmas period
• Local and national discounts at a range of major retailers

As an equal opportunities employer we welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of age, sex, gender (or gender identity), ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and transgender status. All appointments are made on merit.

Our University is positive about flexible working – you can find out more here

Hybrid working arrangements may be considered.

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

Any recruitment enquiries from recruitment agencies should be directed to recruitmentservices.people@manchester.ac.uk.

Any CV’s submitted by a recruitment agency will be considered a gift.

Enquiries about the vacancy, shortlisting and interviews:

Name: Sarah Lovelock

Email: sarah.lovelock@manchester.ac.uk 

General enquiries:

Email: recruitmentservices.people@manchester.ac.uk

Technical support:

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

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

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