Research Associate Position in Enzyme Engineering and Biocatalysis

Job reference: SAE-031422
Salary: £37,694- £46,049 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: 1 FTE
Closing date (DD/MM/YYYY): 03/06/2026
Contract Duration: 18 months
School/Directorate: School of Natural Sciences

We seek to appoint an outstanding and ambitious scientist to a Research Associate Position in Enzyme Engineering and Biocatalysis. The aim of the research is to develop enzymes with new and valuable catalytic functions using a range of computational and experimental techniques. The post is tenable for 18 months from 1st July 2026.

The successful candidate will work within Prof Buller's research team based in the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology (MIB), with close collaboration across Prof Anthony Green's group (MIB) and Prof David Baker's group at the Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington. The project, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, focuses on engineering pyridoxal-phosphate-dependent decarboxylative aldolases for the stereoselective synthesis of γ-hydroxy non-canonical amino acids and downstream 1,3-amino alcohols of relevance to antitubercular drug discovery. You should hold a PhD (or equivalent) in Chemistry or a closely related discipline, with a strong synthetic organic chemistry background and demonstrated experience applying biocatalysis to stereoselective synthesis. Familiarity with heterologous protein expression in E. coli, synthesis of functionalised ketones, or high-throughput screening would each be advantageous; full training in directed evolution and protein engineering will be provided. You should be capable of working under your own initiative while collaborating effectively with academic partners across institutions, so excellent communication and organisational skills are essential.

The Department of Chemistry is strongly committed to promoting equality and diversity, including the Athena SWAN Charter for gender equality in higher education. The Department 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. Appointments will always be made on merit. For further information, please visit: www.chemistry.manchester.ac.uk/about-us/athena-swan.

Our benefits include:

• Generous employer contribution pension
• 29 days annual leave plus bank holidays, along with Christmas closure
• Ride to work and EV car scheme available

For more information, please see University of Manchester Benefits. You can also find information on our Flexible and Hybrid working here.

We are an open place of enquiry and challenge. We embrace and celebrate difference, diversity and debate, and we pride ourselves on being a place of education, learning and community where we are able, within the law, to question and test received wisdom, express new ideas and explore controversial or unpopular topics and opinions. Find out more from our Freedom of Speech Policy.

Enquiries about the role, shortlisting and interviews

Name: Prof Andrew Buller

Email Address: andrew.buller@manchester.ac.uk

General enquiries and administrative support: recruitmentservices.people@manchester.ac.uk

Technical and job portal support: jobseekersupport.jobtrain.co.uk/support/home

Applications close at midnight on the closing date.

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