Doctoral Fellow: Accelerating Enzyme Evolution for Chemical Development: Intelligent Navigation ...
Posted 5 days 4 hours ago by AstraZeneca
Doctoral Marie Curie Fellow: Accelerating Enzyme Evolution for Chemical Development: Intelligent Navigation of the Sequence Space - 3 year fixed term contract
Location: The Discovery Centre, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
Salary: £40,000 gross (subject to deductions in line with UK policy) plus benefit fund and bonus.
Purpose of the role: A doctoral position is available for three years to work with AstraZeneca (Pharmaceutical Sciences, Early Chemical Development, Biocatalysis Team) and Professor Florian Hollfelder at the Biochemistry Department of Cambridge University. The project aims to accelerate enzyme discovery for biocatalytic applications using functional metagenomics, directed evolution, droplet microfluidics, next generation sequencing and machine learning. It is part of the Horizon Europe EU MarieCurie Network MetaExplore.
Key responsibilities- Experimentally: generate and screen large and diverse DNA libraries with ultrahigh-throughput technologies to discover novel enzymes for sustainable biocatalytic processes.
- Computationally: analyse the vast sequence data (e.g. >6.5billion ORFs in MGnify) using custom algorithms and machine learning to provide systematic in silico insights.
- First (or upper second) class degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry or a related subject.
- Experience with recombinant protein expression, molecular biology and protein engineering.
- Passion for biocatalysis and the application of new technologies.
- Interdisciplinary, collaborative research approach.
- Experience leading your own work and research.
- Awareness of biocatalysis applications in pharma.
- DNA library preparation, assay development, high throughput screening and large dataset analysis.
- Bioinformatics, especially AI/ML, next generation sequencing, UPLC, SFC, microfluidics.
- Excellent communication skills across subject areas.
Secondments will be undertaken within the MetaExplore network at Drop Tech Ltd (Cambridge, UK), AstraZeneca (DISC, Cambridge, UK) and EMBL EBI (Hinxton, UK). Timings of these secondments are to be confirmed.
Eligibility criteria (Marie Skłodowska Curie)- Can be of any nationality.
- Must not have resided or carried out primary activity in the UK for more than 12months in the three years immediately preceding the recruitment date.
- Must not hold a doctoral degree at the date of recruitment and will be enrolled in a doctoral programme during the project.
- Motivation Letter.
- Curriculum Vitae.
- Transcript of grades.
- Name and email of at least two referees.
Our mission is to build an inclusive and equitable environment. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of characteristics. We offer reasonable adjustments/accommodations to help all candidates perform at their best.