Postdoctoral Research Associate In Biocatalysis For Sustainable Synthesis Grade 7

The three-year post, funded by the BBSRC, is available to work on the development of a carboxyl methyltransferase enzyme and its integration into enzyme cascades with acyl transferases for the synthesis of amides. This project is part of our research in biocatalytic recycling of plastic and generation of biodegradable polymers. We have recently shown that the carboxyl methyl transferase enzyme FtpM can selectively monomethylate or dimethylate a range of dicarboxylic acids (Angew.Chem.Int.Ed. 2022, 61, e20211732). Key objectives of this research are to increase overall activity and selectivity by mutagenesis, integrate the enzyme into enzyme cascades and develop new pathways to provide efficient SAM cofactor recycling with whole cell biocatalysts. You will need experience in molecular biology, site directed mutagenesis and directed evolution, protein expression and purification, enzyme biotransformations, kinetic assays, synthetic biology/construction of biosynthetic pathways, whole cell bioconversions and HPLC. It is understood that the successful candidate may need additional training in some areas and we can provide this. You should have, or expect to have by November 2022, a PhD in biocatalysis for application in synthesis or a suitable related area. You must be highly motivated and enthusiastic and have a pro-active and goal driven approach. We wish to attract excellent, ambitious candidates with relevant skills and high levels of achievement. You will join a friendly, well supported, stimulating and interdisciplinary research environment working on the biology-chemistry interface.

The University has the right to close the vacancy early if it is deemed that there have been enough applications received.

Job Ref: 045906

Closing Date: 4 October 2022

For full details and to apply online, please visit: https://recruit.liverpool.ac.uk