School of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Sciences
University of Manchester
Applications are invited for an industrially-funded PhD studentship for UK or EU students to work on biocatalytic reduction of amides, in the Manchester Interdisciplinary Biocentre (http://www.mib.ac.uk). The project is funded by the UK Centre of Excellence for Biocatalysis (http://www.coebio3.org). Reduction of amides to amines is a new type of enzymatic reaction, demonstrated for the first time in our research group. In addition to the fundamental scientific interest in this new reaction, the enzyme could be extremely useful for industrial biotransformations, since biocatalytic amide reduction offers a mild, selective, environmentally benign alternative to the equivalent, rather problematic chemical reduction. Therefore, this new biotransformation will be extremely useful in industry to synthesize complex amines for manufacturing pharmaceuticals and other speciality chemicals. In this project, you will purify and characterise the amide reductase, clone the corresponding gene(s) and test the enzyme for industrially useful biotransformations. You will, therefore, develop skills in enzymology, protein purification, and molecular biology, and you will also learn how to run biotransformations. The project will be co-supervised by Drs Gill Stephens (see http://www.ceas.manchester.ac.uk/aboutus/staff/profile.htm?id=2002476&pg=2 and John Gardiner (see http://www.chemistry.manchester.ac.uk/aboutus/staff/showprofile.php?id=118). You will join a thriving research group, funded by BBSRC, TSB and industry, and including a number of other postdocs and students working on closely related projects. Eligibility for full funding is restricted to UK or EU citizens, with the stipend at the standard EPSRC rate. The project will start in October 2008.
Please apply by sending your CV, a brief statement of your research interests, and the names and email addresses of two referees to Dr Gill Stephens, to whom informal enquiries may also be made (gill.stephens@manchester.ac.uk).
Study information
- Qualification:
PhD
- Study duration:
3 years
- Study mode:
FT
- Start month:
October 2008
- Entry requirements:
Your degree should be in biochemistry, microbiology, biological chemistry or a related discipline (minimum 2.1 honours, MSc or equivalent).
- Language requirements:
IELTS > 7
Funding information
- Funder:
The project is funded by CoEBio3 and funding is available for UK or EU students.
- Value:
Tuition fees and maintenance at the standard ESPRC rate.
- Funding applies to:
- EU applicants (including UK)
- Funding duration:
3 years
