PhD scholarship within experimental and computational enzymology
Deadline: 19.12.2024
Publisert
NMBU will contribute to securing the future of life through outstanding research, education, communication and innovation. We have the country's most satisfied university students, who receive research-based education in a unique student environment. Our graduates gain a high level of competence in interdisciplinary collaboration and are popular in the labor market.
NMBU has internationally leading research environments in several subjects. Together with our partners in society and business, we contribute to solving some of the biggest societal challenges of our time. We focus on innovation, communication and entrepreneurship because we believe these challenges are best solved with joint efforts. We believe that a good working environment is characterized by diversity.If necessary, workplace adaptations will be made for persons with disabilities. More information about NMBU is available at www.nmbu.no/en.
About The Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science
The Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science (KBM) has about 180 employees, 80 PhD students and 500 BSc and MSc students. The faculty has 11 research groups within chemistry and biochemistry, microbiology and microbial gene technology, bioinformatics and data analysis, food science and nutrition. The Faculty has a state-of-the-art infrastructure for research and education: A biorefinery lab, proteomics platform, fermentation lab, a murine facility, platform for studies of microbial regulation of GHG release and a small-scale pilot plant for processing of food, incl. a microbrewery. Additionally, KBM has a strong competence in enzymology, fermentation and biorefining. KBM aims at a strong research position and collaborates in networks and research projects both nationally and internationally.
Do you want to develop novel (bio)catalysts in a European Research Council-funded Synergy project?
About the position
The Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science (KBM) at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) has a vacant PhD student position to work on an ERC-funded Synergy project called “CUBE -Unravelling the secrets of Cu-based catalysts for C-H activation”. In this project, four leading European research groups jointly work on developing the next generation of synthetic and enzymatic catalysts for selective activation of C-H bonds. The project is based in part on the catalytic capabilities of Lytic Polysaccharide Monooxygenases (LPMOs), which were discovered at NMBU.
Key players at NMBU are Professors Vincent Eijsink & Morten Sørlie and Associate Professor Åsmund Røhr Kjendseth. The other Synergy partners are The University of Oslo (synthetic catalysts, metal-organic frameworks; Professor Unni Olsbye), the University of Torino (spectroscopic investigations of heterogeneous catalysts; Professor Silvia Bordiga) and the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion, Muelheim, Germany (spectroscopic/computational studies of homogeneous and biological catalysts; Professor Serena DeBeer).
The NMBU contribution will focus on further understanding of LPMOs and on evolving these enzymes to become versatile biocatalysts. Because of the strength of the NMBU group, the high ambitions of CUBE, and the strong trans-disciplinary team behind CUBE, young researchers affiliated to this project will have ample opportunities to do top-notch science in an international environment with excellent training opportunities.
We are looking for an ambitious student who is familiar with enzymes, enzyme engineering and catalysis, at an experimental and/or theoretical level.
The applicant is made aware that an application for a PhD position at NMBU is at the same time an application for admission to a PhD programme at the institution. The documentation that is necessary to ensure that the admission requirements are met must be uploaded as an attachment.
Main tasks
The PhD student will become part of a team that is carrying out an extensive engineering program to create a deeper understanding of how LPMOs work and, importantly, to develop novel LPMO-based biocatalysts. We will combine protein engineering and directed evolution with computational protein design, advanced functional characterization of enzyme properties, and computation-based mechanistic studies. Interactions with the synergy partners will be crucial, for example concerning in-depth spectroscopic characterization or comparisons between synthetic and enzymatic catalysts.
The tasks of the recruited PhD student can to some extent be adapted to the student’s previous experience, preferences and ambitions.
At least one of the following tasks will need to be covered:
Protein engineering of LPMOs; mutant design, de novo AI-based protein design, generating mutants and basic functional characterization
Advanced structural, spectroscopic, and kinetic studies of LPMOs.
Computational studies of LPMO catalysis.
Competence
The successful applicant must meet the conditions defined for admission to a PhD programme at NMBU. The applicant must have an academically relevant education corresponding to a five-year master’s degree or a cand.med.vet. degree, with a learning outcome corresponding to the descriptions in the Norwegian Qualification Framework, second cycle. The applicant must have a documented strong academic background relevant to the position and be able to document proficiency in both written and oral English. For more detailed information on the admission criteria please see the PhD Regulations and the relevant PhD programme description.
Required academic qualifications
An MSc degree or equivalent on a relevant subject and grades that are sufficient to be admitted to NMBU’s PhD program (B as average grade for the MSc studies, or better).
Training and research experience (at MSc level) in protein biochemistry and related gene technology (gene cloning, protein expression, site-directed mutagenesis, protein purification, enzyme assays).
Note that:
We need the student to start as soon as possible. Candidates who cannot start prior to April 1, 2025, will only be considered in exceptional cases.
Although not absolutely required, we will prioritize candidates who have worked with redox enzymes, preferably LPMOs.
One or more of the following additional experiences and skills are desirable:
Experience with applying computational chemistry to biomolecules.
Experience in advanced enzyme kinetics.
Experience with spectroscopic methods such as EPR, Raman and/or X-ray spectroscopy.
Experience with structural biology (X-ray crystallography, NMR or cryo-EM).
Experience in the analytical tools needed to study LPMO reactions (HPLC, MS).
Personal qualities:
We are looking for an ambitious student who sees CUBE as a perfect opportunity to learn and do great science.
The ideal candidate will combine (and be able to document) the following personal qualities:
Strong track record.
Hard-working, ambitious and accurate.
Genuinely interested in advanced scientific research.
Good social and collaborative skills.
Good communicative skills, orally and written, in English (candidates will be required to give a research presentation in English as part of the recruitment process).
Remuneration and further information
The position is placed in government pay scale position code 1017 PhD-fellow. PhD-fellows are normally placed in pay grade 54 (NOK 532200) on the Norwegian Government salary scale upon employment and follow ordinary meriting regulations.
Employment is conducted according to national guidelines for University and Technical College PhD scholars.
If you need further information, please contact:
Professor Vincent Eijsink; E-mail: vincent.eijsink@nmbu.no; phone +47 67232463. Note that it is not possible to apply per E-mail
To apply online for this vacancy, please click on the 'Apply for this job' button above. This will route you to the University's Web Recruitment System, where you will need to register an account (if you have not already) and log in before completing the online application form.
Application deadline: December 19th, 2024
Your CV must be entered in JobbNorge's CV form and not just included as an attachment. This is to be able to comply with the regulations of §15 of the Public Administration Act.
In the application, the candidate must confirm that information and documentation (in the form of attachments) submitted via the job application can also be used by NMBU in a possible admission process.
Applicants invited for an interview are expected to present original diplomas and certificates.
The following documents must be attached to the application:
Motivation letter (maximum 1 page)
Complete CV
Certified copies of academic diplomas and certificates. (i.e. Diploma, transcript. Diploma supplement for both bachelor and master). Diplomas, transcripts and diploma supplements that are not in Norwegian or English must be uploaded in the original language. An English translation of these documents must also be attached.
Applicants from universities outside Norway need to include a diploma supplement, or a similar document, which describes in detail the study program and grading system.
Additional relevant documentation of professional knowledge (for example, list of scientific works). If it is difficult to judge the applicant’s contribution for publications with multiple authors, a short description of the applicant’s contribution must be included.
