PhD scholarship in Enzymatic Carbohydrate Synthesis - DTU Bioengineering

A 3-year PhD position within enzyme technology is available in the Enzymatic Synthesis Technology group, Section Protein Chemistry and Enzyme Technology, Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, DTU. The position is part of the department’s mission to understand enzyme action for new sustainable bioprocessing applications, and is tied to the department’s lighthouse ‘Enzyme Discovery and Engineering’ targeting computational enzymology, enzyme discovery, assay development, and enzyme engineering for new sustainable processes.

The position is fully funded by Villum Fonden under the Villum Young Investigator program investigating regioselectivity in enzymatic carbohydrate synthesis catalyzed by glycoside hydrolases. During the 3-year PhD project, you will work on expression, characterization, and protein engineering of a range of novel carbohydrate-active enzymes with the aim of determining their substrate specificity and regioselectivity during transglycosylation. Further, the work includes chemical synthesis of selected carbohydrate regioisomers,

Responsibilities and qualifications
We are looking for an ambitious candidate with a strong background in enzyme technology and molecular biology. Documented knowledge and experience with carbohydrate-active enzymes is prioritized. You must be well organized, structured, self-driven and enjoy interacting and collaborating with colleagues including PhD students, postdocs, and you are expected to take part in supervision of BSc and MSc students doing lab projects.

You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree. We are looking for a candidate with the following, specific qualifications:

• Documented experience with recombinant protein production in microbial hosts, including protein purification and characterization, preferably also practical protein engineering experience.
• Theoretical knowledge, preferably practical experience in setting up and conducting enzyme activity assays, particularly for carbohydrate-active enzymes.
• Knowledge of carbohydrate chemistry, i.e. carbohydrate structures and terminology.
• Experience in chemical carbohydrate synthesis is an advantage, while interest in learning it is a requirement.
• Experience in chromatographic analysis of carbohydrates and interest in bioinformatics-based enzyme discovery are considered advantageous.
• Excellent communication skills in English (written and spoken).

The successful candidate will join the recently established research group Enzymatic Synthesis Technology, led by Associate Professor Birgitte Zeuner. The group is part of the Section for Protein Chemistry and Enzyme Technology (https://www.bioengineering.dtu.dk/research/research-sections/section-for-protein-chemistry-and-enzyme-technology) with research on discovery, expression and characterization of carbohydrate-active enzymes and other proteins for a plethora of applications.

The research group is currently a four-person team with close connections to several other research groups in the section, and with this new grant, we will expand the team size. You will specifically work in a project team that includes a postdoc skilled in computational modelling of enzymes and a 3rd year PhD scholar with strong lab skills. An additional postdoc will join the team during 2025.

We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic, extremely collaborative, and international research environment with recently renovated laboratory facilities and state-of-the-art equipment for carbohydrate analytics and enzyme technology. Your daily work will take place in close collaboration with other PhD students and postdocs in the research section. The work takes place at DTU at the Lyngby campus. An external stay with European collaborators for 3 months is expected.

Approval and Enrolment
The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education .

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and appointment terms
Starting date is 1 June 2024 or shortly after. The position is a full-time position.

The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. The period of employment is 3 years.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here http://www.dtu.dk/english/about/job-and-career/working-at-dtu/career-paths.

Further information
Further information may be obtained from Associate Professor Birgitte Zeuner ([email protected] ), DTU Bioengineering.

You can read more about DTU Bioengineering at www.bioengineering.dtu.dk

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark . Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar “PhD relocation to Denmark and startup “Zoom” seminar ” for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU.

Application procedure
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 18 February 2024 (23:59 Danish time).

Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file . The file must include:

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
• Curriculum vitae
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale

You may apply prior to ob­tai­ning your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it.

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, disability, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.

The Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine (DTU Bioengineering) is an international leader in the areas of biotechnology and biomedicine. Our engineering approach to all aspects of biotechnology and biomedicine positions us as a valuable player with unique competences in a growing bio-based economy and with health systems transforming towards personalized medicine. We have a clear focus on the needs in the life science- and biotech industries and point towards innovation, new businesses, and scientific services for the benefit of society. The department has extensive collaborations with national and international research units and industry. DTU Bioengineering has approx. 400 employees, of which 2/3 are scientific staff. The department is located at DTU Lyngby Campus.

Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.

Kilde: Jobnet.dk