The DTU Biosustain is looking for a postdoc in Protein Engineering and Enzyme Kinetics. Contribute to engineering the next generation thermophilic bacterial cell factories.

Do you have a biology related PhD, and do you want to make an impact clearly beyond the average, for yourself and the world? While joining DTU Biosustain you will help finding sustainable solutions to some of the biggest challenges in the history of mankind, and you will do it surrounded by state-of-the-art equipment and world-class scientists from all over the world.

You will be part of a unique EU funded project with a 40 mill. Euro budget. During the next five years we will among others build a nearly full-scale fermentation plant with collaboration partners in Trondheim, Norway. The plant will be designed to fixate 10.000 tons of CO2 per year during production while enabling best-in-class experiment and testing opportunities. As such, you will get the best of two worlds – basic research and a direct link to the industry and the making of real-life products.

Analyze and improve performance of enzymes of engineered metabolic pathways

You will be part of a science team headed by prof. Alex Toftgaard Nielsen aiming to create the foundation for production of valuable chemicals from renewable resources. We will be 5-8 in Denmark and approx. the same at our sister team in Norway. Besides internal collaboration, you will work in close collaboration with industrial partners, since the final goal of the project is technology application in large-scale fermentation facilities.

More specifically, you will contribute to engineering the next generation thermophilic bacterial cell factories. You and your team colleagues will combine methods from diverse fields such as systems and synthetic biology, computational modelling, strain engineering, biochemistry and fermentation technology to construct robust and highly efficient production strains and processes. Your research will pave the way for e.g. development of sustainable solvents used in the global plastic industry.

Your overall focus will be on working with the enzymes of the engineered metabolic pathways to analyze and improve their performance. Your tasks will include:

• Develop assays for characterizing kinetic parameters of pathway enzymes
• Analyze and compare protein structures in silico
• Enzyme engineering based on structural information and enzymatic properties of protein libraries
• Presenting results on a regular basis
• Potentially travelling to Trondheim several times a year to meet with Norwegian science peers and Engineers working to build the new plant

PhD with experience within methods for determining enzyme kinetics

We are looking for an ambitious Scientist that likes to create results via knowledge sharing and teamwork with due respect to professional and cultural differences. At the same time, you must be able to define the road map and be the primary driver of turning ideas into action. Additionally, you must be good at designing and setting up experiments and bring a strong motivation for working with high throughput data. Additionally, your CV comprises:

• PhD in Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, or equivalent
• Demonstrated experience within methods for determining enzyme kinetics
• Experience with computational protein analysis and modeling
• Motivation for building skills within genome scale modelling of metabolism
• High level English skills, written and spoken

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.

Further information

If you would like additional information about the position, please contact Prof. Alex Toftgaard Nielsen at atn@biosustain.dtu.dk. Then we can set up an additional phone call to ensure your understanding of the job and your many opportunities.

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark. (https://www.dtu.dk/english/about/job-and-career/moving-to-denmark)

Salary and terms of employment

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 2 years preferably starting at the beginning of 2022.

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

Application

Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 1 December 2021 (Danish time). Please apply at www.career.dtu.dk

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

• Application (cover letter)
• CV
• Academic Diplomas (MSc/PhD)
• List of publications

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

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

The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability (DTU Biosustain)

Recent progress in our ability to read and write genomic code, combined with advances in automation, analytics and data science, has fundamentally changed the scope and ambition of harnessing the potential of biological systems. Big data approaches and analysis of biological systems are key research instruments at the Center. DTU Biosustain utilizes these advances for microbial cell factory design to foster sustainable lifestyles in relation to three application areas: Sustainable Chemicals, Natural Products, and Microbial Foods. Learn more at biosustain.dtu.dk

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 vision to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That vision lives on today. DTU has 12,900 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.