The OXYTRAIN training network (see www.oxytrain.eu) offers 12 PhD fellowships for a program on mechanistic and applied enzymology research. OXYTRAIN is a joint academic/non-academic training initiative supporting the convergence of biochemistry, enzyme engineering and biotechnology.
The most talented and motivated students will be selected for a 3-year advanced multidisciplinary research training, starting July 2017. Fellows will obtain specialist training through cutting-edge research projects, specialist advanced courses and training schools, complemented by workshops on transferable skills. In addition, fellows will have the opportunity to go abroad on international secondments at leading places in academia and industry. The OXYTRAIN research program aims at developing effective oxygenases that can be used for selective oxidation reactions. This project, ESR2, will focus on improving the rate of catalysis, understanding the molecular basis for formation and stabilisation of the oxidising enzyme intermediate in Flavin Monooxygenases (FMO) and boosting enzyme robustness by establishing (1) efficient expression systems for soluble and membrane-bound eukaryotic FMOs; (2) protocols for protein purification as to provide the material for structural and biochemical studies; and, (3) providing structure determination of enzymes and enzyme-ligand complexes including analysis of valuable mutants. The work will involve the production, crystallization and structure elucidation of human FMOs, as no structure is available yet for these flavoproteins, in spite of them playing a crucial role in metabolism of drugs and metabolites. The FMOs will also be studied regarding their mechanistic features. The Structural Enzymology group, headed by Prof Mattevi, is currently hosting five Postdoctoral Fellows, five PhD students, a technician and several Master students. The common theme of the research projects in the group is the investigation of medically relevant proteins and enzymes with interesting chemical properties. The core of the research activity is represented by X-ray crystallography, employed to study protein three-dimensional structures; this is complemented by other approaches such as biochemistry, biophysics, cell biology and computational chemistry. Key contributions include the first crystal structure of a Baeyer-Villiger monooxygenase (phenylacetone monooxygenase from Thermobifida fusca), the first crystal structure of a thermostable Baeyer-Villiger monooxygenase (Cyclohexanone monooxygenase from Thermocrispum municipale) and the first crystal structure of a Baeyer-Villiger monooxygenase active on large cyclic ketones (polycyclic ketone monooxygenase from Thermothelomyces thermophile). On the study of FMOs, the group has recently published the characterization of human isoform 5 (FMO5) revealing the atypical in vitro activity of it as a Baeyer–Villiger monooxygenase on a broad range of substrates, revealing the first example to date of a human protein catalysing such reactions; previously, the group provided the x-ray structure of a soluble prokaryotic FMO from Methylophaga sp. strain SK1, the protein of known structure with the highest sequence similarity to human FMOs. For more information on ESR2, please visit http://www.oxytrain.eu/esr2/ For more information on the 12 individual research projects, please visit www.oxytrain.eu/phd-vacancies/ Start and duration of the PhD positions Fellows preferably start July 1st, 2017, but at the utmost on September 1st, 2017. The fellowship lasts 3 years. Who can apply? • The most important criteria are enthusiasm, excellence, commitment to research and team spirit. Educational background preferably in the area of (bio)chemistry, molecular biology, biotechnology, biophysics or combinations thereof. • Candidates need to have completed a European Master’s degree or equivalent prior to the application deadline. Candidates have to be in their first four years of their research career and not yet be awarded with a doctoral degree at the time of recruitment. • Excellent proficiency in English language. • Open for all nationalities. In compliance with the EU mobility rule, at the time of recruitment, you must not have lived or worked for more than 12 months in the country of your future host organisation in the 3 years immediately prior to the start of the PhD project. • Only applications that are complete, in English and submitted before the deadline will be considered eligible. How to apply? Your application must be submitted by March 15th, 2017 to oxytr...@rug.nl Please, submit the following documents in one PDF document: - A cover letter, stating your motivation to join the network, and mentioning the first two choices of projects you would prefer to apply for. - Your CV: a one- to two page synopsis of yourself, your scientific interests, and of your current research work. - Two letters of recommendation from former advisors/professors. After 20th March 2017 we will select 20-24 candidates who will be invited to attend the recruitment days, 18 & 19 April 2017 in Amsterdam. Timeline Deadline for application 15 March 2017 Invite/rejection for Recruitment Days 20 March 2017 Selection Days 18 & 19 April 2017 Announcement of selected/rejected candidates 19 April This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska Curie grant agreement No. 722390. J Rubén Gómez Castellanos, DPhil Research Fellow Dept of Biology and Biotechnology University of Pavia Mob +39 (3) 711 794 168 joseruben.gomezcastella...@unipv.it
