The research group headed by PI Dr. Reuben Leveson-Gower is hiring a PhD student to work on a project in the field of Biocatalysis. Motivated by the immense potential that enzymes represent to greatly improve the sustainability of the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, our group seeks to engineer enzymes that can facilitate new reactions that were previously not known in nature. To this end we will adapt existing enzyme architectures (i.e. naturally occurring cofactors and catalytic machinery) to conduct new catalytic tasks through a combination of chemical intuition and enzyme engineering.

The PhD project will involve the construction of a bioinformatic workflow to select candidate enzymes, employing a combination of ‘off-the-shelf’ tools based on both sequence and structure. These enzymes will be produced, screened and the best variants subject to protein engineering campaigns. Once highly active variants are produced, the molecular mechanisms by which they have achieved their improvements will be investigated. These insights will form a key part of the ‘build, test, learn’ cycle to accelerate the development of further biocatalysts for related ‘new-to-nature’ reactions. The reults will reveal the determining characteristics of enzyme catalytic promiscuity, so that it can harnessed with increasing efficiency. Ultimately, the research aims to develop practically applicable catalysts for the efficient and benign synthesis of societally important molecules.

The work will be conducted in the shared laboratories of the BOC section, a highly collaborative and collegial environment. This role involves designing and instigating robust experimental protocols that will serve as a basis for the group’s future research activities. This will be done in close supervision from the PI, and there is also the opportunity to help train master and bachelor project students. Involvement in teaching is a requirement of the position. 

Ideally suited candidates must have:

-              a master’s degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, or Biotechnology

-              a strong grasp of fundamental concepts in organic chemistry

-              excellent spoken and written English

Experience in the following topics is beneficial:

-              site-directed mutagenesis and cloning; protein expression/purification

-              enzyme engineering/evolution; analytical and synthetic chemistry

-              protein bioinformatics; computational (bio)chemistry

At this career stage it is unlikely that any candidate has all these skills and thus it is essential that candidates are enthusiastic in expanding their capabilities during the PhD. Therefore, preference will be given to those with demonstrated ability and passion for learning new wet-lab or dry-lab skills.

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements here

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2770 per month in the first year to € 3539 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customizable compensation package, discounts on health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

For international applicants, TU Delft has the Coming to Delft Service. This service provides information for new international employees to help you prepare the relocation and to settle in the Netherlands. The Coming to Delft Service offers a Dual Career Programme for partners and they organize events to expand your (social) network.

Delft University of Technology

Delft University of Technology

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context. At TU Delft we embrace diversity and aim to be as inclusive as possible (see our Code of Conduct). Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale.
Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty/Departement

Faculty of Applied Sciences
With more than 1,000 employees, including 135 pioneering principal investigators, as well as a population of about 3,400 passionate students, the Faculty of Applied Sciences is an inspiring scientific ecosystem. Focusing on key enabling technologies, such as quantum- and nanotechnology, photonics, biotechnology, synthetic biology and materials for energy storage and conversion, our faculty aims to provide solutions to important problems of the 21st century. To that end, we train students in broad Bachelor's and specialist Master's programmes with a strong research component. Our scientists conduct ground-breaking fundamental and applied research in the fields of Life and Health Science & Technology, Nanoscience, Chemical Engineering, Radiation Science & Technology, and Engineering Physics. We are also training the next generation of high school teachers and science communicators.

Department of Biotechnology

The Department of Biotechnology engages in internationally-leading education programmes and offers a stimulating research environment in the biosciences that combines fundamental science, engineering, and design, all directed towards biotechnological process innovations. The Department covers the areas of biocatalysis, bioprocess engineering, environmental biotechnology, industrial microbiology, and biotechnology and society. The Department harbours excellent laboratory facilities and infrastructure.

If you would like more information about this role, please contact Assistant Professor Dr. Reuben Leveson-Gower (r.leveson-gower@tudelft.nl). Applications should not be sent by email, and will not be considered.