Two PhD Scholarships in domain fusion strategies of carbohydrate-active enzymes at DTU Bioengineering

Are you passionate about sustainability and eager to tackle climate and environmental challenges? Do you have a keen interest in enzymes? Join the Applied Molecular Enzyme Chemistry group at DTU Bioengineering for an exciting PhD journey focused on developing innovative enzyme engineering approaches to obtain enzymes for replacing chemical processes like complex biomass conversion and plastic recycling. The project harnesses computational protein design and rational engineering to create and refine enzymes, addressing current gaps in holistic strategies.

Explore the fascinating world of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) and delve into the intricate interplay between substrate-binding domains and catalytic domains. Your research will be pivotal in bridging knowledge gaps and optimizing enzymes for diverse industrial applications. Make a tangible impact on the future of sustainable technology!

These two PhD scholarships are part of a 5-year project, which also includes a postdoctoral fellowship, funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation. Our goal is to establish a versatile toolbox for engineering enzymes even beyond CAZymes, such as plastic-degrading enzymes, through domain fusion, significantly advancing sustainable technology. Based at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), this project also involves external stays with collaborators in Marseille, France, or in Bayreuth, Germany. You will join a research group dedicated to understanding and developing enzymes for industrial biotechnology.

Responsibilities

PhD scholarship in pearls-on-a-string domain organization of CAZymes
You will investigate how linker properties and domain order impact the enzymatic activity of modular CAZymes with a pearls-on-a-string domain organization. Today, this very common domain organization is used as the only strategy when doing enzyme engineering through domain fusion. However, systematic knowledge is lacking often, resulting in low performing fusion enzymes.

Your tasks will include:

• Conducting comprehensive bioinformatics analyses to select enzymes and linkers for the study.
• Running high-throughput screening of engineered CAZymes with varying properties and domain orders.
• Recombinant production of selected enzymes using E. coli  or Pichia pastoris .
• Performing thorough biochemical characterization of the produced enzymes accessing activity, substrate binding, stability and structure.
• Using findings to guide computational design of enzymes with defined distances and orientations of the domains. 

PhD scholarship in CAZymes with nested domains
You will study CAZymes with a unique domain organization, where one domain is inserted within another one contrasting the classical pearls-on-a-string arrangement. Little is known about the functional advantages and disadvantages of nested domains.

Your tasks will include:

• Selecting a representative set of enzymes to study, including pearls-on-a-string homologs.
• Recombinant production of selected enzymes using E. coli  or Pichia pastoris .
• Performing thorough biochemical characterization of the produced enzymes accessing activity, substrate binding, stability, and structure.
• Using findings to guide the computational design of enzymes with defined distances and orientations of the domains.

Desired candidate profile:

• Strong academic background in protein chemistry, preferably with experience in carbohydrate-active enzymes.
• Experience in bioinformatics analysis, protein structure analysis or computational protein design is highly desirable.
• Experimental work experience in: Recombinant protein production in E. coli  or Pichia pastoris , protein purification, enzymatic assays, protein-ligand interaction analysis, protein stability analysis, or protein structure determination.
• Motivated and driven to overcome challenges, and able to work independently, but thrive in collaborative projects.
• Open to teaching (as a teaching assistant) and supervising undergraduate students working on your project.

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.

Applicable for all scholarships

Approval and Enrolment  
The scholarships for the PhD degree are subject to academic approval, and the candidates 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 
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.

Starting date will be 1. June 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter. The positions are full-time positions. 

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 Marie S. Møller, email: [email protected]  

You can read more about DTU Bioengineering at www.bioengineering.dtu.dk and the Applied Molecular Enzyme Chemistry research group here .

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 12 March 2025 (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
• Names and contact details of at least two references, and recommendation letters if available. 

Please indicate which project you are applying for (title from the above list of PhD projects or individual research projects).

Incomplete applications will not be considered. 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, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. As DTU works with research in critical technology, which is subject to special rules for security and export control, open-source background checks may be conducted on qualified candidates for the position.

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 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.