'A versatile biocatalytic platform for scalable therapeutic oligonucleotide manufacturing'
A position is available for Postdoctoral Research Associates with experience in directed evolution, biocatalysis, biochemistry, or a related discipline. The aim of the research is to develop and optimize a biocatalytic approach to therapeutic oligonucleotide synthesis. This position is based in the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology (MIB) under the supervision of Dr. Sarah Lovelock. Candidates will work closely with industrial partners, including AstraZeneca, Novartis, CPI, Novo Nordisk, and BioMarin.
Therapeutic oligonucleotides bind selectively to target mRNA to modulate the production of disease-related proteins and have emerged as a potential new drug modality for various diseases. However, current chemical synthesis methods are not scalable and are limited in scope. This highly interdisciplinary project lies at the cutting edge of enzyme engineering and nucleic acid therapeutics research. Successful applicants will have access to state-of-the-art facilities for reaction scale-up and high-throughput automated enzyme engineering, including liquid handling robots, colony pickers, and analytical facilities. They will have opportunities to develop expertise in fundamental and translational science, relevant to careers in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries.
Applicants should have, or expect to attain, a PhD or equivalent in Chemical Biology, Biochemistry, or Biocatalysis, with a submitted thesis prior to starting. We seek experienced researchers with a proven track record in optimizing biocatalytic processes. Candidates should be able to work independently and collaboratively with industrial and academic partners, demonstrating excellent communication and organizational skills.
Application forms and further details are available at www.manchester.ac.uk/jobs. For hard copies, contact The Directorate of Human Resources, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Tel: +44 (0) 161 275 8837, Email: eps-hr@manchester.ac.uk.
The School of Chemistry promotes equality and diversity, including the Athena SWAN Charter for gender equality. The school holds a Silver Award, recognizing good practices such as flexible working, family-friendly policies, and support for work-life balance. We particularly encourage applications from women, as they are currently underrepresented at this grade. Appointments are made on merit. For more information, visit http://www.chemistry.manchester.ac.uk/about-us/athena-swan/.
We welcome applications from women and are committed to equality of opportunity.
What you will get in return:
* Market-leading pension scheme
* Health and wellbeing services, including Employee Assistance Programme
* Generous annual leave entitlement plus bank holidays
* Additional paid closure over Christmas
* Discounts at major retailers
The university fosters inclusion and diversity and supports flexible working arrangements, including hybrid work options.
Please note: We do not accept CVs or applications from recruitment agencies. Enquiries from agencies should be directed to People.Recruitment@manchester.ac.uk. Any CVs submitted are considered a gift.
For inquiries about the vacancy, contact Dr. Sarah Lovelock at sarah.lovelock@manchester.ac.uk. General questions can be sent to People.recruitment@manchester.ac.uk. Technical support is available at https://jobseekersupport.jobtrain.co.uk/support/home.
This vacancy closes at midnight on the specified deadline. Please refer to the Further Particulars document for the person specification criteria.
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