David Leys

[Annual tax-free stipend of £20,780 (2025/26 UKRI rate, subject to annual uplift) plus paid tuition fees for 4 years. Open to UK and overseas students.] This fully funded 4-year PhD studentship at The University of Manchester offers an exciting opportunity to develop expertise in biocatalysis and enzyme engineering. The project, supervised by Professor David Leys, focuses on the design and engineering of cofactor-dependent enzymes to achieve asymmetric reductive carboxylation, enabling the synthesis of valuable acid building blocks. The research will explore the UbiD family of prFMN-dependent reversible decarboxylases, which interconvert unsaturated hydrocarbons and alpha, beta-unsaturated acids, and will combine these with other enzymes to enable CO2 fixation and the production of saturated acids. The project will involve advanced biophysical studies, including spectroscopy, computational modelling, and structural biology, as well as laboratory evolution to generate enzyme variants with improved substrate scope and activity. The Leys, Green, and Hay groups, co-located in the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology (MIB), provide access to world-class infrastructure and a collaborative research environment. The groups are well funded and have a strong track record of joint publications and industrial collaborations. Successful candidates will receive a tax-free stipend of £20,780 per year (2025/26 UKRI rate, subject to annual uplift) and full tuition fee coverage. The studentship is open to both UK and international applicants. Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, at least a 2.1 honours degree or a master’s (or international equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering discipline. To apply, candidates should submit an online application and contact Prof Leys with details of their academic background, relevant experience, and motivation for pursuing this PhD project. The application deadline is 15 May 2026, but early application is encouraged as the advert may close sooner.