Marie Curie MetaExplore PhD position: Functional Metagenomics and Biocatalyst Discovery for a Sustainable Circular Economy University of Cambridge in United Kingdom

[Marie Curie Rate; fixed-term funding available from 1st February 2026 until 31st January 2030.]

The University of Cambridge is offering a Marie Curie MetaExplore PhD position in the Department of Biochemistry, supervised by Professor Florian Hollfelder. This doctoral opportunity is part of the Horizon Europe EU Marie Curie Network MetaExplore, a collaborative initiative involving leading research groups across Europe and the UK. The project centers on functional metagenomics, aiming to discover and develop novel biocatalysts that can contribute to a sustainable circular economy through ultrahigh throughput screening technologies.

Research activities will focus on harnessing environmental sources to identify new enzymes with potential applications in recycling, bioremediation, and green chemistry. The successful candidate will develop and utilize ultrahigh throughput assays to screen metagenomic libraries, enabling the experimental interrogation of enzyme libraries with over 10 million members per day. Candidate enzymes will be mechanistically investigated, structurally characterized, and improved through directed evolution, with the goal of enhancing resource and energy efficiency in future sustainable processes.

The project offers extensive training opportunities, both experimental and computational, through collaborations with MetaExplore network partners. Skills development will include molecular and chemical biology techniques, assay development, enzyme kinetics, DNA library generation, structural biology, organic synthesis, high-throughput screening, mechanistic enzymology, bioinformatics, and microfluidic engineering.

Applicants should possess a first or upper second class degree in chemistry, biochemistry, or a closely related discipline. Prior experience in the relevant techniques and skills is highly advantageous. The position is funded at the Marie Curie Rate, with support available from 1st February 2026 to 31st January 2030. The University of Cambridge actively supports equality, diversity, and inclusion, and encourages applications from all backgrounds. All applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK.

To apply, candidates should submit a cover letter describing their research interests, a detailed CV including exam marks and practical experience, a list of publications, and the names and email addresses of at least two referees familiar with their research work. Applications should be made via the University of Cambridge job portal, quoting reference PH48291. For informal enquiries, contact Professor Florian Hollfelder at [email protected]. For questions regarding the application process, contact the Biochemistry HR Team at [email protected].

Further information about the supervisor and research group can be found at https://hollfelder.bioc.cam.ac.uk/ and details about the MetaExplore network at http://www.metaexplore.eu/. The application deadline is 12 January 2025.