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Amr El-Demerdash

11 months ago

PhD in Biocatalysis and Chemical Biology for Drug Discovery University of East Anglia in United Kingdom

Degree Level

PhD

Field of study

Pharmacology

Funding

This is a fully funded BBSRC NRPDTP studentship covering tuition fees and providing a stipend. The student will also undertake a three-month industrial placement at Prozomix Ltd. Funding includes research training and industrial experience.

Deadline

Dec 2, 2026

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Country

United Kingdom

University

University of East Anglia

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Keywords

Pharmacology
Chemistry
Biology
Medicinal Chemistry
Drug Discovery
Chemical Biology
Green Chemistry
Medical Science
Biocatalysis
Environmental Sustainability
Enzyme Engineering
Naturalproducts

About this position

A fully funded PhD studentship is available at the University of East Anglia, supervised by Amr El-Demerdash (Group leader and Assistant Professor in Chemical Biology) and Professor Rob Field. The project focuses on biocatalytic diversification of complex natural products to enhance their therapeutic performance, using green chemistry approaches for drug discovery. Students will work at the interface of chemistry, biology, and sustainability, tackling challenges in drug development through innovative, eco-friendly methods.

The research involves modifying natural products such as plumbagin, lithocholic acid, and camptothecin using advanced biocatalysts (cytochrome P450s, hydroxylases, flavin-dependent halogenases). The aim is to improve solubility, metabolic stability, and reduce toxicity, thereby increasing clinical potential. The project includes collaboration with Prozomix Ltd., an industrial leader in enzyme development, offering a three-month placement for industrial experience in enzyme production and biocatalytic process development.

Training will cover biocatalysis, enzyme screening, natural product derivatization, analytical chemistry (NMR, LC-MS, HPLC), and mammalian cell-based pharmacology. Applicants should have a background in biological chemistry, medicinal chemistry, biochemistry, or related disciplines, and a strong interest in enzyme-enabled drug discovery. The studentship is fully funded by the BBSRC NRPDTP, covering tuition and stipend. Applications are open until 2nd December 2025, with the program starting on 1st October 2026. For more details and to apply, visit the Norwich Research Park DTP website.

Funding details

This is a fully funded BBSRC NRPDTP studentship covering tuition fees and providing a stipend. The student will also undertake a three-month industrial placement at Prozomix Ltd. Funding includes research training and industrial experience.

What's required

Applicants should have a background in biological chemistry, medicinal chemistry, biochemistry, or related disciplines. A keen interest in enzyme-enabled drug discovery is preferred. Experience in analytical chemistry, cell-based assays, or pharmacology is advantageous. No specific GPA or language test requirements are mentioned.

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Professors

Group leader and Assistant Professor in Chemical Biology

University Name
Country flag

United Kingdom

Research Interests

Pharmacology

Analytical Chemistry

Chemical Biology

Biology

Chemistry

Professor

University Name
Country flag

United Kingdom

Research Interests

Pharmacology

Analytical Chemistry

Chemistry

Chemical Biology

Biology