Daniele Castagnolo
10 months ago
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PhD Studentship in Biocatalysis and Sustainable Chemistry at University College London University College London in United Kingdom
Degree Level
PhD
Field of study
Molecular Biology
Funding
The studentship is fully funded for 4 years, covering full tuition fees (Home or International rate), a maintenance stipend of at least £23,466 per year (2026/27, rising annually), and a Research Training Support Grant for project costs, conferences, and travel. Up to 50 studentships are available, with a cap of 30% for international students.
Deadline
Expired
Country
United Kingdom
University
University College London

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About this position
A fully funded PhD studentship is available in the group of Prof. Daniele Castagnolo at University College London (UCL), focusing on the field of biocatalysis and sustainable chemistry. The project, titled 'Greener Chemistry with Enzymes: Unlocking the Synthesis of Challenging Cyclopropane Motifs through Biocatalysis,' aims to develop innovative biocatalytic strategies for synthesizing cyclopropane rings, which are important in pharmaceutical compounds and chemical synthesis. The research will involve identifying, expressing, and engineering novel enzymes, particularly cyclopropane synthases and 2-oxoglutarate/Fe(II)-dependent dioxygenases, to achieve efficient and selective cyclopropanation reactions.
The successful candidate will receive multidisciplinary training in protein expression and purification, biocatalytic screening, LC-MS/GC-MS analysis, synthetic organic chemistry, and enzyme engineering. The project will be conducted at UCL’s Manufacturing Futures Lab, a state-of-the-art research hub equipped with advanced instrumentation such as HPLC, LC-MS, GC-MS, NMR, and robotic systems for automated mutagenesis and enzyme screening.
Applicants should have, or expect to obtain, a first or upper second-class Honours degree (or equivalent) in organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, molecular biology, biochemical engineering, or a closely related discipline. The studentship is open to both Home and International students, though international places are limited to 30% of the cohort. The funding covers full tuition fees, a maintenance stipend of at least £23,466 per year (2026/27, increasing annually), and a Research Training Support Grant for project-related expenses.
Applications must be submitted through the official UCL application portal using the project ID 2531bd1637. The deadline for applications is 13:00 UK time on Monday, 5 January 2026. Informal inquiries can be directed to Prof. Daniele Castagnolo at [email protected], but all formal applications must go through the portal. For more information, visit the project and studentship webpages linked above.
Keywords: Biocatalysis, Sustainable Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Enzyme Engineering, Cyclopropane Synthesis, Protein Expression, Chemical Synthesis, University College London, PhD Studentship, Fully Funded.
Funding details
The studentship is fully funded for 4 years, covering full tuition fees (Home or International rate), a maintenance stipend of at least £23,466 per year (2026/27, rising annually), and a Research Training Support Grant for project costs, conferences, and travel. Up to 50 studentships are available, with a cap of 30% for international students.
What's required
Applicants should hold, or expect to achieve, a first or upper second-class Honours degree (or equivalent) in organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, molecular biology, biochemical engineering, or a closely related discipline. Academic merit is the primary selection criterion. Both Home and International students are eligible, but international places are limited. Candidates must meet UCL and departmental entry requirements.
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