Amr El-Demerdash

The University of East Anglia is offering a fully funded BBSRC iCASE PhD studentship in the field of biocatalysis and chemical biology, focusing on the biocatalytic diversification of complex natural products for enhanced therapeutic performance. This interdisciplinary project is a collaboration between the research groups of Dr Amr El-Demerdash and Prof. Rob Field at UEA, and Dr James Finnigan at Prozomix Limited, a leading UK biotech company specializing in enzyme discovery and engineering. The research aims to address the limitations of natural products in drug development, such as poor solubility and metabolic instability, by applying advanced biocatalysts—cytochrome P450s, hydroxylases, and flavin-dependent halogenases—to modify high-value natural products like plumbagin, lithocholic acid, and camptothecin. The project will involve screening and optimizing enzyme panels for selective transformations, designing chemoenzymatic cascades, and characterizing novel compounds using analytical techniques such as LC-MS, HPLC, and NMR. The ultimate goal is to generate new analogues with improved drug-like properties and to evaluate their biological activities in human cell-based assays. Students will benefit from training in biocatalysis, enzyme screening, natural product derivatization, analytical chemistry, and mammalian cell-based pharmacology. The program also includes a three-month industrial placement at Prozomix Limited, providing hands-on experience in enzyme production and biocatalytic process development. This opportunity is ideal for candidates with a background in biological chemistry, medicinal chemistry, biochemistry, or related disciplines, and a strong interest in enzyme-enabled drug discovery. Eligibility is limited to UK home students due to funding restrictions. The studentship covers tuition fees and provides a stipend. The application deadline is December 2, 2025, with the program starting on October 1, 2026. For more information and application instructions, visit the project page or contact the supervisors.

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.