Daniele Castagnolo

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.

📢 A fully funded PhD studentship is available in the group of Daniele Castagnolo at University College London (UCL), jointly supervised with Dr Dimitrios Evangelopoulos, through the 2027 cohort of the CDT in Engineering Solutions for Antimicrobial Resistance (CDT AMR). The project will focus on the development of novel antibacterial agents to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR), bringing together medicinal chemistry, drug discovery, microbiology, and biocatalysis. Research will be based primarily at the Manufacturing Futures Lab, UCL East, with additional activities at the Department of Microbial Diseases, UCL Eastman Dental Institute, and Royal Free Hospital, London. Collaboration is also planned with Dr Mark Sutton at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). This opportunity is aimed at a motivated candidate interested in interdisciplinary research at the interface of medicinal chemistry and microbiology, and in developing new approaches to one of the major global challenges in public health. Eligibility: applicants should normally have, or be on track to obtain, at least a UK 2:1 degree or equivalent in medicinal chemistry, microbiology, or a relevant discipline. International candidates are welcome, subject to CDT funding eligibility requirements. Funding: fully funded PhD studentship, described as a 4-year studentship. Deadline: 13 December 2026. How to apply: review the UCL CDT AMR website for eligibility and application guidance, then submit your application via the provided link.