Gustav Berggren

The doctoral project is based in the bioinorganic chemistry group within the molecular biomimetics program at the Department of Chemistry – Ångström , Uppsala University. The group is described as internationally recognized, highly visible, and located in a modern building at the Ångström Laboratory. The research environment is strongly collaborative, with cross-disciplinary interactions and cooperation with specialists at Uppsala University and other universities in Sweden and abroad. The project focuses on hydrogenase enzymes , redox-active metalloenzymes that catalyze the conversion between protons and molecular hydrogen. The research is driven by recent findings suggesting that [FeFe] hydrogenases may not be fully reversible catalysts, but instead show an intrinsic bias toward hydrogen uptake or production. The project explores the idea that these enzymes may function as “metabolic rectifiers,” enabling unidirectional electron flow with minimal energy loss and supporting energy metabolism near thermodynamic limits. The doctoral student will investigate the prevalence of unidirectional catalysis across hydrogenases from different ecological and phylogenetic contexts and help identify the molecular features that control catalytic directionality. The work includes the isolation and characterization of novel [FeFe] hydrogenases, detailed study of selected enzymes, and mechanistic analysis using electrochemistry and spectroscopy including EPR and FTIR. The student will also contribute to rational design and analysis of enzyme variants, kinetic modelling, and scientific publication writing. The role combines experimental enzymology with biophysical and mechanistic analysis in a research-active chemistry environment. The position is a doctoral appointment with a main focus on research and completion of third-cycle courses, with teaching and other departmental duties possible to a limited extent.