Working at the UvA
The Faculty of Science at the University of Amsterdam is one of Europe's foremost institutions of higher education and research in its chosen fields of specialization. It plays an active role in international science networks and collaborates with universities and industry. The Faculty has approximately 2,500 students and 1,500 staff members spread over 4 departments and 10 research institutes. Each institute has its own research program, a substantial part of which is externally funded by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO), the Dutch government, the EU and various private enterprises.
In March 2009, a large part of the Faculty moved to new premises in the Science Park Amsterdam; the entire Faculty will be located there by the end of 2010. The move will make the Park one of the largest centres of academic research in the Netherlands.
Chemical sciences are covered by the Van ‘t Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences (HIMS) which is organized in five research themes: Catalysis, Molecular Photonics, Computational Chemistry, Biomolecular Synthesis, and Macromolecular and Biosystems Analysis.
Within the Biomolecular Synthesis theme, the Biocatalysis group seeks a:
Postdoctoral researcher
38 hours/week
vacancy number 10-1011
‘Bifunctional and trifunctional biocatalysts: the use of fused enzymes'
Recently our group has developed a number of enzymatic cascade reactions in one-pot that allowed the synthesis of non-natural chiral carbohydrates starting from a variety of aldehydes and glycerol or dihydroxyaceton. In theses cascades 2 or 3 different enzymes were used. In this project, which is subsidized by the NRSC-Catalysis program 2009-2013, we will use a novel approach to combine the catalytic activities of these enzymes in a single fusion enzyme product that catalyzes consecutive reactions. This approach and pathway offers the possibility of a more efficient and selective way of product formation. The physical association of two enzymes may bring the active sites in close proximity resulting in channeling of the product from the first enzyme to the second and third enzyme rather than random diffusion to the active sites. This substrate channeling may offer maximal transfer efficiency and it may circumvent unfavorable equilibria and kinetics. In this research project a variety of techniques will be used including molecular biology (cloning, expression of active fused enzymes, directed evolution), enzymology (enzyme purification, characterization and kinetics) and analytical techniques (HPLC, NMR, mass spectrometry) to characterize the compounds synthesized.
Tasks
The postdoc will be part of a small team working on enzyme cascade reactions, and he or she will use advanced molecular biology techniques to produce these biocatalysts, characterize them, and test them in cascade reactions that will be used to synthesize non-natural carbohydrates .The postdoc is expected to assist in some teaching.
Appointment
Appointment will be on a temporary basis for a period of 31 months. The postdoc will be a member of the National Research School Combinations - Catalysis.
The salary is in accordance with the University regulations for academic personnel, and will range between €2,379 and €3,755 gross per month (salary scale 10), depending on expertise and previous experience. The Collective Employment Agreement of the Dutch Universities is applicable.
Job application
Applications, quoting the vacancy number and marked ‘strictly confidential' (in the upper left-hand corner of the envelope), can be sent to the Dienst Personeelszaken, UvA/FNWI, Postbus 94216, 1090 GE Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Applications can also be e-mailed to application-science@uva.nl, with the vacancy number in the subject line and relevant documents in the attachment.
Closing date: 9 April 2010