Postdoc: Enzymatic DNA Synthesis & Protein Engineering

KU Leuven; Vlaams-Brabant; On-site; EUR 48,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

YouReCa career support

Holiday and end-of-year bonuses

Comprehensive social benefits

Job summary

KU Leuven seeks a researcher to advance enzymatic DNA synthesis by engineering a template-independent polymerase. You will perform directed evolution and structure-guided design to improve terminator acceptance and stepwise addition, benchmarking in complete synthesis cycles.

The project spans selection platforms, library construction, NGS analysis, and kinetic studies, with opportunities to publish, present results, and contribute to grant proposals.

Qualifications

• PhD in molecular biology or biochemistry (or obtained shortly before the start date)
• Experience in nucleic acid enzymology beyond PCR, plus at least one of: directed evolution and selection platforms, library construction and NGS analysis, or enzyme kinetics
• Excellent analytical skills and research integrity
• Fluent English; able to work independently and in an international team
• A proactive approach to career development (KU Leuven Individual Development Plan framework)

Responsibilities

• Design and optimize selection conditions; interpret sequencing data quantitatively
• Characterize hits biochemically, including kinetic analysis of nucleotide incorporation
• Publish and present results; contribute to grant proposals
• Direct evolution and structure-guided design to improve terminator acceptance and coupling efficiency
• Benchmark variants in complete synthesis cycles and build an industrial network for licensing or co-development

Skills

Fluent English

Independent worker

Team collaboration

Education

PhD in molecular biology or biochemistry

Tools

Nucleic acid enzymology

NGS data analysis

Directed evolution platforms

Library construction

Job description

KU Leuven seeks a researcher to advance enzymatic DNA synthesis by engineering a template-independent polymerase. You will perform directed evolution and structure-guided design to improve terminator acceptance and stepwise addition, benchmarking in complete synthesis cycles.

The project spans selection platforms, library construction, NGS analysis, and kinetic studies, with opportunities to publish, present results, and contribute to grant proposals.