PhD-position | Repurposing enzyme activities for polymer degradation

Cluster of Excellence Circular Bioengineering

Organisation/Company Cluster of Excellence Circular Bioengineering Research Field Chemistry » Biochemistry Technology » Biotechnology Technology » Materials technology Technology » Environmental technology Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Country Austria Application Deadline 30 Jun 2025 - 23:59 (Europe/Vienna) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Part-time Hours Per Week 30 Offer Starting Date 1 Sep 2025 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Enzymes are highly powerful and potent tools in nature. In this project we want to repurpose ROS producing enzymes for potential use in degradation of synthetic polymers. Candidate enzymes will be thoroughly studied to understand their structure function relationship to the fullest in order to have a solid basis for engineering approaches that ultimately yield highly efficient and stable “blockbuster” enzymes.

Background

The degradation of biopolymers requires a suite of specific enzymes secreted by plant biomass degrading microorganisms. For synthetic polymers, especially the difficult to depolymerize polyolefines, like polyethylene or polypropylene, such specific enzymes have not been evolved by organisms yet. Instead of combining a series of enzymes with different activities, the proposed strategy involves enzymes producing reactive compounds that start depolymerization reactions of recalcitrant polymers. Bacterial ROS producing oxidoreductases will act as a starting point in this project.

Aims

In this project, enzymes producing ROS species, hypohalous acids and other radicals will be screened, produced, characterized and engineered. Special focus will be put on the thermal and turnover stability of these “blockbuster” enzymes and various methods will be used to engineer stable producers of highly reactive species. The produced enzymes will be distributed in the COE to be studied with biopolymers in Program 1 and polyolefines in Program 3.

Methods

• Genomic-, microorganism- and activity screening methods
• Enzyme expression and purification
• Biochemical characterization (protein analysis and kinetic measurements)
• Application in processes and process engineering