Postdoctoral Fellow in Enzyme Engineering
We are looking for a candidate that is highly motivated and excited to employ directed evolution to create novel enzymes.
Our research focuses on implementing evolution in a test tube to generate novel proteins with custom-made properties. We are interested in applying methods of in vitro selection and evolution to the generation of de novo enzymes as well as to tailoring existing enzymes to a wide variety of useful properties. We have established a general method to generate novel protein enzymes from scratch – enzymes that have not been found in nature. Our method enables us to search for new enzymes in libraries of trillions of proteins variants in a single experiment (Seelig & Szostak, Nature, 2007 (448) 828).
One objective of our research is to create enzymes as ‘designer catalysts’ for a range of applications. We are also interested in studying our new enzymes in detail and evolve them further to help elucidate basic principles of biocatalysis and protein evolution.
We are looking for an applicant with a Ph.D. and a solid expertise in molecular biology, excellent communication skills, a proven publication record and enthusiasm and motivation to do science in a collaborative and friendly environment.
The position is available immediately. Please send a description of your research experience and scientific interest together with your CV, list of publications and the names of three references to: seelig@umn.edu.
Burckhard Seelig
Assistant Professor
Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics
BioTechnology Institute
University of Minnesota
140 Gortner Laboratory
1479 Gortner Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55108
