Engineering enzyme assemblies for rapid plastic breakdown

Applications are invited for a fully-funded 3.5 year PhD to commence in October 2023.

The PhD will be based in the Faculty of Science and Health, and will be supervised by Professor Andy Pickford, Dr Victoria Bemmer and Dr Bruce Lichtenstein. 

The successful candidate will be part of a new and innovative cluster of PhD students, dedicated to finding solutions to the global plastic crisis. Working as part of the cohort  you will explore the complex problem of marine pollution from plastic packaging and be expected to contribute to updates that demonstrate its impact. This interdisciplinary research programme is being supported by UK based material technologies company Aquapak, aiming to harness individual and collective discoveries to build new knowledge and deliver actionable strategies that can be taken to solve a growing problem.

Successful applicants will receive a bursary to cover tuition fees for 3.5 years and a stipend in line with the UKRI rate (£18,622 for 2023/24). The scholarship is open to UK and EU students only. 

Novel means of recycling end-of-life polymers are required if we are to convert the current, linear plastics economy into a circular one with a reduced reliance on fossil-based feedstocks. Natural polymers are commonplace in all kingdoms of life, and for every natural polymer, there exists a natural enzyme that can deconstruct it back into its constituent building blocks. These depolymerase enzymes give circularity to life; the building blocks are reused with nothing going to waste.

In recent years, significant progress has been made in the discovery and engineering of enzymes for the depolymerisation of the most commonly-used polyester, poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET). However, far fewer advances been made in understanding how these enzymes work at the polymer surface, particularly whether interactions between enzymes might accelerate its breakdown. Hence, this project aims to develop multi-enzyme assemblies that can rapidly deconstruct PET. It builds upon our recent, world-leading research into the structure, stability and function of PET-degrading enzymes, and will further develop enzyme-based technology for the circular recycling of waste polyesters.

This studentship opportunity would particularly suit someone with a background in biochemistry, biotechnology, biophysics or organic chemistry. All necessary training will be provided, including in enzyme design and engineering, microbial fermentation, chromatography, solid-phase synthesis, biocalorimetry, polymer analysis, small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and polymer depolymerisation in bioreactors. The supervisory team will be led by Prof Andy Pickford, Director of the Centre for Enzyme Innovation (CEI), with additional support from two CEI Senior Research Fellows, Dr Victoria Bemmer and Dr Bruce Lichtenstein. The CEI combines state-of-the-art facilities and world-leading expertise to not only drive forward scientific breakthroughs, but also provide the capacity and capability for translating that new knowledge into real-world solutions. For more information about the supervisory team and our science, please visit the CEI webpage.

Entry requirements

How to apply

We’d encourage you to contact Professor Andy Pickford (andy.pickford@port.ac.uk) to discuss your interest before you apply, quoting the project code.

When you are ready to apply, you can use our online application form. Make sure you submit a personal statement, proof of your degrees and grades, details of two referees, proof of your English language proficiency and an up-to-date CV.  Our ‘How to Apply’ page offers further guidance on the PhD application process.

If you want to be considered for this funded PhD opportunity you must quote project code BIOL8010223 when applying.