Enzymatic DNA synthesis could deliver longer, purer, and greener oligonucleotides than phosphoramidite chemistry. This requires an enzyme that is template-independent, adds exactly one nucleotide per cycle, accepts 3′-reversible terminators, and withstands process conditions. This project, funded by an educational institution, continues the development of a recently discovered engineered hyperthermophilic polymerase with template-independent activity.
You will improve it through directed evolution and structure-guided design. Your targets are terminator acceptance, coupling efficiency, and control over stepwise addition, and you will benchmark variants in complete synthesis cycles.
What you do
- Independent, high-level research on controlled in vitro DNA synthesis.
- Publishing and presenting your results.
- Contributing to grant proposals.
- Designing selection conditions.
- Quantitatively interpreting sequencing data.
- Biochemically characterizing hits, including kinetic analysis of nucleotide incorporation.
- Helping build an industrial network to license or co-develop the enzyme and ancillary technologies.
Profile
- Demonstrated, published hands-on 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 (following an established framework).
Practical
- A 24-month contract in a world-class research environment.
How to apply
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