Design, Synthesis and In Vitro Translation of Non-Canonical Amino Acids

You will design and synthesise new ncAAs and incorporate them site-specifically into peptides and proteins using cell-free protein synthesis platforms. You will then study the modified proteins for their biophysical properties and reactivity, and for their potential in chemical biology, therapeutic development and biomaterials. One strand of the project will focus on glycosylated amino acids, a class of ncAA whose post-translational modifications tune protein structure and cell recognition but which remain difficult to install site-specifically. Collagen glycosylation is a case in point: glycosylated amino acid residues are introduced enzymatically and non-uniformly in the native protein, so homogeneous material with defined modification patterns is hard to obtain by any route other than synthesis. Targets of this kind give access to homogeneous peptides, allowing the structural and biological consequences of glycosylation to be probed directly — with relevance to extracellular matrix biology, biomaterials and regenerative medicine. You will be trained in organic and chemoenzymatic synthesis and in molecular biology, all directed towards developing in vitro translation of ncAAs. You will also build transferable skills, including presenting results orally and in writing, time management, and project planning and management. The project will be co-supervised by Prof. Gavin J. Miller and Dr Richard Obexer. Further information about the supervisory team is available at https://millerresearchgroup.co.uk and https://research.manchester.ac.uk/en/persons/richard-obexer/.

Eligibility

Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2.1 honours degree or a master’s (or international equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering related discipline.

Funding

This 3.5-year PhD project is fully funded; students who are eligible to pay tuition fees at the Home rate are eligible to apply. The successful candidate will receive an annual tax-free stipend set at the UKRI rate (£21,805 for 2026/27) and tuition fees will be paid. We expect the stipend to increase each year. The start date is October 2027.

We recommend that you apply early as the advert may be removed before the deadline.

Before you apply

We strongly recommend that you contact the supervisors for this project before you apply. Please include details of your current level of study, academic background and any relevant experience and include a paragraph about your motivation to study this PhD project.

How to apply

Apply online through our website: https://uom.link/pgr-apply-2425

When applying, you’ll need to specify the full name of this project, the name of your supervisor, if you already having funding or if you wish to be considered for available funding through the university, details of your previous study, and names and contact details of two referees.

Your application will not be processed without all of the required documents submitted at the time of application, and we cannot accept responsibility for late or missed deadlines. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

After you have applied you will be asked to upload the following supporting documents:

• Final Transcript and certificates of all awarded university level qualifications
• Interim Transcript of any university level qualifications in progress
• CV
• Supporting statement: A one or two page statement outlining your motivation to pursue postgraduate research and why you want to undertake postgraduate research at Manchester, any relevant research or work experience, the key findings of your previous research experience, and techniques and skills you’ve developed. (This is mandatory for all applicants and the application will be put on hold without it).
• Contact details for two referees (please make sure that the contact email you provide is an official university/work email address as we may need to verify the reference)
• English Language certificate (if applicable)

If you have any questions about making an application, please contact our admissions team by emailing FSE.doctoralacademy.admissions@manchester.ac.uk.

Equality, diversity and inclusion is fundamental to the success of The University of Manchester, and is at the heart of all of our activities. We know that diversity strengthens our research community, leading to enhanced research creativity, productivity and quality, and societal and economic impact.

We actively encourage applicants from diverse career paths and backgrounds and from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation and transgender status.

We also support applications from those returning from a career break or other roles. We consider offering flexible study arrangements (including part-time: 50%, 60% or 80%, depending on the project/funder).