PhD in AI-Guided De Novo Enzyme Design for Green Chemistry

The Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science (KBM) at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) has a vacant 3-year PhD position related to enzyme design, with the possibility of an extension for up to 6 months. The position is funded by NMBU.

We seek highly motivated candidates that want to focus on creating new catalysts for green chemistry through de novo design of enzymes that incorporate transition metals. The project will engineer and evaluate catalytic proteins that perform difficult transformations, with particular emphasis on (a) activation of O2 and related reactive oxygen species and (b) novel reducing catalysts that proceed via metal-hydride intermediates. The overarching aim is to deliver selective, energy-efficient biocatalysts that address sustainability challenges in synthesis.

The successful candidate will drive the full experimental pipeline: computationally guided construct design; expression and purification of proteins; structural determination to resolve active-site architecture; activity assays to quantify kinetics and selectivity under operationally relevant conditions; and multi-modal spectroscopy (e.g., UV–Vis, NMR, EPR and complementary methods) to characterize metal coordination, redox states, and catalytic intermediates. You will work closely with colleagues spanning protein chemistry, spectroscopy, and computation to iterate design–build–test–learn cycles and to elucidate structure–activity–mechanism relationships.

You will join a well-equipped laboratory and a professional, collaborative team. Available infrastructure includes modern protein production/purification, spectroscopy suites, crystallography access, and facilities for handling air-sensitive metalloproteins/complexes. We offer comprehensive training across these methods as needed; strong motivation, curiosity, and scientific rigor are more important than prior experience in every technique.

The position provides opportunities for co-supervision/mentoring within the group, presentation of results at international meetings, and publication in high-impact venues.

Main tasks

You will grow into a multidisciplinary role that blends design and mechanistic study of de novo metalloenzymes. We will provide tailored training for each method below—prior expertise in only a subset is perfectly fine.

• Design and characterize cycle: Use AI-guided protein design to create and refine metalloprotein scaffolds; express and purify variants; integrate experimental feedback to iterate designs.
• Activity & structure: Develop robust assays, quantify kinetics/selectivity, and determine structures to resolve active-site architecture.
• Spectroscopy & intermediates: Apply UV–Vis and EPR (including stopped-flow when needed) to track metal coordination, redox states, and transient intermediates during turnover.
• Mechanistic diagnostics: Employ redox titrations/electrochemistry and computational chemistry to generate theozymes and map reaction coordinates.
• Molecular biology & biochemistry: Clone, express, and purify designed variants; assess stability and activity across substrate panels; validate products by LC–MS and NMR.
• Team science & dissemination: Document workflows, contribute to shared methods/tools, present at meetings, and co-author publications while fostering a collegial, interdisciplinary lab culture.

The successful candidate is expected to enter a plan for the progress of the work towards a PhD degree during the first months of the appointment, with a view to completing a doctorate within the PhD scholarship period.

Competence

The successful applicant must meet the conditions defined for admission to a PhD programme at NMBU. The applicant must have an academically relevant education corresponding to a five-year master’s degree or a cand.med.vet. degree, with a learning outcome corresponding to the descriptions in the Norwegian Qualification Framework, second cycle. The applicant must have a documented strong academic background relevant to the position and be able to document proficiency in both written and oral English.

Required Academic qualifications: A relevant masters degree; Training and research experience in protein biochemistry and molecular biology.

The following experiences and skills will be emphasized: Core laboratory foundation: Practical experience with cloning, bacterial expression systems, and protein purification; Enzymology & assay development: Basics of activity measurements, data handling, and kinetic thinking; Structural & spectroscopic methods: Exposure to or interest in X-ray crystallography, NMR, and/or EPR/UV–Vis for probing active sites and intermediates; Computational chemistry: Familiarity with MD and/or QM/MM, or motivation to learn; AI-guided protein design: Curiosity about methods such as ProteinMPNN, RFdiffusion, and AlphaFold; Analytical chemistry: Experience or willingness to learn LC–MS, NMR, and UV–Vis for product and protein characterization.

You need to: Collaborate effectively in an interdisciplinary team, share protocols, and give/receive constructive feedback; Communicate clearly, both in writing and presentations, and document experiments for reproducibility; Show initiative and curiosity, including learning new techniques and integrating experimental and computational insights; Work rigorously and safely, planning experiments, managing time, and maintaining high-quality records.

Remuneration and further information

Salary in position as Doctoral Research Fellow, position code 1017 in salary range NOK from 550800 - 660000 depending on competence and experience. From the salary, 2 percent is deducted in statutory contributions to the State Pension Fund. Employment is conducted according to national guidelines for University and Technical College PhD scholars. For further information, please contact Dr. Åsmund Røhr Kjendseth, Associate Professor, E-mail: asmund.rohr@nmbu.no; phone +47 48031608.

Application

To apply online for this vacancy, please click on the 'Apply for this job' button. Application deadline: 22.09.2025. Your CV must be entered in JobbNorge's CV form. In the application, the candidate must confirm that information and documentation submitted via the job application can also be used by NMBU in a possible admission process. Applicants invited for an interview are expected to present original diplomas and certificates. The following documents must be attached to the application: Motivation letter (maximum 1 page); Complete CV; Certified copies of academic diplomas and certificates; Documentation of proficiency in written and oral English; Names and contact details for two references; Additional relevant documentation of professional knowledge.