Research Assistant or Associate in Yeast-based Expression of Food Proteins

Location / Campus: South Kensington and White City Campus - Hybrid

Job Summary 

A Research Associate in Yeast-based Expression of Food Proteins is sought to work on the development of sustainable alternatives to milk. The post is funded by the UKRI as part of an Engineering Biology Mission Hub on the use of microbes to produce sustainable food and is in collaboration with Better Dairy Limited. The main focus will be the use of the non-conventional yeast, Pichia pastoris, to develop high-yield strains with optimised post-translational modifications.  The project will involve strain engineering and pilot-scale fermentation as well as the development of high-throughput assays to test the performance of the proteins produced.  

Duties and responsibilities

You will design genetic constructs, transform, and select yeast strains and test the resulting yield and post-translational modifications of the proteins. You will use genome modification techniques to alter the strain to improve yield.  You will develop assays around the self-assembly of proteins into colloidal substances to enable high-throughput screening of strains. 

Essential requirements

The following essential knowledge, skills & experience are sought:

• PhD in life sciences, bioengineering, (bio)chemical engineering, biotechnology or a closely related discipline, or equivalent research, industrial or commercial experience*
• Practical experience in yeast strain engineering
• Practical experience in protein characterisation assays
• Experience of working in a multidisciplinary team

The following knowledge, skills & experience is also desirable:

• Practical experience with Pichia pastoris
• Practical experience with fermentation

*Candidates who have not yet been officially awarded their PhD will be appointed as Research Assistant within the salary range £41,694 – £44,888 per annum.

Further Information

The post is a fixed term contract for up to 36 months and will initially be based at the South Kensington campus, but will transition to a newly refurbished facility in White City, co-located with other researchers in the Hub. 

Should you require any further details on the role please contact: Professor Karen Polizzi – k.polizzi@imperial.ac.uk

Apply online via the above ‘Apply’ button. Candidates will need to complete an online application.

Further information about the post is available in the job description.

Should you have any queries about the application process please contact chemeng.staffing@imperial.ac.uk.

Closing date: Midnight on Sunday 4^th August 2024

For technical issues when applying online please email support.jobs@imperial.ac.uk

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