EastBio: A synbio approach to generate artificial molecular muscles

 Dr Wael Houssen,  Prof M Jaspars

Application Deadline: 16 November 2026

Details

This fully funded, 4-year PhD project is part of a competition funded by the BBSRC EASTBIO Doctoral Training Partnership.

“Molecular muscles” is a term referring to molecules that can contract and stretch under a chemical signal. These compounds are very interesting and have wide applications especially in nanotechnology. Available systems are complex as the contraction / expansion cycle is often achieved through a series of chemical exchanges and most of them are not amenable to lengthening by polymerisation to reach meso- or macro- scale contractions.

In this studentship, we will develop a synthetic biology approach to generate novel peptide-based molecular muscles that don’t suffer from the above drawbacks. We will harness the catalytic power of biosynthetic enzymes from the rapidly growing family of Ribosomally Produced and Post-Translationally Modified Peptides (RiPPs). Our groups have biochemically characterized and engineered several of these enzymes to allow their usage for in vitro biosynthesis. Our enzymatic toolbox currently includes macrocyclases, heterocyclases, prenyltransferases and peptide ligases. Our engineered enzymes have broad substrate tolerance and can process substrates containing unnatural amino acids which make them especially attractive. The proposed system is based on repeat units of enzymatically modified peptides which are capable of changing conformation, and thus length, under a chemical signal allowing the construction of any length of molecular muscle. We will use fluorescent groups at the termini – one an electron donor and one an electron acceptor to enable the use of FRET (Fluorescence resonance energy transfer) in monitoring the change of conformation that should bring the fluorescent groups in proximity. The use of enzymes in making the required modifications will enable the sustainable, efficient and ecofriendly production of these challenging-to-synthesise compounds.

This project is multidisciplinary with elements of solid-phase peptide synthesis, protein expression and purification, molecular modelling and material testing. The project as such represents a valuable unique training opportunity for PhD students. The project meets the criteria specified in the IB 2025 report in that it aims to solve a complex problem by translating basic knowledge of unique enzymes to provide new products and less carbon intensive processes.

It may be possible to study this project part-time.

Interested applicants should contact the lead supervisor to discuss the project prior to applying. You can do this by selecting the first listed name at the top of this advert and sending your enquiry. Alternatively, you can search for the supervisor through the University of Aberdeen staff directory and email them directly.

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ELIGIBILITY:

Applicants should hold a minimum of a 2:1 UK Honours degree (or international equivalent) in a relevant subject. Those with a 2:2 UK Honours degree (or international equivalent) may be considered, provided they have (or are expected to achieve) a Distinction or Commendation at master’s level.

We encourage applications from all backgrounds and communities, and are committed to having a diverse, inclusive team.

All students must meet the eligibility criteria as outlined in the UKRI guidance on funding for postgraduate training and development. This guidance should be read in conjunction with the Terms and conditions for training funding – UKRI.

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APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

For full details and to download the application form, visit: https://biology.ed.ac.uk/eastbio/how-to-apply

Please note that you may only apply for one EASTBIO project.

1. Application submission

Submit your complete application by 23:59 GMT on 16th November 2026 to smmsn-pgrenquiries@abdn.ac.uk.

Send your application as a single email with the subject line: “EASTBIO Application – [Your Name]”

2. Required documents

Your application email must include the following:

• Completed EASTBIO application form
• Academic certificates and transcripts
• Two references (one reference may be non-academic)

3. References

All references must be provided using the official EASTBIO reference form (available here).

References can be either:

• Included with your application, or
• Sent directly by referees to smmsn-pgrenquiries@abdn.ac.uk with the subject line: “EASTBIO Reference – [Your Name]”

All references must be received by 23:59 GMT on 16th November 2026.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure both references are submitted by the deadline, as we cannot request them on your behalf.

Important notes

• No research proposal is required.
• Do not include any additional documents (for example, school certificates, conference papers, or dissertations).
• Incomplete applications or those including unnecessary materials will not be considered.
• Due to workload constraints, we are unable to follow up on missing documents or process incomplete applications.
• All candidates will be notified of the outcome of their application.
• We will confirm receipt of your applications upon processing. Due to the high volume of applications, this may not be until after the deadline. We ask that you please refrain from contacting us regarding updates or to see if your application has been received.

For any questions or assistance with the application process, please contact smmsn-pgrenquiries@abdn.ac.uk.

Funding Notes

This fully funded, four-year PhD project is offered as part of a competition within the EASTBIO BBSRC Doctoral Training Partnership. The opportunity is open to both UK and international applicants, although the proportion of international students recruited through the EASTBIO DTP is capped at 30% by UKRI BBSRC.

EASTBIO studentships provide a tax-free UKRI doctoral stipend (estimated at £22,437 for the 2027/28 academic year), a training grant of £5,000 per year for the first three years (and £1,500 in the fourth year), and a travel and conference allowance of £230 per year.

Please note that EASTBIO is unable to fund visa costs or associated healthcare surcharges for international students.