The Van't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences (HIMS) invites applications for a one-year research position at the postdoc level. You will explore research at the forefront of bio-, electro-catalysis and material science. We will assure the high multidisciplinary and the feasibility of the project by the collaboration between the Biocatalysis group and the Heterogeneous Catalysis group of HIMS. Both groups are part of the Sustainable Chemistry Research Prority Area (SC-RPA) and the position is funded from this framework. In general, the RPAs represent the excellence of UvA in terms of research and worldwide recognition.

The Biocatalysis (Biocat) and the Heterogeneous Catalysis (Het Cat) groups have acquired funds as part of the Research Priority Area Sustainable Chemistry to develop multi-functional hybrid electro-biocatalysts and biosensors. The research tasks will involve diverse steps:

1. the development of N‐doped carbon support that has uniformly isolated metal centers on the surface, enabling simultaneous enzyme immobilization, electrical coupling and catalytic oxygen reduction;
2. the production and, if required, the purification of recombinant oxidoreductase enzymes using E. coli as preferred expression host;
3. the selective immobilization of oxidoreductase enzymes on the prepared high‐porosity and hydrophobic carbon‐based electrodes using different techniques.

The obtained hybrid electro‐biocatalytic systems will be finally tested and optimized for various possible applications, for instance 'detection of electric signal that is compatible with medical applications' and 'electro‐biocatalytic asymmetric redox reactions'. The carbon-based electrode material will be created following prior art available at Het Cat group, whereas enzyme production and immobilization will be carried out following expertise available at Biocat.

A PhD degree in biochemistry or chemistry is required. Due to the high multidisciplinary nature of the project, applicants with a substantial focus and/or previous research experience in one or more of the following sub-disciplines will have a clear advantage: synthetic chemistry, electrochemistry, biosensors and material science. The ability to collaborate and adapt in an international team is required and you must possess good communication skills in oral and written English. Due to limitations in recruitment budget we will preferably consider candidates that are currently in Europe.

You will be employed by the Faculty of Science at the University of Amsterdam on a fixed-term full-time position (38 hours per week) for a period of one year. Depending on experience, the gross monthly salary will range from €2,588 to €4,084 (scale 10) and will be supplemented with an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus. The Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities applies.

University of Amsterdam

With over 5,000 employees, 30,000 students and a budget of more than 600 million euros, the University of Amsterdam (UvA) is an intellectual hub within the Netherlands. Teaching and research at the UvA are conducted within seven faculties: Humanities, Social and Behavioural Sciences, Economics and Business, Law, Science, Medicine and Dentistry. Housed on four city campuses in or near the heart of Amsterdam, where disciplines come together and interact, the faculties have close links with thousands of researchers and hundreds of institutions at home and abroad.  

The UvA’s students and employees are independent thinkers, competent rebels who dare to question dogmas and aren’t satisfied with easy answers and standard solutions. To work at the UvA is to work in an independent, creative, innovative and international climate characterised by an open atmosphere and a genuine engagement with the city of Amsterdam and society.

http://www.uva.nl/en/home

Van't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences

The Van't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences (HIMS) is one of eight institutes of the University of Amsterdam (UvA) Faculty of Science. HIMS performs internationally recognized chemistry and molecular research, curiosity driven as well as application driven. This is done in close cooperation with the chemical, flavour & food, medical and high-tech industries. Research is organised into four themes: Sustainable Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Computational Chemistry and Molecular Photonics.

The project is a collaboration between the Biocatalysis group and the Heterogeneous Catalysis group of HIMS. Both groups are part of the Sustainable Chemistry Research Prority Area (SC-RPA) and the position is funded from this framework.

The Biocatalysis group is headed by Dr Francesco Mutti. In general, the Biocatalysis group carries out cutting-edge research at the interphase between the chemical and the biological sciences. The research mainly focuses on: the development of novel biocatalytic systems (e.g. in vitro and in vivo enzyme cascades) for the sustainable manufacturing of chemical products; the identification and characterization of novel enzymes; the engineering of enzymes to improve existing activities or introduce new activities; the creation of artificial enzymes.

The Electrocatalysis research is led by Dr Ning Yan, which is centered on the development of sustainable electrocatalysts using earth-abundant element in the context of novel energy conversion and storage processes. The group is equipped with typical electrochemical devices for fuel cells research and has access to the advanced materials characterization facilities.

http://hims.uva.nl/