Description of project:

The project focuses on the mechanistic characterization and engineering of hydratases for the utilization of renewable resources. For this, by ancestral sequence reconstruction and AI-based redesign will be investigated as strategies to increase of highly robust protein variants, in which beneficial mutations leading to altered selectivity and substrate scope are less likely to have trade-off in terms of activity and stability. Aim is to generate biocatalysts for sustainable enzyme cascades leading to biobased polymer precursor molecules.

Key Responsibilities

• Research on enzyme engineering and computational design of enzymes
• Biocatalytic investigation of engineered and redesigned enzyme variants and integration into process setting. 
• Documentation of scientific results and presentations in the form of reports, specialist publications, and conference contributions
• Responsibilities, Duties and Opportunities as a Project Staff Member in the Cluster of Excellence Circular Bioengineering

Embedding in the Cluster of Excellence Circular Bioengineering:

The project is embedded in the Cluster of Excellence Circular Bioengineering Program 3 “Biocatalytic Processes for Sustainable Synthesis”, and has strong links to research groups working on enzymatic synthesis and bioprocess engineering in Program 3.

Candidate Profile:

• PhD in Biochemistry, Chemistry, Biotechnology or related.
• Outstanding academic record;
• Advanced knowledge in one of the following areas: structural biology, computational biology, biocatalysis, molecular biology. 
• Excellent English language skills (spoken and written) 
• Ability to work independently and scientifically; flexibility and willingness to work in an interdisciplinary environment; high level of resilience

Main Supervisor: Univ.-Prof. Robert Kourist

Location:Graz University of Technology

Duration: 18 Months, 40h/week

Salary: Minimum gross monthly salary according to the B1 salary group according to the Austrian university collective agreement.

Application guidelines:

Please send your job application to cb_recruiting@boku.ac.at , indicating your name and the project/position number in the subject line (e.g. "Jane Doe, application for PD 3.14").

Further information on Application documents and formal criteria see Application guidelines - Postdocs — circular bioengineering. The application must meet all formal criteria, otherwise it cannot be considered.

Submission deadline: 09.10.2026