Postdoc Position in Biofuels Lab at Virginia Tech

Research Tools: Synthetic Biology and Protein Engineering

Research Goals: (1) Improve the performance the key proteins, such as turn-over number, Km, substrate promiscuity, thermostability, inhibition, etc. by protein rational design and directed enzyme evolution; and (2) Investigate the in vitro relationship between protein and protein for cell-free synthetic biology.

Rising Leadership in Biofuel and Bioengineering: We have invited two of the most important technologies in biofuels production from biomass – lignocellulose fractionation and enzymatic hydrogen production. Our breakthroughs mean the feasibility of 100% transportation fuel (cellulosic hydrogen) independence from biomass if our technologies are well developed. This also suggests that biomass will become the dominant energy source from supplementary source.

Board media have reported our breakthroughs that have been done in the past two years, including Technology Review, Business Week, the Economist, New Scientist, der Spiegel, Science News, etc. The Royal Society also listed our synthetic enzymatic pathway as an example of synthetic biology for the future research frontier in synthetic biology (http://www.royalsoc.ac.uk/downloaddoc.asp?id=4297). The PI was named as the Best and Brightest 2006 by Esquire Magazine.

Educational Requirement: Ph.D. degree in Applied Biology, Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Biochemical Engineering, or relevant majors. The postdoc candidate should have strong publications as the first author. The relevant experience in protein engineering and protein characterization is preferred. The knowledge of mathematical modeling and simulation (Matlab) and electro-biochemistry is a plus.

Requirement: Strong motivation, ambitious (do great things and be big), willing to learn new knowledge, strong problem-solving ability, and good communication skills.

Payment: Commensurate with education and research experiences. One-year contract first, renewable for several years based on the performance.

More information: http://filebox.vt.edu/users/ypzhang/research.htm

Contact email: biofuels@vt.edu