PhD in Biological Chemistry

This 4-year PhD studentship is open to Home (UK) applicants. The successful candidate will receive an annual tax-free stipend set at the UKRI rate (£20,780 for 2025/26; subject to annual uplift), and tuition fees will be paid. We expect the stipend to increase each year. The start date is October 2026. This project combines organic synthesis, chemical biology and in vitro translation systems to explore and exploit the frontiers of the genetic code. The goal is to design and synthesize novel ncAAs, and incorporate them site-specifically into peptides and proteins using cell free protein synthesis platforms. These modified proteins will be studied for their biophysical properties, reactivity, and potential applications across chemical biology, therapeutic development, and biomaterials.