About the project
We have long exploited the remarkable abilities of single-celled organisms like bacteria to produce chemicals and degrade environmental pollutants. In this project, we'll use modelling to program artificial cells with desired features, providing new efficient routes to high-value chemicals and materials.
Artificial cells are micro-sized structures with features allowing them to mimic some of the functions of biological cells. They provide new opportunities for bioinspired production of chemicals and can be tuned to maximise productivity under non-natural conditions. In this project you'll build computational models of artificial cells consisting of synthetic micro-sized vesicles encapsulating enzymes and investigate the design of enzyme reaction networks for production of therapeutic compounds.
The research will involve developing code in python or alternative programming language, combining enzyme-catalysed reaction with transport processes such as diffusion. This work will provide valuable new insights into the coupling between spatial organisation and efficiency of enzyme processes in living organisms and develop the groundwork for application of systems in medical and materials science.
The project will provide ample opportunity for student-led initiative and innovation in this exciting multidisciplinary field. You'll work in close collaboration with experimentalists through national and international collaborations. This project is ideal for you if you're passionate about interdisciplinary science and computational modelling at the interface of soft matter and biomolecular sciences.
The School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering is committed to promoting equality, diversity inclusivity as demonstrated by our Athena SWAN award. We welcome all applicants regardless of their gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or age, and will give full consideration to applicants seeking flexible working patterns and those who have taken a career break. The University has a generous maternity policy, onsite childcare facilities, and offers a range of benefits to help ensure employees’ well-being and work-life balance. The University of Southampton is committed to sustainability and has been awarded the Platinum EcoAward.
