Skip to main content
School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences

Structure of tight-binding vitamin B12 proteins for biotechnological applications

Research environment

The School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences at Queen Mary is one of the UK’s elite research centres, according to the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF). We offer a multi-disciplinary research environment and have approximately 180 PhD students working on projects in the biological and psychological sciences. Our students have access to a variety of research facilities supported by experienced staff, as well as a range of student support services.

You will work in a group of BBSRC funded postdoctoral researchers, a PhD student and a technician.  You may concentrate on the laboratory side of the work, protein production and crystallography. Or, you may concentrate on the computational side of the work, docking studies and molecular simulation. Ideally you will be involved in both.   

Training and development

Our PhD students become part of Queen Mary’s Doctoral College which provides training and development opportunities, advice on funding, and financial support for research. Our students also have access to a Researcher Development Programme designed to help recognise and develop key skills and attributes needed to effectively manage research, and to prepare and plan for the next stages of their career.

Training will be given in protein production, crystallization, crystallography, molecular simulation and docking. Also training in programming, in molecular biology and other aspects of structural molecular biology as appropriate. 

Project description

The aim of this project is to elucidate the structures of a range of remarkable vitamin B12 binding proteins that are found in a common genus of gut bacteria, and to exploit this information for biotechnological and industrial processes. Not only does vitamin B12 play a key role in human health, it is also an essential nutrient for many bacteria found in the human gastrointestinal tract. Many of these gut bacteria appear to have evolved elaborate and innovative ways to outcompete each other for this scarce commodity.

This project will provide fundamental insights into the acquisition and trafficking of B12 within a key component of the gut microbiome. It will provide essential molecular detail on a new class of vitamin B12 binding protein and generate new concepts on tight binding for salvaging purposes. It will allow exploitation of this remarkable binding capacity to address current real-world problems; in so doing, it will deliver a system that will have benefit to both biotechnology and industry.

Funding

The studentship is funded by Queen Mary and will cover home tuition fees, and provide an annual tax-free maintenance allowance for 3 years at the UKRI rate (£19,668 in 2022/23).

For international students interested in applying, please note that this studentship only covers home tuition fees and students will need to cover the difference in fees between the home and overseas basic rate. Tuition fee rates for 2023-24 are to be confirmed. Details on current (2022-23) tuition fee rates can be found at: https://www.qmul.ac.uk/postgraduate/research/funding_phd/tuition-fees/ 

Eligibility and applying

Applications are invited from outstanding candidates with or expecting to receive a first or upper-second class honours degree in an area relevant to the project, including biochemistry, microbiology, physics and computing. A masters degree may be helpful, but not essential.

Applicants from outside of the UK are required to provide evidence of their English language ability. Please see our English language requirements page for details: https://www.qmul.ac.uk/international-students/englishlanguagerequirements/postgraduateresearch/ 

Informal enquiries about the project may be sent to Professor Richard Pickersgill at r.w.pickersgill@qmul.ac.uk. Formal applications must be submitted through our online form by 31st January 2023.

The School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences is committed to promoting diversity in science; we have been awarded an Athena Swan Silver Award. We positively welcome applications from underrepresented groups.
http://hr.qmul.ac.uk/equality/
https://www.qmul.ac.uk/sbcs/about-us/athenaswan/

Apply Online

Back to top