Postdoctoral Researcher in Protein Engineering

Enzymatic DNA synthesis could deliver longer, purer and greener oligonucleotides than phosphoramidite chemistry. It requires an enzyme that is template-independent, adds exactly one nucleotide per cycle, accepts 3′-reversible terminators and withstands process conditions. This translational, KU Leuven-funded project continues the development of a recently discovered engineered hyperthermophilic polymerase with template-independent activity. You will improve it through directed evolution and structure-guided design. Your targets are terminator acceptance, coupling efficiency and control over stepwise addition, and you will benchmark variants in complete synthesis cycles.

The Pinheiro group has a well-established pipeline for engineering DNA polymerases with expanded substrate specificity. It covers automated multi-site library construction, selection platforms such as bacterial cell display, NGS-based analysis of selection outputs, and structural and computational analysis of evolved variants. You will design selection conditions, interpret sequencing data quantitatively, and characterise hits biochemically, including kinetic analysis of nucleotide incorporation. You will also help build an industrial network to license or co-develop the enzyme and ancillary technologies.

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Responsibilities

Independent, high-level research on controlled in vitro DNA synthesis. Publishing and presenting your results. Contributing to grant proposals.

Profile

• PhD in molecular biology or biochemistry (or obtained shortly before the start date)
• Demonstrated, published hands-on experience in nucleic acid enzymology beyond PCR, plus at least one of: directed evolution and selection platforms, library construction and NGS analysis, or enzyme kinetics
• Excellent analytical skills and research integrity
• Fluent English; able to work independently and in an international team
• A proactive approach to career development (KU Leuven Individual Development Plan framework)

Offer

We offer a 24 months contract in a world-class research environment, a KU Leuven salary scale with holiday and end-of-year bonuses, comprehensive social benefits, and career support through YouReCa.

Interested?

For more information please contact Prof. dr. Vitor Bernardes Pinheiro, mail: vitor.pinheiro@kuleuven.be.

You can apply for this job no later than November 13, 2026 via the online application tool

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