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Post Doctoral Research Fellowship
Institute for Microbial Biotechnology and Metagenomics, University of the Western Cape, South Africa
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SARChI PhD Position
Structural elucidation of a novel OlsB protein
Ornithine acyl-ACP N-acyltransferase (OlsB) is the protein that is required for the first step of ornithine lipid (OL) biosynthesis. In this step ornithine is N-acylated with a 3-hydroxy-fatty acyl residue in order to obtain lyso-ornithine lipid (LOL). Both OL and LOL are biosurfactants, and recently the IMBM patented the use of a novel OlsB to heterologously produce these in Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas putida. These biosurfactants have valuable application in a number of products suitable for waste water treatment, agriculture and cosmetics. The aim of the PhD study is to elucidate the structure of this particular OlsB protein and examine the possibility of manipulating the properties of the protein for various commercial applications.
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Scholarship
Call for Applications for DAAD ‘in Country’ PhD Scholarships to study Biochemistry/Microbiology at Rhodes University
DAAD is offering three-year PhD scholarships for full-time study towards the PhD degree in Biochemistry and Microbiology at Rhodes University starting February 2019. The programme is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). A maximum of 5 scholarships are available for admission in 2019. The scholarships cover costs associated with the degree and include a monthly stipend of 500 Euro.
Eligibility:
- Citizens of a sub-Saharan country (excluding South Africa);
- MSc degree (or equivalent) in Biochemistry, Microbiology, Biotechnology or a related science completed not more than 6 years ago;
- Good working knowledge of English;
- Strong motivation and commitment.
Applications:
Please submit the following documentation as a single PDF file
- Letter of motivation (explaining your interest in Biochemistry/Microbiology and why you wish to do a PhD. Maximum 1 page);
- CV using the template found here: https://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/editors/en/cv/compose
- Certified copy of academic transcript/degree certificates;
- Reference letters from 2 academic references;
- Passport/ID as proof of citizenship.
Please email the above documents as a single PDF file to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 17:00 on Tuesday 31st July. Please name the file ‘DAAD-Your name’.
Female applicants and applicants from less privileged backgrounds are encouraged to participate in the programme
Queries may be addressed to Prof Adrienne Edkins on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Shortlisted candidates will be notified by email with further instructions. If you do not hear from us by 31 August 2018, you should assume that your application was not successful.
To combine PDF documents – see this website https://smallpdf.com/merge-pdf