Higher Degree by Research Application Portal

Seaweed is a renewable resource of increasing interest for sustainable biofuel, biomaterial, and bioplastic production. For example, polysaccharides derived from seaweed can be enzymatically depolymerised to produce fermentable sugars, which can be used for production of biodegradable plastics and other bioproducts using engineered microbes. However, enzymatic depolymerisation remains challenging due to the chemical complexity of seaweed polysaccharides, and new and improved carbohydrate-active enzymes are needed to improve the efficiency of these processes. Marine microbial genomes encode an enormous diversity of carbohydrate-active enzymes that could be valuable for applications in blue biotechnology, but these enzymes remain largely uncharacterised.

In this project, you will use a combination of evolutionary, genomic, and structure-based approaches to identify new and improved carbohydrate-active enzymes from marine microbes for depolymerisation of algal polysaccharides. You will also analyse structure-function relationships in carbohydrate-active enzymes to identify opportunities to improve existing enzymes by protein engineering. 

You will gain skills in both computational and experimental biochemistry, including protein expression and purification, analytical and biophysical techniques (NMR, MS, ITC, DSF, etc.), X-ray crystallography, and AI tools in protein science, plus industry-relevant experience, mentoring, and training.

This project is a collaboration with Uluu, a pioneering Australia biotech start-up who are replacing oil-based plastics with biobased, biodegradable alternative materials. This project will also be the subject of a National Industry PhD Program application, which, if successful, would provide a stipend top-up and further training and development opportunities.

(https://www.education.gov.au/national-industry-phd-program)

Please contact Dr Ben Clifton (ben.clifton@uwa.edu.au) to express your interest. Please include a brief description of your research interests and experience, and a copy of your academic transcript.

First-class Honours or equivalent Masters degree in biochemistry, biotechnology, or a related field. Strong interest in protein biochemistry, enzyme biotechnology, microbial genomics, and/or marine microbiology. Experience in molecular biology, protein biochemistry and/or microbiology is highly desirable.

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is a program of independent, supervised research that is assessed solely on the basis of a thesis, sometimes including a creative work component, that is examined externally. The work presented for a PhD must be a substantial and original contribution to scholarship, demonstrating mastery of the subject of interest as well as an advance in that field of knowledge. 

Visit the course webpage for full details of this course including admission requirements, course rules and the relevant CRICOS code/s.