Professor Roslyn Bill (School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston), Professor Karen Wilson (School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Aston) and Mr David Randall (Chemoxy)

Applications are invited from ambitious, self-motivated candidates to work on green routes to converting glucose into coatings additives using enzymatic and chemical approaches. This opportunity is open to UK and EU students, who have at least an Upper Second Class Honours degree in a biological or chemical science or a related subject.

This project brings together the expertise of chemicals company Chemoxy International Ltd (www.chemoxy.co.uk), Aston University’s Biotechnology Research Team (www.aston.ac.uk/lhs/staff/az-index/billrm/) and the Catalysis Group in the Aston European Bioenergy Research Institute (www.aston.ac.uk/eas/research/groups/ebri/research/catalysis/) to synthesize sustainable platform chemicals from glucose, for application in paint and coatings additives. Together we have developed technology to produce the required enzymes as recombinant proteins in yeast and to couple them to novel supports to generate molecules that can be used to replace traditional petroleum-derived additives. This project will therefore provide a student with first class interdisciplinary research training at the biology-chemistry interface in the field of industrial biotechnology.

Aston University’s School of Life and Health Sciences was ranked 3^rd out of 63 UK Higher Education Institutions for research in Allied Health Professions and Studies in the last Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). Additional information about research in the School can be found athttp://www1.aston.ac.uk/lhs/research/. Informal enquiries can be made to Professor Roslyn Bill (E-mail:r.m.bill<στο>aston.ac.uk; http://www.aston.ac.uk/lhs/staff/az-index/billrm/).

Financial Support:

UK students (including EU nationals who have been continuously resident in the UK for the last 3 years) will receive full tuition fees. For UK Students only - a tax-free stipend will be provided at the current BBSRC rate of £13,863 p.a. and an additional CASE contribution of £1,200 p.a. Overseas students are not eligible for funding. To check further into eligibility, please refer to the BBSRC Website.

Application Requirements:

• Eligible Applicants should hold at least a Bachelor (Hons.) Degree of either First Class or Upper Second Class or hold a Masters Degree (MSc/MRes) in a relevant discipline.
• EU Applicants will need to demonstrate adequate proficiency in English Language skills, with a minimum overall score of 101 (Internet Based) (with a minimum score in each section of: R: 23, W:26, L: 23 and S: 22) in TOEFL or IELTS with minimum marks of 6.5 in each section and an overall band of 7.0.
• The Studentship is funded for 4 years, subject to a satisfactory progress review at the end of the first year, and with submission by 4 years is required. The anticipated Registration date is 1^st October2015.
• Enquiries should be addressed to Professor Roslyn Bill (E-mail: r.m.bill<στο>aston.ac.uk; telephone: 0121 204 4274).
• To apply please complete the on-line application form at

http://www1.aston.ac.uk/lhs/research/postgraduate-research/apply/ quoting the Reference ‘CASE-Bill_Wilson_Chemoxy’ on all applications.