UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM
RECRUITMENT ROLE PROFILE FORM
Job Title:
Chair in Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering
School/Department:
School of Chemistry
Salary:
Salary will be within the Professorial range, minimum £57,031 per
annum
Job Family and Level:
Professorial
Contract Status:
This post will be offered on a permanent contract
Hours of Work:
Full-time
Location:
Synthetic Biology Research Centre / Centre for Biomolecular Sciences
Reporting to:
Head of School
The Purpose of the New Role:
The University of Nottingham has a rapidly expanding presence within the arenas of both
Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy (IBB) and Sustainable Chemistry. These are facilitated
by significant new infrastructure developments including a new BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology
Research Centre (SBRC) and a Carbon Neutral Laboratory (CNL). The SBRC Nottingham is one
of three UK centres created by the BBSRC/EPSRC in 2014 and has received £14.3M in funding
for a 5 year period. The CNL will provide the central hub for expanding sustainable chemistry
research at Nottingham and has been established with £12m funding from GSK and matched
support from HEFCE as part of a £30M project funded under the Research Partnership
Infrastructure Fund (RPIF).
The purpose of this post is to provide critical mass at the interface of Synthetic Biology and
Chemical Biology, focused on the generation of complex organic molecules through the
engineering of either individual enzymes or biosynthetic pathways, or through combining
enzyme catalysis with synthetic methodology. The post holder will spearhead the discovery,
analysis and rational improvement of isolated enzymes and/or whole natural or engineered
biosynthetic pathways. Within this specialist area, he/she will take a leadership role in the
interactions of chemistry with the SBRC, and other activities within IBB and Sustainable
Chemistry, throughout the various University Schools and Departments, as well as with external
groups and organisations.
The post holder will advance the discipline internally and externally to the University, engage
academe with the practice and provide academic leadership for the discipline in the Chemical
Sciences and across the University. The role entails the design, delivery, supervision and
assessment of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching; the soliciting, execution and
dissemination of research, nationally and internationally; the provision of advice, support and
encouragement to colleagues and students and a contribution to the strategic management of
the School, CNL and SBRC, and, as required, the University.
Main Responsibilities
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To play a leading role in developing the School’s research strategy in the area of biocatalysis
and enzyme engineering and help establish strong interdisciplinary links with the Centre for
Sustainable Chemistry and BBSRC/EPSRC-funded Synthetic Biology Research Centre in
Nottingham.
To work to develop and strengthen the research capacity and infrastructure of the University in
the area of enzyme discovery and biocatalysis.
Undertake, solicit funding for, and disseminate original substantive and methodological
research that contributes to the field and allied disciplines. This entails supervision of research
staff, collaboration with Nottingham colleagues within the SBRC and elsewhere as well as
externally, preparation of academic articles and books, presentations and attendance at
conferences and seminars and, as appropriate their organisation.
Convenor/lecturer for undergraduate core and optional modules: design, update and review
module content and documentation; delivery of contact teaching; monitor student
performance; provide pastoral support to students; design and execute module assessment;
achieve high levels of student attainment (as assessed by validated marks) and satisfaction (as
measured by student evaluation feedback).
The delivery of postgraduate taught courses and development of new courses across the School
of Chemistry, and in collaboration with other Schools as appropriate, i.e., within the SBRC.
Support and guide the research work and professional development of doctoral, masters and
undergraduate students, provide pastoral care and support and solicit funding, negotiate with
research sponsors, support of advisory groups; provision of specialist training.
Foster relationships and to create and utilise opportunities to inform or influence the design,
implementation and evaluation of the field through the provision of research-based evidence or
discipline-informed critical analysis, and by undertaking related research, and participating in,
and organising events and processes in the UK and internationally.
Member/chair of policy committees of academic/professional bodies as required, editorial
boards, refereeing of publications, appointments, promotions, and degree structures.
Any other duties appropriate to the grade and role.
Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications & Experience:
Essential
Qualifications/
Education

Skills/Training
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PhD, or equivalent supported by
extensive and high level research
and teaching experience in
relevant area.
High level analytical capability to
facilitate conceptual thinking,
innovation and creativity.
In depth knowledge of enzyme
catalysis and modification to
enable the development of new
knowledge, innovation and
understanding in the field.
Proven skills in coaching and
developing others in best practice
techniques.
Proven ability to lead, motivate,
develop and manage the
performance of a team.
Desirable

Membership of a
professional body where
appropriate

Skills in pastoral care and
motivating students at all
levels.
An understanding of
University management
systems and the wider
higher education
environment.

Experience
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Established and widely recognised
excellence and reputation in the
enzyme and/or metabolic
engineering field amongst peers
nationally and internationally.
Extensive experience in leading
the design of research techniques
and methods.
Proven ability to plan and lead the
delivery of research and teaching
programmes, and to develop
sources of funding.
Extensive experience and
capability to act as a role model
in the areas of research, and
teaching, as appropriate.
Previous experience and success
in raising and managing grants
and contracts.
Experience of working with
industry.
Previous success in transferring
research results to commercial
professional or other practical
use.


Significant record of
supervision of postgraduate
students on industrial or
knowledge transfer projects.
Previous leadership
experience.
Decision Making
i)
Taken independently by the role holder:
 Whether to accept an invitation to present a paper, give a keynote address, submit a research
proposal, write a book or article or respond to a competitive tender in the context of personal
profession priorities.
 Decisions about the content of taught modules.
 Decisions about individual research portfolio.
 Day-to-day responses to student needs and queries and those of colleagues.
 Content and form of draft policy statements.
ii)
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Taken in collaboration with others:
Decisions relating to Faculty/Division research strategy.
Decisions with implications for colleagues in the Faculty/Division/Department or University.
Decisions relating to teaching modules involving other colleagues.
Pastoral problems of students or staff.
iii)
Referred to the appropriate line manager by the role holder:
 Decisions affecting the Faculty/Division/Department as a whole or in relation to the
University.
 Issues of staff and student discipline.
Additional Information
The role includes academic leadership (in teaching and research); complete knowledge of a research area
and national and international reputation in that field; creative thinking and the challenge and further
development of ideas, theories, policies and practice.
Informal, confidential enquiries may be addressed to Professor Jonathan Hirst, Head of School,
tel: 0115 9513478 or email jonathan.hirst@nottingham.ac.uk. Please note that applications sent
directly to this email address will not be accepted.
Industrial Biotechnology, Synthetic Biology, Sustainable Chemistry & Bioenergy
The University has an illustrious track record in developing biotechnology for industrial
applications and in carrying out the associated underpinning basic research. Bacterial quorum
sensing was first identified at Nottingham (Professor Paul Williams) and understanding this
communication mechanism is leading to novel medical applications. Gene technologies pioneered
and applied at Nottingham (Professor Don Grierson) led to the first commercial GM product on UK
supermarket shelves. Our strong research track record continues. Recent dramatic advances in
biomolecular sciences have made the application of synthetic biology research practical and we
are delighted to have received £14m from the BBSRC / EPSRC to create a Synthetic Biology
Research Centre (SBRC) to carry out basic and applied research on gas fermentation to biofuels
and sustainable chemicals using aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. This complements a further £13m
of current public and industry research funding to the same research team. The SBRC is built on
our world-leading Clostridia research led by Professor Nigel Minton. These research areas
combined with many other facets of Industrial Biotechnology are together a key strategic theme
for the University.
Our commitment to Industrial Biotechnology (IB) is demonstrated through our investment in
excellent infrastructure and world-leading researchers. The Synthetic Biology Research Centre is
housed in newly-upgraded, specialist (gas fermentation) laboratories in our flagship £30m
Biomolecular Sciences building. Further infrastructure investments for our industrial biotechnology
activities are both planned and underway. Bridging the interface between biotechnology and
chemistry, the University has recently formed a Centre for Sustainable Chemistry that will
encompass a new Carbon Neutral Laboratory (CNL) building due to open in Spring 2016. As
the first “carbon neutral” building of its type in the UK and probably the world, the CNL will aim
for the highest standards to minimise environmental impact and ensure that all new chemistry
and technologies developed are both energy and resource efficient, and above all sustainable. This
£24m investment will, along with other planned significant infrastructure, create the space we
need to promote and grow our industrial biotechnology ambitions. Important established IB-linked
facilities across our campuses include the microCT Houndsfield Facility, DeepSeq facility and the
acclaimed Sir Peter Mansfield MRI Centre.
We are proud of our contributions to the field of biotechnology and we strive to deliver farreaching social, environmental and economic impacts through our work. Such impacts increasingly
rely on interdisciplinary basic research and we have built teams from researchers drawn from
engineering, chemistry, social sciences, pharmacy, mathematics, life sciences, medicine and
computer sciences. Through this approach we continue to see exciting applications of our research
developing including: antimicrobial medical devices, food shelf-life enhancers, novel medical
diagnostics and therapeutics, new routes to chemicals and biofuels, biocontrol agents and
sustainable fertilizers.
Investment in excellent researchers is central to our ambition to make Nottingham a beacon for
Industrial Biotechnology research. We already have a strong research base in Industrial
Biotechnology but are now actively and rapidly building on this foundation to expand the strength
and scope of our IB research. Our interests in red, white, grey and green biotechnology are wideranging with many inter-disciplinary teams engaged. To complement our existing strengths, we
have recently recruited a number of leading chemistry and biotechnology research scientists to
new IB posts. Our ambitious plans require further investment in exceptional individuals to fill
additional new Professor and aligned posts.