Postdoc Enzymology in Tungsten BioCatalysis

Challenge: Finding ways to produce tungsten enzymes on an industrial scale.

Change: Understanding how tungsten enzymes work.

Impact: Using new classes of enzymes to green the chemical industry

Job description

Europe's chemical industry must become more sustainable - and it must do so quickly. Breakthrough technologies can help to accelerate this goal. At the moment, chemical manufacturing is held back by the limited number of enzyme classes in industrial use even though some enzymes are known to offer greener, safer and less energy demanding benefits. For this reason, the European Innovation Council has funded a new Pathfinder Open project W-BioCat https://www.wbiocat.com. The W-BioCat project targets an important enzyme class of tungsten-containing enzymes (W-enzymes), which catalyse amazing chemical reactions involving challenging low redox potential reduction reactions that are currently impossible to obtain economically at an industrial scale. Its goal? To functionally express W-enzymes in an industrial workhorse microorganism. This would be a major breakthrough for science and the applications of this enzyme class in fragrance- and flavour compounds and cosmetic ingredients    

As a Postdoc Enzymology in Tungsten Biocatalysis at TU Delft you will study the fundamental aspects of these enzymes and their potential applications in a dynamic environment with a collaborative, multi-disciplinary team. You will be the backbone of the project, supporting the activities of your team. In this role, you will express and purify the relevant W-enzymes from natural and heterologous hosts for characterization and biocatalytic experiments. The work will include protein engineering and enzyme characterization using advanced kinetics and EPR spectroscopy.

You will join the Hagedoorn group at the Biocatalysis Section at TU Delft .The Biocatalyis Section has an excellent reputation in its field with state-of-the-art facilities and leading scientists in the areas of biocatalysis, enzymology, organic chemistry and molecular imaging. Our biocatalysis community has a supportive atmosphere with regular meetings, seminars and social activities. We're confident you'll soon feel at home with peers who are just as passionate as you are about (metal) enzymes.

Job requirements 

You have an academic background, a pioneering mindset and a strong affinity with research related to (metal) enzymes. With your curious mind, you're highly motivated to carry out experiments related to the topic, report on your findings and present your results in scientific papers and at conferences. Using your excellent communication skills, you play a proactive role in an international team. Not easily stressed by the fickleness of the unknown, you will put your organisational skills to good use to drive the practical aspects of the project.

You also have:

• A PhD in (Bio)Chemistry, Biocatalysis, or a related subject.
• Experience in the cultivation of microorganisms and protein purification.
• Sound knowledge of enzymology, kinetic analysis and protein engineering.
• A good command of English, because you will be working in an international environment.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology) 

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context. 

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact! 

Faculty Applied Sciences 

With more than 1,100 employees, including 150 pioneering principal investigators, as well as a population of about 3,600 passionate students, the Faculty of Applied Sciences is an inspiring scientific ecosystem. Focusing on key enabling technologies, such as quantum- and nanotechnology, photonics, biotechnology, synthetic biology and materials for energy storage and conversion, our faculty aims to provide solutions to important problems of the 21st century. To that end, we educate innovative students in broad Bachelor's and specialist Master's programmes with a strong research component. Our scientists conduct ground-breaking fundamental and applied research in the fields of Life and Health Science & Technology, Nanoscience, Chemical Engineering, Radiation Science & Technology, and Engineering Physics. We are also training the next generation of high school teachers. 

 to go to the website of the Faculty of Applied Sciences. 

Conditions of employment 

• Duration of contract is 1,5 years Temporary
• A job of 38-40 hours per week. 
• A salary based on Scale 10 of the CAO for Dutch Universities with a salary between €3546 - €5538 gross per month based on a fulltime contract (38 hours), plus 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.  
• An excellent pension scheme via the ABP. 
• The possibility to compile an individual employment package every year. 
• Discount with health insurers on supplemental packages. 
• Flexible working week. 
• Every year, 232 leave hours (at 38 hours). You can also sell or buy additional leave hours via the individual choice budget. 
• Plenty of opportunities for education, training and courses. 
• Partially paid parental leave 
• Attention for working healthy and energetically with the vitality program. 

, offers information on their website to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme

Additional information

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Application procedure

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than

30 September 2025