Institute of Synthetic Biology of Biological and Molecular Smart Manufacturing Research Institute at ZJU-Hangzhou Global Science and Technology Innovation Center focuses on key scientific and technological challenges in synthetic biology, with its reliance on high-throughput automated scientific devices, the interface of machine learning and big data analysis for the integration of biotechnology and information technology, and going beyond traditional research paradigms, and achieving disruptive breakthroughs and application innovation in synthetic biology. Aiming at strategic national needs, the Institute makes full use of the industrial advantages of the Yangtze River Delta, strong research capacity of Zhejiang University and innovative institutional mechanism of the Center to build a domestically leading and globally advanced frontier technology innovation and research platform, and drive the in-depth integration of industry, universities and research. Led by the College of Chemical and Biological Engineering of Zhejiang University, the Institute is also supported by Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences Institute, College of Life Sciences, College of Computer Science and Technology, and School of Medicine of Zhejiang University. The Institute has research strength with WANG Baojun, Qiushi Distinguished Professor of Zhejiang University as director of the Institute to lead the frontier and applied scientific research in synthetic biology.

I. Introduction to the Team and Leader

WANG Baojun, a Distinguished Professor of Zhejiang University, elected candidate of Top-notch Talent Enhancement Program of the Center and elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC) in 2020, is currently Vice Dean of Biological and Molecular Smart Manufacturing Research Institute and Director of Institute of Synthetic Biology at ZJU-Hangzhou Global Science and Technology Innovation Center. His research expertise includes developing new enabling tools for synthetic biology, and engineering novel customized genetic circuits for the sensing and information processing of multiple cellular and environmental signals with applications in diverse areas, for example, biosensing, biomanufacturing and biotherapies. He was Reader in Synthetic Biology at the University of Edinburgh before his return to China in 2021. In the last three years, he has published more than 20 academic papers as corresponding author in top journals (five in Nature Chemical Biology and Nature Communications), received over 20 research grants totalling about RMB 50 million from the UK Research and Innovation Future Leaders Fellowship (only 41 recipients in the UK) in 2019, Gates Foundation Grand Challenges Explorations Award in 2015, BBSRC New Investigator Award and Wellcome Trust Seed Award in Science in 2016. His research has also been funded by leading industry partners including Microsoft Research and Huawei Technologies, as well as DSTL and ONRG. Refer to http://wang.bio.ed.ac.uk/ for the information on Wang Lab.

For conducting better research, Wang’s Team is recruiting 6-10 postdocs on synthetic biology, including but not limited to:

1. Development of new enabling technologies and regulatory tools for synthetic biology (intronic peptides, CRISPR gene editing and regulation, etc.);

2. Gene component mining, modification, modularization and orthologization design;

3. Gene circuit design (including engineering and scale-up design as well as bio-design automation platform, etc.): research on the implementation of orthogonal gene logic gates, transcription amplifiers and other modules, development of new gene circuit regulation tools, complex scale-up gene circuit design methods, establishment of bio-design automation (BDA) platform, development of modular automation design softwares for synthetic biological systems, etc.

4. Biosensing and smart biological diagnostics and therapeutics: e.g. biosensors for rapid detection based on synthetic microorganisms or cell-free expression systems, portable or wearable monitoring of human metabolism and other related diseases or physiological states, point-of-use diagnostics of target toxins (e.g. arsenic, pesticides) and health-indicating metabolites in various samples in resource limited settings; artificial custom phages for targeted removal of intestinal pathogenic bacteria, etc. 

5. Biocomputing and biomanufacturing application (based on artificial cells or cell-free expression systems, etc.): distributed smart biocomputing based on synthetic cells or multi-cell population coupling; synthesis of new bioprotein functional materials; in situ monitoring of cell factory environment and smart regulation of metabolism, etc.

II. Recruitment requirements

(6-10) Postdoctoral fellows

1. Have or will have a PhD degree awarded in synthetic biology, bioengineering, life science, bioinformatics, computational biology, automation, etc; Have at least one paper published in (or accepted by) top academic journals as the main author; Have excellent English reading and writing skills; Under 35 years old (in principle);

2. Have strong interest in the research on synthetic biology or its industrial application;

3. Priorities will be given to the applicants who have experimental skills in synthetic biosystem design, gene circuit design, biosensor development, biodesign software development, molecular biology and biochemistry.

III. Benefits and support

1. Annual pre-tax salary, in principle, no less than RMB 400,000 yuan (including local government talent subsidy), discussed individually;

2. Talent polices of Hangzhou and Xiaoshan District governments to those who go on to work at the Center after completing postdoc studies;

3. Talent apartment from Xiaoshan District or apartment of the Center; free access to star gyms, swimming pools and other facilities;  

4. First-class experiment and research facilities;

5. Additional funding or allowances to those who participate in major research projects of the Center and score remarkable achievements;

6. Those who meet the requirements during their postdoctoral studies can apply for the senior professional and technical positions of the Center;

7. Those who have outstanding performance during the work are recommended to apply for the faculty positions of Zhejiang University or R&D positions of the Center if they meet requirements;

8. Support grants from Hangzhou and Xiaoshan District for those who have obtained funding from China Postdoctoral Science Foundation and Postdoctoral Research Projects of Zhejiang Province.

IV. Application documents

1. Personal academic bio;

2. Letter of application: brief introduction to career development plan, research interests and major academic achievements within 300 words;

3. Representative papers in PDF;

4. Contact information of 2-3 academic referees required, and the letters of recommendation attached if there is any.

The applicants shall send the electronic version of the above documents in one PDF file to hic@zju.edu.cn. The subject of the letter shall be labeled in the format: “Name of the Project + Postdoctoral Fellow + Full Name” and please indicate the approximate start date in the letter. The documents will be kept strictly confidential and there will be interviews for those who pass the preliminary review. The recruitment is always open. You are highly welcome if you are passionate about research!

V. Contact information

Contact person: Mr. Wang

Phone number: 0571-8235912

Address: No. 733, Jianshe 3rd Road, Xiaoshan District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province