Food, Water, Waste Research Group

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Anca Pordea

Assistant Professor, Faculty of Engineering

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Biography

I graduated from the National Institute of Applied Research (INSA) in Rouen (France) in 2004, with a Master Degree in Fine Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. I completed my PhD in Neuchâtel (Switzerland) in 2008, working on the development of enantioselective catalytic reactions by using artificial metalloenzymes, with Prof. Thomas R. Ward. After the PhD, I was awarded a Swiss National Science Foundation fellowship to work on the chemical modification of subtilisin in Oxford (UK). In 2010, I took a postdoctoral position in Neuchâtel, where I worked on the development of organocatalysts. I joined the University of Nottingham in 2012 as an assistant professor.

Expertise Summary

Expertise in bioinorganic catalysis, enzyme engineering, enzyme immobilisation

Teaching Summary

I teach on core modules in the chemical engineering curriculum (Separation technologies and Materials and sustainable processes). I also teach Advanced Biochemical Engineering, an optional Year 4… read more

Research Summary

We are interested in the design and engineering of enzymes with an expanded reaction scope, beyond what they have naturally evolved to catalyse. We apply genetic and chemical protein modification… read more

Selected Publications

I teach on core modules in the chemical engineering curriculum (Separation technologies and Materials and sustainable processes). I also teach Advanced Biochemical Engineering, an optional Year 4 module.

Current Research

We are interested in the design and engineering of enzymes with an expanded reaction scope, beyond what they have naturally evolved to catalyse. We apply genetic and chemical protein modification techniques, to modify the functionality of enzymes and further integrate them in metabolic pathways or use them as isolated entities outside the cells. We aim to integrate the transformed enzymes within industrial biotechnological processes and to deliver sustainable alternatives for the production of high value chemicals and for the degradation of polymer waste.

Past and current projects in the group include:

- Incorporation of metal-based chemical catalysts into protein scaffolds (artificial metalloenzymes)

- Engineering of enzymes for the degradation of synthetic polymers (rubber, plastics)

- Enzyme immobilisation within 3D printed reactor cores for continuous flow biocatalysis

- Engineering of thermostable carbonic anhydrases for CO2 capture

We have expertise in the synthesis and catalytic applications of ligands and metal complexes compatible with proteins, bioconjugation of small molecules to proteins, expression and purification of recombinant enzymes, enzyme engineering and enzyme immobilisation.

Future Research

I welcome enquiries from potential PhD candidates from Home, EU and international countries who are interested in the following research areas: catalysis, biocatalysis, enzyme engineering, artificial metalloenzymes, rational design.

Food, Water, Waste Research Group

Faculty of Engineering
The University of Nottingham
Nottingham, NG7 2RD


telephone: +44 (0)115 82 32502
email:FWW@nottingham.ac.uk