BiocatCode Expander Stories:

Beyond the Bench #9

Emilia Iglesias Moncayo

Hi everyone!

A bit more than two years ago, I started my Ph.D. journey in the BiocatCodeExpander consortium at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Moving to the Netherlands has been a wonderful experience, not only on an academic level but also on a personal one.

My Ph.D. project explores the design of new artificial enzymes using noncanonical amino acids based on secondary and tertiary amines. It has been a fascinating journey that has allowed me to combine my interest in chemistry with my curiosity about biology. I am very grateful to have great colleagues who are always willing to discuss science and help to keep the project moving forward. Besides work, it is always great to enjoy borrels together and to learn new techniques in the boulder gym.

However, not everything is just science. Amsterdam is a wonderful city to live in, and after two years, I am happy to share that I have picked up certain essential Dutch skills while biking that I hope will serve me well later on in life. Furthermore, I am a big fan of kruidnoten, stroopwafels, and oliebollen, which help me get through the Dutch winter.

Being part of BiocatCodeExpander has also allowed me to meet other great Ph.D. candidates across Europe and learn from them. They inspired me and have helped me overcome challenges in the laboratory on multiple occasions. In 2024, I had the opportunity to complete a secondment in Spain, and I am currently in Atlanta learning more about computational approaches to the design of artificial enzymes.

BiocatCode Expander Stories:

Beyond the Bench #8

Lauren Quintero

Hello everyone!!! My name is Lauren Quintero, and I am a PhD student working on Project 4 of the BiocatCodeExpander consortium. Two years and two months ago, I changed my entire life and moved from the other side of the Atlantic to Europe to begin my PhD. Fortunately, my university, Rovira i Virgili, is located in a city in Catalonia (Tarragona), in the south of Spain, on the Mediterranean coast. This means it has very favorable weather, and in that sense, it reminds me a lot of my homeland. Although the change was drastic, little by little over time, I have adapted and started to see it as my second home.

The change has not only been personal but also professional, because although I graduated in Chemistry, I had never worked in organic synthesis before. Now, in the SINTCARB lab in Spain, I focus on the synthesis of silicon non-canonical amino acids for genetic code expansion, which is one of the objectives of our project. Working in an organic synthesis lab is tough: you spend many hours setting up reactions, testing conditions, and then studying column behavior or performing purifications. It can also be very frustrating at times, because despite putting in a lot of effort, you don’t always obtain the results you want or the best yields. However, in the end, a solution to the problem is always found. As part of the reward, I have had the opportunity to meet wonderful people, make new friends, and enjoy the beautiful landscape of this region and its beaches, which, although they are not the Caribbean, are still stunning, as well as its incredible gastronomy.

As if that were not enough, in August of this year I moved again, this time for four months to Vienna, Austria, to carry out my first secondment at the Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, where another of our colleagues, Andrea Borgonovo, is working. Here, once again, I shifted from gram-scale reactions and flash chromatography column purifications to Eppendorf tubes and micropipettes. In other words, a completely different kind of science. I am now studying the genetic incorporation of the silicon ncAAs synthesized in Spain. This is my last week here, and part of me does not want to leave, because I must say that I have learned a lot, I love the working environment, and I have received excellent supervision. On the other hand, the city is beautiful, one of the most beautiful in Europe, in my opinion, and life here truly fascinates me. I have thoroughly enjoyed these four months discovering its majestic palaces, interesting museums, and lovely squares—here, even everyday life feels like art!!! I have also been fortunate to be here at this time of year and to experience the magic of Christmas in this wonderful city, especially through its traditional and charming Christmas markets. In addition, I have had the opportunity to visit other charming cities near to Vienna, such as Budapest, Bratislava, Prague, and Ljubljana.

BiocatCode Expander Stories:

Beyond the Bench #7

Stela Galusic

Greetings from Graz!

Hi everyone! It is hard to believe that it has been around a year and a half since I started my PhD journey here in Graz. Time really does fly when you are having fun (at least they say so).

Most of my days start around 9 a.m. and every day can be quite different. Some days I spend hours in the lab doing experiments and collecting data. On other days, I am glued to my computer analyzing results, reading papers or planning the next experiments. My research focuses on developing a high-throughput assay for screening of enzymes and later incorporating NCAAs into the enzyme I am working with. Like every PhD student can most probably confirm, there are periods of amazing progress and periods of complete chaos, and it often feels like they are happening at the same time.

One of the best parts of my work in Graz is the people I get to share my time and space with. I had the opportunity to meet amazing people from all over the world. Also, my dear colleague Odyseass is just one floor away. Sometimes we cross paths during experiments or have productive brainstorming sessions together. As you can see, he is always very happy to see me!

And of course, I have to mention that none of the work that I do, or anyone else in my office, would not be possible without our dear friend Paula <3. She is always there for us, early mornings, late evenings and keeps us running smoothly.

Outside of the lab, Graz has plenty to offer. It is a beautiful and charming little city that has quickly become a second home to me. I am very grateful that it’s not too far away from my real home in Croatia, which means I have a chance to visit my family and friends often, a luxury that not everyone has.

So far, this PhD journey has been full of challenges, discoveries, and constant learning. Some days can be tough, but I am lucky to be surrounded by great people that make all this much easier for me!

Till next time!

Do less, God bless,

Stela 😊

Rosa’s secondment at VUA

One of the most important aspects of working in research is learning how to connect with fellow scientists and share knowledge.
The MSCA-funded PhD programs actively promote international collaboration by including mandatory secondments at other universities/companies, covering 30% of the PhD duration.

As part of the MSCA doctoral network BiocatCodeExpander I had the opportunity to spend the past three months at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam) Amsterdam, working within the Drienovska Lab, led by Ivana Drienovska, for my first PhD secondment. During this time, I acquired knowledge in genetic code expansion techniques, focusing on the selection of optimal orthogonal pairs for the incorporation of non-canonical amino acids into proteins. Beyond acquiring new technical skills, it was a chance to see how research is conducted in a different country.

I want to send a special thank you to my fellow BiocatCodeExpanders Emilia Iglesias Moncayo and Jan Hendrik Illies for all the support during these months and for making me feel at home in Amsterdam.

It was amazing to have the chance to discover the lively and beautiful city of Amsterdam. I’m truly grateful for this experience and already looking forward to my next PhD secondment!

Rosa

BiocatCode Expander Stories:

Beyond the Bench #6

Jan Hendrik

Science, Collaboration and the First Two Years of My PhD Journey

Hi everyone! I am Jan Hendrik, a PhD student in Amsterdam and part of the BiocatCodeExpander Consortium. Nearly two years have passed since I started this journey in July 2023, and it has been a time filled with science, collaboration, and quite a bit of travel.

Early on, I had the chance to contribute to a shared first-author review in Chemical Reviews with my colleague Emilia and a fantastic team from Groningen. Working on this comprehensive article provided a deep dive into the field and laid a solid foundation for my research ahead. More recently, we published an article in ChemBioChem, accepted in June 2025, which is directly connected to my PhD project. My work focuses on the biosynthesis and direct incorporation of non-canonical amino acids—a technically demanding area with exciting potential for real-world applications down the line.

A highlight of the past two years was a four-month research stay in Winnipeg, Canada, in the summer and early autumn of 2024. Together with Diego, I joined Prof. Ned Budisa’s lab, where I worked closely with Huy Luu, a PhD student in the group. Adapting to a new lab setting, exchanging techniques, learning about Genetic Code Expansion techniques, and approaching challenges from different angles was both a learning experience and a refreshing change of pace.

Outside the lab, I have been fortunate to present at several international conferences, including NextGenBioCat 2024 in Crete, the Protein Society’s annual meeting in Vancouver, and NextGenBioCat 2025 in Milan. These meetings have been great for sharing our work and getting feedback from a broader scientific community. I have also really valued the BiocatCodeExpander training weeks in Amsterdam, Graz, and Berlin—intensive but energising weeks of collaborative learning and exchange with other PhD students and PIs from across the consortium.

Living in Amsterdam has added a special dimension to this experience. The Dutch cycling culture makes commuting a pleasure, and being able to escape to the beach after work or on weekends brings a welcome balance. I have also come to enjoy the rhythm of life here—from lively discussions with colleagues over coffee (and the occasional stroopwafel) to the straightforward, open communication style that characterises Dutch research culture.

These past two years have gone by quickly, but they have been full of growth and discovery. I am looking forward to what comes next.

Until next time,

Jan Hendrik

Emilia’s secondment at University of Rovira i Virgili

We are pleased to announce the successful completion of Emilia’s secondment at the SINCAT group at the University of Rovira i Virgili, under the supervision of Dr. Omar Boutureira. Emilia, a PhD student from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, has been working on the design of artificial enzymes with new non-canonical amino acids (ncAAs) as part of WP3.

During her secondment, Emilia focused on the chemical synthesis of new ncAAs. This research is relevant in the biocatalysis field for diversifying the types of ncAAs currently available and thereby unlocking new-to-nature catalysis.

Outside the laboratory, Emilia enjoyed the beautiful beach in Tarragona, and we hope you do too!

Our First Review Article Is Out!

We are excited to share our first publication, “Noncanonical Amino Acids: Bringing New-to-Nature Functionalities to Biocatalysis”, which was published in ACS Chemical Reviews last August.

In this review, we explore the growing role of noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) in biocatalysis. We discuss how ncAAs can be used to gain deeper mechanistic insights into a wide variety of enzymes. We also highlight how incorporating ncAAs into enzymes can enhance their activity, selectivity, and stability. Another section of the review focuses on how ncAAs can be used to build more precisely designed enzymatic assemblies. Finally, we consider the exciting potential of using ncAAs to create artificial enzymes and the new possibilities this opens up for future applications.

Writing this review was a challenging yet highly rewarding experience. It deepened our understanding of the field and undoubtedly influenced the direction of our research. Collaborating with researchers from the University of Groningen also enabled us to expand our professional network and improve our cross-institutional collaboration skills.

We hope you enjoy reading the review as much as we enjoyed writing it!

Best,

Emilia & Jan Hendrik

BiocatCode Expander Stories:

Beyond the Bench #5

Diego

Hello everyone, I’m Diego! 😊

Almost two years ago, I decided to shake up my scientific journey by moving from my home country, Italy, to a completely new one — Czechia. My goal? To contribute to an exciting and innovative research field offered by BiocatcodeExpander!

A typical day as a PhD candidate starts with me waking up (a success on its own!) and getting my daily dose of caffeine to be fully functional once I arrive at Enantis. My research focuses on incorporating non-canonical amino acids into fibroblast growth factors, with the aim of giving these powerful proteins new or improved properties.

No two days are exactly the same — they’re usually a mix of lab work, office tasks, and meetings. After work, I make sure to squeeze in some social time. And what better way to do that than enjoying a Czech beer with friends at a local bar?

Right now, I’m in Spain, spending part of my PhD in beautiful San Sebastian. Here, I’m working with Cecilia, learning new techniques to incorporate non-canonical amino acids, especially azidohomoalanine. This secondment will last three months, until the end of August. I’ve also had the chance to spend four months in Winnipeg, Canada, working with Jan Hendrik — another incredible experience!

Can’t wait to keep collecting exciting data and making progress!

Cheers,
Diego

Cecilia’s secondment at Enginzyme

We are pleased to announce the successful completion of Cecilia’s internship at Enginzyme in Stockholm, Sweden. Cecilia, as part of WP5, is working in enzyme immobilization through NCAA.