The UK’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) this week announced intentions to fund a single PhD studentship to develop enhanced paper detectors for chemical warfare agents.

Specifically sought are ‘paper-like’ systems that can visually disclose the presence of deposited liquid chemical warfare agents (CWAs) including G- and V-series nerve agents and sulfur mustard.

Researchers with expertise in some or all of the following areas are sought:

Chemical-stimuli responsive materials (polymers, microcapsules, nanoparticles, etc.)
Incorporation of responsive components into bulk materials such as polymers or paper
Development of chemical-responsive systems comprised of more than one responsive component
Mass transport behavior of liquid in bulk materials

Highly innovative approaches which are significantly different from existing technologies commercially available technologies are sought.

Methods that rely on auxiliary IT equipment/optical readers or swabbing and subsequent down-stream laboratory analysis are excluded from this opportunity.

Initial applications are due October 3, 2016. Those invited to submit full proposals will be notified by October 17, 2016.