This refers to the Note by the Technical Secretariat, Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), regarding the Two Research Fellowships in Analytical Chemistry Skills Development. The programme is organized by the Finnish Institute for Verification of the Chemical Weapons Convention (VERIFIN). The fellowships will be held at the VERIFIN Laboratory in Finland.
The programme is designed for relatively young chemists with relevant practical and theoretical experience in analytical chemistry/ bioanalysis or synthetic chemistry. The fellowships will be for a duration of six (6) months starting in the spring of 2016.
The Philippine National Authority on the Chemical Weapons Convention (PNA-CWC) Secretariat[1] would like you to recommend 1-2 qualified candidate/s, a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Specialistand/or a Synthetic Chemist, to attend the abovementioned programme. Given the purpose of the course, candidates will be carefully selected by the PNA-CWC Secretariat and the OPCW Technical Secretariat according to the following criteria:
NMR Specialist
- Have a practical experience in analytical chemistry, including sample preparation and analysis methods of compounds related to chemical weapons agents;
- Knowledgeable in both NMR spectroscopy and information technology;
- Have a practical experience with computers and basic software; and
- Have a good oral and written command of English.
Synthetic Chemist
- Should have a practical experience in organic synthesis and gas chromatography;
- Should be knowledgeable of organic reactions;
- Have a practical experience with computers and basic software; and
- Have a good oral and written command of English.
Applications from qualified female candidates are highly encouraged.
Two (2) candidates will be selected for the fellowships offered under this programme in two (2) phases:
- Pre-selection of the candidates will be made before 19 February 2016; and
- Final selection by the OPCW will be made before 29 February 2016.
In this context, it should be mentioned that VERIFIN will pre-select at least four (4) candidates for the fellowships, whose applications will be forwarded to the OPCW. The Director-General of the OPCW will select the research fellows to be supported by the OPCW, based on the recommendation of the Review Committee. Applications shall comply with the requirements of the OPCW Fellowship Programme, details of which are available on the OPCW website (www.opcw.org).
VERIFIN will provide tutors, equipment, and infrastructure free of charge; while the OPCW will cover travel-related expenses including airfare, accommodation, daily allowances, and medical insurance.
The recommended candidate is invited to complete the Application Form (ANNEX A) and submit it to the PNA-CWC Secretariat (by email to pna.secretariat@gmail.com) no later than 04 February 2016. The Application Form must be accompanied by the following requirements:
- Up-to-date curriculum vitae;
- Essay (NOT exceeding 300 words) outlining the objectives the candidate wishes to achieve and the type of work experience he/she hopes to acquire during the period of the fellowship;
- Recommendation letter from the supervisor of the candidate at the institution where he/she is currently working, indicating how the training will be of benefit to the candidate’s present position, institution, and country; and
- Scanned copy of the personal identification page of the applicant’s valid passport.
The Secretariat will provide a Letter of Endorsement in order to be eligible to apply for the programme. Incomplete requirements or insufficiently detailed applications will not be considered by the PNA-CWC Secretariat.
Should there be queries or clarifications on this programme, the contact person is Ms. Nazrin Camille D. Castro at email address castro.nazrin@gmail.com.
Click here to download the Application Form.