1. Determining specific markers of chlorine exposure in environmental and biological matrices.

• Exposing various environmental and biological matrices to chlorine gas and other chlorinating chemicals.
• Analysing the samples for chlorinated markers using modern mass spectrometric techniques for organic and inorganic analysis, including high-resolution mass spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.
• Analysing the isotope profile of the markers and determine if it is possible to discriminate those formed by chlorine gas from other chlorinating chemicals.

2. Determining the chemical profiles of crude CWC – relevant reaction products resulting from in-house syntheses.

• Determining the chemical profiles of crude CWC-relevant reaction products resulting from in-house syntheses (not to be performed by intern), using mass spectrometric techniques for organic and inorganic analysis, including high-resolution mass spectrometry, and NMR spectroscopy.
• Applying chemometric tools and multivariate analysis for discovering route- or batch-specific signature profiles.

3. Development of an experimental design to find biomarkers of exposure to scheduled chemicals via different sample preparation approaches.

• Developing an experimental design to find the biomarkers via different sample preparation approaches, after spiking scheduled chemicals or degradation products into plasma and urine.
• Analysis of the biomarkers, which can consist of adducts with peptides and hydrolysed products, by using tandem mass
• spectrometry and high-resolution mass spectrometry.
• Applying new derivatization methods to detect hydrolysed products and adducted peptides at low ppb levels. 

• Enrolled in and have completed at least one year of a chemistry degree programme in a university (or equivalent tertiary institution) or;
• in a graduate school programme (second university degree or higher)
• Have graduated in chemistry from a university or a graduate school within a year prior to the commencement of the internship and;
• Be a citizen of an OPCW Member State and fluent in both written and spoken English.

Desirable:

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry with thorough knowledge of analytical chemistry applications.

Skills and competencies:

• Technological Awareness - It is hard to keep up with the fast pace of technological change, but the Organization offers training as well as support to keep abreast of technological development.
• Commitment to Continuous Learning - The OPCW is committed to a process of continuous learning.
• Teamwork - We work collectively towards a common goal and together we get the job done. As a team member you have to genuinely value other people’s ideas and expertise and be willing to learn from others.
• Fluency in English is essential and a good working knowledge of one of the other official languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish) is desirable.