Contact Dr Licia Dossi
Areas of expertise
- Defence Sensors
- Explosives and Munitions
- Manufacturing of Functional Materials
- Smart Materials
- Structures and Materials
Background
Dr Licia Dossi is Senior Lecturer in Defence Chemistry at Cranfield University and RSC Chartered Chemist and Chartered Scientist, with expertise in chemical detection, polymer chemistry and explosives chemistry gained from 30 years' experience in UK and European Academic institutions.
She graduated with an MSc in Chemistry from Pisa University, Italy and received her PhD in Biomaterials from Brescia University Italy. She was a Research Assistant at Pisa University, the Italian National Research Council and Genoa University in the synthesis of new polymeric systems for a variety of applications. Her research contribution on the synthesis of liquid crystalline polymers and hydrogels developed in Pisa University is often cited worldwide. Licia moved to Bristol University UK in 1998 as Research Assistant with a three year ESPRC grant in polymers and then took a career break for her young family until 2008 when she joined Cranfield University as Research Fellow. She became Senior Research Fellow in 2015, Lecturer in Defence Chemistry in 2016 and Senior Lecturer in 2023.
Licia is part of the Centre for Defence Engineering and Physical Science at Shrivenham Campus. She delivers lectures at MSc and PhD levels on a variety of themes. She leads the Centre of Excellence in Energetic Materials (CoEEM) - Explosives Detection Hub and she has an important national and international networking and collaborations with academic and industry in UK and overseas.
She is REF active researcher and co-author in more than 65 published papers/conference proceedings, 3 international patents and 3 books.
https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/Centres/Centre-for-Defence-Chemistry, Crim-Track: A new breed of sniffer dog
Binders by Design: the development of novel energetic materials (cranfield.ac.uk)
KEY PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
• An internationally recognised practitioner in polymer chemistry.
• An internationally recognised practitioner in explosives chemistry.
• An internationally recognised practitioner in detection of chemical threats.
• Strong project management skills having managed and delivered multi-disciplinary projects for a variety of clients.
• High expertise in design and delivery of chemistry courses.
• Strong health and safety management skills having managed very complex area of research
• Very important networking.
• Excellent communication skills keeping relationships and delivering knowledge through teaching in the classroom and laboratories.
Research opportunities
Chemical detection
Detection of illicit substances.
o Development of sniffer device for the detection of explosives and controlled drugs and their precursor.
Detection of pesticides.
o Detection of chemical hazards in Archive Repositories.
Biodetection.
o Biodetection technologies against harmful, airborne pathogens.
Integrated detection systems and UAS.
o Development of sniffer UAS device for identification of illicit substances.
Explosives Chemistry
Energetic materials.
o Synthesis and characterisation of common explosives.
o Synthesis of inert and energetic polymeric binders.
o Smart high performance energetic formulations.
o Molecular boron in energetic polymers.
o Replacement of toxic isocyanates in PBX formulations.
o Energetic ionic salts for propulsion.
o Coating of explosives and metals.
Polymer Science and Technology
Synthetic polymer organic chemistry.
o Cationic catalysts and stereospecific polymerization of chiral vinyl monomers.
o Anionic polymerization, radical polymerization.
o Liquid crystalline polymers: synthesis and characterization.
o Polymeric hydrogels.
o Polymers for biomedical & pharmaceutical applications.
o Crosslinked polymers.
o Polymers for microencapsulation and controlled drug delivery.
Molecular Modelling and Synthesis.
o Synergy of molecular modelling and synthesis.
Degradation and environmental.
o Biodegradable polymers of natural & synthetic origin: preparation and degradability evaluation.
o Polymeric materials for environmental and agricultural applications.
https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/press/news-2024/13-million-investment-in-biodetection-technologies-research
https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/facilities/nuclear-magnetic-resonance-spectrometer
Current activities
Licia is active researcher in the areas of Defence, Security and Applied Polymer Science.
She is currently leading the development of the CRIM-TRACK sensor for the detection of illicit chemicals, bio-aerosols and pesticides in Archival items through funding from Research England and AHRC.
Licia teaches chemistry and polymers science and chemical detection at MSc and PhD level. She currently supervises a MSc student on his Thesis project on the "Development of sniffer UAS device for identification of illicit substances".
She is the manager of two laboratories, Organic Synthesis and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance laboratory, within the Centre for Defence Chemistry at Shrivenham.
She leads the Centre of Excellence in Energetic Materials (CoEEM) - Explosives Detection Hub with DSTL and Metropolitan Police and she is active member of the UK Centre of Excellence in Energetic Materials Synthesis group and committee member of the Explosives Ordnance Engineering course.
She has an important number of communication relationships and collaborations with academia and industry in UK and overseas.
Licia is co-author of several papers published in international peer reviewed journals, she co-authoring three patents, three books and delivers research and numerous technical reports on research topics including:
Biodetection https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/press/news-2024/13-million-investment-in-biodetection-technologies-research
Detection of illicit chemicals Crimtrack valency video with titles (panopto.eu)
Inert and energetic polymeric binders - Design, modelling and synthesis Binders by Design: the development of novel energetic materials (cranfield.ac.uk)
- Cross-linked polymers
- Hydrogels for absorption of toxic chemicals
- Smart high performance binders for energetic formulations
- Synthesis and characterisation of common explosives
- Hybrid detection-UAV systems
- Polymers for microencapsulation and controlled drug delivery
Clients
- BAE Systems PLC
- Danish Defence
- Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
- Weapons Sector Research Framework
- Atomic Weapons Establishment
- Ministry of Defence
- Chemring Group PLC
- Wallops Flight Facility (NASA)
- European Commission
Publications
Articles In Journals
- Anagwu FI, Dossi E & Skordos AA. (2025). High glass transition catalyst-free polybenzoxazine vitrimer through one-pot solventless method. Reactive and Functional Polymers, 209
- Hermenean A, Dossi E, Hamilton A, Trotta MC, Russo M, .... (2024). Chrysin directing an enhanced solubility through the formation of a supramolecular cyclodextrin–calixarene drug delivery system: a potential strategy in antifibrotic diabetes therapeutics. Pharmaceuticals, 17(1)
- Şen N, Pons J-F, Zorlu Y, Dossi E, Persico F, .... (2024). Synthesis, structure characterization, Hirshfeld surface analysis, and computational studies of 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO):acridine. Structural Chemistry, 35(6)
- Dossi E, Mutele-Nkuna KL, Wilkinson P, Kister G, Patrick H, .... (2024). Shaping the structure and properties of HyTemp using polyethylene glycol diglycidyl ether cross-linkers. Journal of Polymer Science, 62(17)
- Hakim Khalili M, Williams CJ, Micallef C, Duarte-Martinez F, Afsar A, .... (2023). Nanoindentation response of 3D printed PEGDA hydrogels in hydrated environment. ACS Applied Polymer Materials, 5(2)
- Hakim Khalili M, Panchal V, Dulebo A, Hawi S, Zhang R, .... (2023). Mechanical behavior of 3d printed poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate hydrogels in hydrated conditions investigated using atomic force microscopy. ACS Applied Polymer Materials, 5(4)
- Francis DP, Laustsen M, Dossi E, Treiberg T, Hardy I, .... (2023). Machine learning methods for the detection of explosives, drugs and precursor chemicals gathered using a colorimetric sniffer sensor. Analytical Methods, 15(19)
- Khalili MH, Afsar A, Zhang R, Wilson S, Dossi E, .... (2022). Thermal response of multi-layer UV crosslinked PEGDA hydrogels. Polymer Degradation and Stability, 195(January)
- Dossi E, Earnshaw J, Ellison L, Rabello dos Santos G, Cavaye H, .... (2021). Understanding and controlling the glass transition of HTPB oligomers. Polymer Chemistry, 12(17)
- Dossi E, Bolton M, Kister G & Afsar A. (2021). Cross-linking of γ-cyclodextrin using non-toxic polyethylene glycol spacer units. ChemistrySelect, 6(30)
- Haimhoffer Á, Dossi E, Béresová M, Bácskay I, Váradi J, .... (2021). Preformulation studies and bioavailability enhancement of curcumin with a ‘two in one’ PEG-β-cyclodextrin polymer. Pharmaceutics, 13(10)
- Luppi F, Mai N, Kister G, Gill PP, Gaulter S, .... (2019). Chemical modification of β-cyclodextrins: balancing soft and rigid domains in complex structures. Chemistry – A European Journal, 25(68)
- Luppi F, Cavaye H & Dossi E. (2018). Nitrated cross-linked b-cyclodextrin binders exhibiting low glass transition tempratures. Propellants, Explosives, Pyrotechnics, 43(10)
- Luppi F, Kister G, Carpenter M & Dossi E. (2018). Thermomechanical characterisation of cross-linked β-cyclodextrin polyether binders. Polymer Testing, 73
- Dossi E, Akhavan J, Gaulter SE, Williams RG & Doe WJ. (2018). Cross-linking of hydroxyl-terminated polyols with triethyleneglycol diglycidyl ether: an alternative to toxic isocyanates. Propellants, Explosives, Pyrotechnics, 43(3)
- Cavaye H, Clegg F, Gould PJ, Ladyman MK, Temple TJ, .... (2017). Primary alkyl phosphine-borane polymers: Synthesis, low glass transition temperature, and a predictive capability thereof. Macromolecules, 50(23)
- Kister G & Dossi E. (2015). Cure monitoring of CFRP composites by dynamic mechanical analyser. Polymer Testing, 47
- Solaro R, Dossi E, Chiellini E & Mazzanti G. (1997). New Multifunctional Polymeric Materials for the Treatment of Chronic Uremia. Journal of Bioactive and Compatible Polymers, 12(1)
- Gallot B, Galli G, Dossi E & Chiellini E. (1995). Structural characterization of the smectic polymorphism of chiral liquid crystalline polysiloxanes containing biphenyl mesogens. Liquid Crystals, 18(3)
- Chiellini E, Dossi E, Galli G, Solaro R & Gallot B. (1995). Synthesis and structural characterization of chiral smectic C and smectic A poly(vinyl ether)s. Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics, 196(12)
- Chiellini E, Galli G, Cioni F, Dossi E & Gallot B. (1993). Chiral smectic liquid-crystalline polyacrylates with variously spaced and substituted biphenylene units. Journal of Materials Chemistry, 3(10)
- CHIELLINI E, GALLI G, CIONI F & DOSSI E. (1993). CHIRAL LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE POLYMERS - RECENT ISSUES AND PERSPECTIVES. MAKROMOLEKULARE CHEMIE-MACROMOLECULAR SYMPOSIA, 69
- Chiellini E, Galli G, Cioni F & Dossi E. (1993). Chiral liquid crystalline polymers: Recent issues and perspectives. Makromolekulare Chemie. Macromolecular Symposia, 69(1)
- Chiellini E, Galli G, Dossi E, Cioni F & Gallot B. (1993). New chiral smectic polysiloxanes from mesogenic olefin or vinyl ether monomers. Macromolecules, 26(4)
