"Oh what a tangled
web we weave, when first we practice to deceive."
Sir Walter Scott
| "Oh what a tangled
web we weave, when first we practice to deceive." |
||
|
|
|
| W M M New Issue | W M M Archives |
Timothy L. Vail, Ph.D. is an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, and the faculty advisor for the Pre-Forensic Chemistry program. Direct correspondence to Prof. Vail. |
 |
|
Training for a Career in Forensic Chemistry |
Some of the earliest memories that I have of a forensic investigator are images of Jack Klugman re-inventing himself as Quincy, M.E., after a long–running role as Oscar Madison on The Odd Couple. Years later, we had David Duchovny as Fox Mulder on the X-Files. And now there's the cadre of characters on CSI. To be sure, none of these could have been possible without the sine qua non investigative prowess of Basel Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes, who set the stage for the modern era of criminal investigations.
So if you're set on becoming just like any of these super-sleuths, then my advice to you is….go to acting school.
However, if you are a bit more focused and realistic about the possibility of a career in forensic science, there are several excellent programs across the U.S. that can help you to get started. Many of them have grown from traditional disciplines including anthropology, criminal justice, chemistry, and biology, and the emphasis of any particular program generally reflects the expertise of the academic department from which it evolved.
The Pre-forensic Chemistry program at Northern Arizona University is a four-year curriculum for undergraduates. It is what we call an extended Chemistry major (that's catalog-speak for “no minor”) because the credits that are usually reserved for a minor are re-allocated into the major program of study. Significant components of the current program include:
• 2 semesters of General Chemistry and their labs; • 2 semesters of Organic Chemistry and their labs; • 2 semesters of Calculus; • 2 semesters of Physics (one semester of lab); • 1 semester of Analytical Chemistry and 1 semester of Instrumental Analysis; • 1 semester of Biochemistry; • 1 semester of an advanced technical writing course; • further courses in biology, psychology, or criminal justice, depending on your chosen track; • 1 semester of Fieldwork Experience. |
The Fieldwork Experience (12 credits) is the crown jewel in this curriculum, and very often a foot-in-the-door to professional employment. Students become full-time temporary interns (a full semester) at forensics laboratories that include medical examiner's offices, toxicology laboratories, municipal police department crime labs, and federal agencies including the DEA. As the faculty advisor for the Pre-forensic Chemistry program for two and a half years, I am amazed and delighted at the continued growth and interest in the program with our students. I meet with every one of the students in the major, and here are my responses to the top three frequently asked questions:
Why so heavy on the “hard-core” science and math? Because in multiple conversations with professionals in the field, including the medical examiners, forensic toxicologists, and criminologists for whom many of our students are interns, one aspect of the profession always comes to the surface. If you are involved in any aspect of a criminal investigation, particularly if you have direct contact with evidence, there is some probability that you will be called into court to testify. When you do, you will be there to testify as a scientist, not as a lawyer! Your professional training and experience may be introduced (the credibility factor), and it's your job to show that you are honest, objective, forthright, and more than competent to make assessments based on your working knowledge of the science at hand. Another critical skill is an ability to convey to a lay audience (the jury) the nature of the chemical analyses performed in a way that can be understood by the general public, with a minimum of jargon. Although most people are never completely comfortable speaking in front of an audience, the confidence that comes from knowing what you're talking about will carry you a long way.
What if I can't find a job in forensics, or I change my mind about my career path? These things happen – some students who thought they would go one way sometimes go another. College is, after all, an opportunity to figure out just this sort of thing about your life. But the truly good news here is that when you have completed a program such as the NAU curriculum, you will have a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. That can help to create quite a few opportunities, including industrial R&D, technical sales, technical marketing, instrument support, or graduate school, just to name a few.
Do I need a degree in “forensic chemistry” to be a forensic chemist? Yes and no. To work in a professional capacity as a forensic chemist, you will most likely need a chemistry degree: a two year associates degree at a minimum, more preferably a bachelors degree, and a master's degree will certain broaden your job market. But as I mentioned earlier, you are a working scientist, so a good analytical chemist or biochemist (or molecular biologist, toxicologist, biologist, or physical anthropologist – depending on your interests and skills) will have a distinct edge into a career in forensic science. Many people who are “classically trained” find themselves working in a forensics capacity.
I like good crime scene drama as much as the next person, but if you are serious about a career in forensic science, then my advice to you is…hit the textbooks!
Copyright 2005 by Timothy L. Vail
| "Oh what a tangled
web we weave, when first we practice to deceive." |
||
|
|
|
| W M M New Issue | W M M Archives |