Thanks to all who answer!
Can I become an autopsy technician with a forensic chemistry degree? Or is there a better suited degree for my desired career? Eventually I’d like to get a masters and become a pathologist assistant. Thanks?
My friend switched to a forensics class early on and told me it was super easy, and now I regret staying in Chemistry, which is quite confusing for me
If a college saw that I had a 75% in Chem (which I think is what I’d end up with) would it be seen as more impressive compared to an easier class like forensics?
I just don’t want to regret not switching to Forensics. It might be too late to switch now and I’m worried that by sticking with a class like Chem, which I’m not very good in, it would hurt my chances of getting into college compared to if I went to Forensics, which I likely would have succeeded in
Hi, guys! I am finishing high school this year and I am thinking about working in Forensic Biology realm. I am very bad at chemistry, while getting great marks for biology. Do I need to have deep understanding of chemistry to work as a forensic biologist? Is it better to major in Biology, or in biochemistry? Is there any chance to avoid learning pretty much chemistry? (Please say yes!) I will be very grateful for your answers
My dream job is to work for the FBI and a forensic toxicologist and I was wondering what requirements there are. If anyone can leave a ling below it would be greatly appreciated. If not then does the UCF B.S. of Forensic Science fill all requirements for a job there? I plan on getting a M.S. in Toxicology from UF in the future too.
B.S. Forensic Science biochem emphasis https://www.ucf.edu/degree/forensic-science-bs/biochemistry/
B.S. Forensic Science chem emphasis https://www.ucf.edu/degree/forensic-science-bs/chemistry/
M.S. in Toxicology https://forensicscience.ufl.edu/programs/masters-degree/ms-forensic-toxicology/
2nd years have to enroll on Wednesday and I need some guidance on courses selection.
In the 1st semester, I have CHM231, CHM242, CHM211, and FSC271. In the 2nd semester, I have, JCP221, CHM243, CHM311, and, CHM331.
I was planning on taking BIO200 and some electives, but there were conflicts. I settled on taking 3rd-year chem courses because it happens to work out. I tried planning ahead and saw that CHM396 and CHM397 were only practicals. So I'm not sure if I should take 3rd-year courses in my second year.
Any upper-year Forensic Chemistry Specialists that can help me with my courses.
I'm looking for a crime based novel that's heavy on the science, would prefer more chemistry to biology or anthropology but I know how closely they're related so any are okay. Looking for fiction, but history of forensic science is always on my list too! I'm just getting tired of novels that have unrealistic scientific leaps to reach the "gotcha" point.
I’m a senior in high school and I am currently deciding between Tulane University, University of Miami, and Syracuse University. I really hate the cold and Miami and Tulane were my top 2, but Syracuse has an amazing forensic science program. Will I be at a disadvantage in the forensic field if I get a chemistry degree from miami or tulane rather than go to syracuse for forensic science? I know the weather is such a trivial thing to not go to a school for, but I really hate the snow. But I feel like I would be stupid not to go to Syracuse because I would graduate with a chemistry and a forensic science degree, plus syracuse has many connections for internships and jobs such as the FBI. What do you guys think is the smart option?
I’m planning to transfer into the forensics program next fall and I’ve been looking at the catalogs for both tracks but I can’t see any difference between them. Can any current forensics majors help me out in deciding which one to go with?
I’m currently attending college in Georgia for Forensics; the Chemistry track. I was wondering what jobs were out there for a degree like mine? I’m trying to do more research into what I’ll be looking into after my degree.
Hi, I’m Dr. Suzanne Bell, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Forensic Science at WVU. Let’s talk about the chemistry of firearms.
Introduction
I’m Suzanne Bell, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Forensic Science at West Virginia University. I teach and conduct research in analytical and forensic chemistry and work with students from undergraduate through PhD. I joined the faculty here in 2003. Prior to then, I worked for the New Mexico State Police Crime Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and Eastern Washington University. My PhD is from New Mexico State University.
I am a past member of the Scientific Working Group for Seized Drug Analysis (SWGDRUG) and a current member of the Scientific Working Group for Gunshot Residue (SWGGSR) and the gunshot residue subcommittee of NIST’s Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC). I am also a commission on the National Commission on Forensic Science (NCFS) and the Forensic Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC).
When a gun is fired, a wealth of chemical and physical evidence is produced. This residue is deposited on surfaces near the shooter including then hands. The chemical evidence is a complex combination ranging from tiny particulates containing heavy metal oxides and sulfides, particles of burnt and partially burnt propellant, and condensed gases. Each type of evidence can be characterized analytically and used to help answer key forensic questions such as who did (or did not) fire the weapon.
I will be speaking at an upcoming webinar with the American Chemical Society on Thursday, May 14 at 2pm ET. Everyone is welcome to join: http://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/events/upcoming-acs-webinars/gunshot-chemistry.html
I am ready to answer your questions about forensic chemistry and how we apply it in shooting cases.
Resources and weblinks:
NCFS: http://www.justice.gov/ncfs FEPAC: http://fepac-edu.org/ SWGGSR: http://www.swggsr.org/ OSACS: http://www.nist.gov/forensics/osac/ WVU Chemistry: http://chemistry.wvu.edu/ WVU Forensic and Investigative Sciences: http://forensics.wvu.edu/
I'll be back at 12 pm EDT (9 am PDT, 5 pm UTC) to answer your questions, ask me anything!
Glad to see all the questions appearing. I will be on-line at noon EST.
A couple of notes: I work in chemistry and not ballistics or tool marks. I don’t work with the markings that are imparted to bullets or cartridges or comparing bullets to weapons. I am familiar with these areas and will offer comm
... keep reading on reddit ➡hi so i’m going into the forensic chem spec program at utm. on the academic calendar, it says that bio152h5 should be taken in first year and bio200h5 should be taken in second year. however it doesn’t say that bio200h5 has a prereq. is it possible for me to NOT take bio152h5 in first year and still be ok for 2nd year?? pls help!
(This is my first post on Reddit, hope I’m doing it right :)))))
Okay so I just got my admission results from U of T and I am having a hard time deciding what to choose. Would be super thankful for some guidance. The main things I am considering are:
- How does the Forensic Science (psychology) work at UTM, will I be hyper bored in Forensic Science if my main interest is Psychology and Biology? How much does a specialist program affect your overall courses?
- Best case scenario - how much money can you make in co-op at Scarborough?
- Can I switch program completely (still within Mississauga) and keep my scholarship?
Below I have shown what programs I got accepted to and how much scholarship money they offered me. I am an international applicant so I have to consider the 55k year^(-1) tuition and how the scholarship at Mississauga would make that a hell of a lot easier to deal with financially.
Any info appreciated
https://preview.redd.it/9lgi2nr3b8n41.jpg?width=1512&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=dafd7411c1357bf78781732012b71e27e61e4ece
I have a chemical technology diploma and have been working 2+ years in a lab setting. I have extensive instrument knowledge and worked in environmental chemistry before my current job in my FSQR lab associate position. I have seen postings for forensic positions that require either a chem/bio degree or a forensic degree. I have read that employers don’t care about a forensic degree and most hire candidates that hold either a chemistry or biology degree... the thing is that I am really torn as I started my education with the end goal of working in forensics. Every job that I applied to said they preferred the diploma I hold compared to a university degree as they find university degree graduates to be extremely booksmart but lacking in the practical department. I have to say that my diploma was intense and I think was the smartest decision I have made education wise. Looking at chemistry degree course outlines, I have completed 90% of them but I have more laboratory experience. But it is still not a degree and just a technical diploma. That being said, should I bite the bullet and start a chemistry degree which will be repetitive or should I start a bachelor of technology in forensic science which will be new / exciting but less common for jobs. After reading more on reddit I feel almost shamed for even questioning it...
Hi, I hope it's okay to ask here. Are there any people in this group who are forensic Chemists in Canada? I was looking through the wiki and I couldn't find much information about forensic chemistry in Canada. I'm looking to become a forensic chemist and I'm having trouble finding the requirements for that field. I currently have a diploma in Chemical Laboratory Technology. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Hello!
I am currently a forensic chemistry/criminal justice double major. Forensics is something I’ve wanted to do since I was about 8 years old. I am coming up on 20, and there have been a lot of concerns of mine.
I have never explored other ideas. I explicitly have truly only wanted to do this.
Given the current state of the American Criminal Justice system, I’ve been having second thoughts. With so many cases constantly passing by where prosecutors and other higher ups within the CJ department simply ignore forensic evidence, how does that make those within the forensics department/crime lab feel?
I always felt as though this career path would give me the best of both worlds, not only being in love with science, but also having the ability to be a part of something where you are helping SOLVE real crimes. It was so intriguing to me.
My general question for those within this career, how do you feel going to work when you know there is a possibility that your hard work could be ignored? And if there are people, like myself, who have significant reserves about the criminal justice system itself, how do you look past that in order to do your job?
Thank you for reading this, and truly any insight would ease my mind.
So I'm graduating this May with a Forensic chemistry dagree and I've been having trouble looking for jobs and knowing what I'm qualified for. Fist off I've always been told that a forensic chemistry degree is like an analytical chemistry dagree with a criminal Justice minor.
So the main problem is my location as there are only two state forensics labs in my state. I've always intented to move away but currently living anywhere but home isn't financially feasible so I'm looking for anything I can earn some money and hopefully experience with.
I'm finding alot of medical/hospital labs near me but Im not medically trained so I don't think I can get those jobs.
Any ideas for industries I can work in?
I'm not currently in the Forensics program, however, I have a space to fill for the upcoming year and was wondering if anyone could give me some insight into these courses. Both *sound* interesting but that's always misleading. Any info would be great. If anyone also has the syllabus from past years and wouldn't mind sharing that would be good too. :)
I would like to try applying for medical technologist jobs in the future. I currently have a BS in Chemistry and am working on an MS in forensic science. Am I qualified for a job as a medical technologist or do I need a certificate of some kind?
Hi! I’m currently a rising junior in college and I am a forensic chemistry major. I feel like at this point, I should know what career direction I want to go in after college and I’m clueless. My major was just recently introduced here and I think last year was the first year anyone could have graduated with it, so our career services doesn’t have much information for this field, which is why I’ve come here for some help. I’m just curious what your jobs entail, what you love about it, what you hate about it, what advice you recommend, etc.
My GPA is pretty good, but my grades in science classes could be better. There’s a lot of C+’s and a few B’s. However, I get A’s in my labs and I’m more of a hands on learner, so I’m wondering if doing lab work is my strength.
I’ve always been drawn to pathology because I think working with the body is fascinating, but medical school intimidates me and my GPA really isn’t high enough. I’ve also had a strong interest in doing toxicology because it matches a lot of what I’m interested in, but I’m still torn. What other options do I have? Do I need to figure this out now or do I have time?
Currently going to community college enrolled in the forensic science program. The school I'm planning to transfer to has a FS degree with an emphasis on bio or chem. Entering my "sophomore" year wondering if i should stick with this or change to a bio/chem major and when i transfer minor/emphasize on forensic science... Thoughts?
Would I need a masters degree, any other degrees etc? Do employers look for specific degrees?
Hello! My sister is interested in pursuing a career in crime scene investigation or something related to forensic science. Everyone suggests that majoring in chem or bio is the best path to take. Rutgers has a Forensic Chemistry major that my sister likes, however, it is a BA not a BS. Do you think this matters since it still heavily focused on chem courses, or would she be better off just majoring in chemistry with a criminal justice minor?
What is more beneficial to study? - at University level. (With no particular future career in mind)
Hello everyone! I've a bachelor's degree in analytical science, and I've recently been offered an opportunity to do a postgraduate research degree in forensics. I'm fascinated by forensics and would like to pursue a career in the field, but I've little to no practical experience, and I've been asked to propose topics for the research project.
Would anyone be able to point me towards technologies or methods in the areas of forensic chemistry and biology that could be improved or could use an update? For example analytical methods that take a long time and could be speeded up, or lab methods that could potentially be re-designed so that they can be carried out in the field. Basically, things that you think could be improved to make the work of a forensic scientist simpler, or promising research avenues in forensic chemistry and biology in general. Any and all ideas are welcome!
Hey y’all. So like the title says I’m majoring in chemistry with a minor in math, and I really want to be a forensic chemist/scientist, and I was wondering if y’all would know where to start down that path.
Thanks!
I'm at a community college working towards a degree in Chemistry and recently became interested in the field of forensics as a career goal. I've been aiming for a BS in Chemistry from a UC. A local CSU has a BS in Chemistry with Bioanalytical and Forensics Concentration. Which degree would look more attractive to an employer? I've been reading through this sub's wiki and it looks like you can't go wrong with a BS in Chemistry but I'm weighing which is better: A BS in Chemistry from a UC (esteemed to be more rigorous) or a BS in Chemistry w/ forensics concentration from a CSU (supposedly less rigorous). I am an older student (37) and am not currently thinking about a master's degree but maybe I should take a path to keep that option open (UC?)
Also, are there many employment opportunities in the San Francisco bay area?
Thank you so much for any advice and thank you for your service to the community.
EDIT: I just noticed a nearby UC has a BS in Chem with forensics focus! I submitted my TAG application just now! (TAG = Transfer Admission Guarantee)
I am finishing up my BS in chemistry and starting I will be doing a MS in forensic chem in the fall. I know that it's hard to get a job in forensic science. I was wondering if a MS in forensic chemistry would help me get other chemistry jobs (non forensic science related) since I'll be learning about different instrumentation and drugs in grad school? Like would I be more qualified than a person who only has a BS in chem?
I really suck at both but I want to work csi. Is the work more chem or bio based ? Any tips on improving my chem and math skills if that is a core aspect ?
My friend switched to a forensics class early on and told me it was super easy, and now I regret staying in Chemistry, which is quite confusing for me
If a college saw that I had a 75% in Chem (which I think is what I’d end up with) would it be seen as more impressive compared to an easier class like forensics?
I just don’t want to regret not switching to Forensics. It might be too late to switch now and I’m worried that by sticking with a class like Chem, which I’m not very good in, it would hurt my chances of getting into college compared to if I went to Forensics, which I likely would have succeeded in
ACS AMA Hi Reddit! My name is Suzanne Bell, and I am the Chair of the Department of Forensic and Investigative Science at West Virginia University. I teach and conduct research in analytical and forensic chemistry and work with students from undergraduate through PhD. I joined the faculty here in 2003. Prior to then, I worked for the New Mexico State Police Crime Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and Eastern Washington University. My PhD is from New Mexico State University.
Beyond my faculty work, I served on the National Commission on Forensic Science as Chair of the Research and Scientific Inquiry Subcommittee. I also served as a commissioner on the Forensic Education Programs Accreditation Commission, and am currently an associated editor for chemistry for the Journal of Forensic Sciences. Additionally, I am a member of the ACS Experts program (www.acs.org/experts<http://www.acs.org/experts>). This is my second AMA with the ACS – you can see the previous session here https://redd.it/35pi9d Continuing on with that discussion, there is a lot of chemical analysis that goes into determining what evidence gunshot residue might provide. Some of the methods we use include scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray spectroscopies including energy-dispersive (EDS), and many types of mass spectrometry (MS). Note that in this discussion I am not an expert on tool markings or ballistics (ie physical marks caused by weapons nor trajectory of bullets).
Ask me anything about forensic chemistry and how we apply it in shooting cases, or what educational paths are possible in the forensic sciences. I'll be back at 1 pm EDT (10 am PDT, 5 pm UTC) to answer your questions, ask me anything!
