A Career In Forensic ChemistryBethany Pompy

Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Rapid City, SD 57701

Chem 292, Chemistry Outreach

Fall 2000

Dr. David A. Boyles and Dr. M. Steven McDowell

H ig h$ 60 ,000

M e d ian$ 40 ,000

S ta rt$ 30 ,000

S a la ry

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F o ren s ic S c ie nce is a n a re a o f sc ie n ce tha t d ea ls w ith th e law a nd a na lysis o f c rim in a l e v id en ce .It a llow s co n c lu s io ns to b e d ra w n a b ou t a ce rta in crim e.

SALARY

-starting out salary is in the low $30,000 per year

-a person earning a salary in the medium range would receive around $40,000 per year

-someone ranking high on the pay scale would be making around $60,000 per year

EDUCATION

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

DIVISIONS OF FORENSIC SCIENCE

Crime Scene- a forensic scientist may go to a crime scene and collect evidence found. Once the evidence is collected, it is tagged and put in a bag for protection. Once this is all done, the evidence is analyzed.

Documents- a forensic scientist may analyze a document and try to relate it to someone (possibly the suspect of the crime) by analyzing the handwriting, determining if forgery is involved, or if the document is counterfeit.

Toolmark- this division of forensic science involves the analysis of weapons used in a crime.

Firearm- firearm deals with determining the relationship between a firearm and a crime. This can be done by determining the projectile of a bullet from the firearm and also to the target. Finally, it may involve determining what type of firearm was used.

Forensic Photography- this division of forensic chemistry uses photographs to solve a crime.

Psychiatry- this division of forensic chemistry deals with mental illness and profiling. The forensic scientist must be aware of mental illness and if the profile of the criminal matches the suspect.

Personal Identification- this division of forensic science deals with the analysis of a crime scene by the use of teeth (odontology), DNA, fingerprints, and blood analysis.

The minnimum requiremnets to ender a masters program in forensic chemistry are as followe:

-A B.S. or B.A. degree in chemistry, biochemistry,or biology, with all of the following:

•one year of general chemistry and lab•one year of organic chemistry and lab•one year of general physics and lab•one year of general biology and lab

-The recommended electives are as followe:•one year of calculus•quantitative chemical analysis•instrumental chemical analysis•genetics•biochemistry•statistics•courses that involve law, investigation, and criminal justice

-The curriculum for the Masters degree is as follows:•Seminar in Criminal Justice•Seminar in Criminal Invest.•Masters Thesis•Issues in Forensic Science- this class is an introduction to

how forensic science plays a part in the justice system.•Forensic Chemistry I- deals with the analysis of drugs.•Forensic Chemistry II- deals with analysis of evidence that is

not biological.•Forensic Biology- deals with analysis of body fluids and DNA.

A Forensic Scientist has the opportunity to work in a variety of areas.

The Police Department

The Federal Bureau of Investigation

Medical Examiners Office

Forensics Lab

Sources:

http://www.acs.orghttp://www.cj.msu.eduhttp://users.aol.com/murrk/index.htm